Genesis 37:2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought unto his father their evil report.

Genesis 37:2 These are [the records of] the generations of Jacob. Joseph, when seventeen years of age, was pasturing the flock with his brothers while he was [still] a youth, along with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives. And Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father.

2. generations--leading occurrences, in the domestic history of Jacob, as shown in the narrative about to be commenced.
Joseph . . . was feeding the flock--literally, "Joseph being seventeen years old was a shepherd over the flock"--he a lad, with the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah. Oversight or superintendence is evidently implied. This post of chief shepherd in the party might be assigned him either from his being the son of a principal wife or from his own superior qualities of character; and if invested with this office, he acted not as a gossiping telltale, but as a "faithful steward" in reporting the scandalous conduct of his brethren.

JFB.

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Genesis 37 Images and Notes

Brief Summary: Jacob loves and favors Joseph, Joseph is hated by his brothers, Joseph has dreams about his parents and brothers bowing down to him, Joseph's brothers sell Joseph to a caravan into Egypt, They lie to their father Jacob about Joseph.

Outline
1 Joseph is hated of his brethren
5 Joseph has two dreams
13 Jacob sends him to visit his brethren
18 Joseph's brethren conspire to slay him
21 Reuben saves him
26 They sell him to the Ishmaelites
31 His father, deceived by the bloody coat, mourns for him
36 Joseph is sold to Potiphar in Egypt

Quick Reference Map

Map of the Jordan River (Click to Enlarge)

Ancient Customs
feeding the flock
dreams
binding sheaves
obeisance
pit that is in the wilderness
camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh
merchantmen
twenty pieces of silver
officer of Pharaoh's
captain of the guard

Ancient Topics
coat of many colors

Map of the World of Abraham

The World of Abraham, the first Hebrew

Ancient People
Jacob, Joseph, Reuben, Judah, Potiphar
Company of Ishmaelites
Midianites

Geography
Shechem
The Land of Canaan
Vale of Hebron
Dothan
Gilead
Egypt

The Old Testament

Genesis Resources

Creation
Adam and Eve
The Flood
The Tower of Babel
Abraham the First Hebrew
Isaac, Son of Promise
Jacob and the 12 Tribes
Joseph and Egypt

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