25. they sat down to eat bread--What a view does this exhibit of
those hardened profligates! Their common share in this conspiracy is
not the only dismal feature in the story. The rapidity, the almost
instantaneous manner in which the proposal was followed by their joint
resolution, and the cool indifference, or rather the fiendish
satisfaction, with which they sat down to regale themselves, is
astonishing. It is impossible that mere envy at his dreams, his gaudy
dress, or the doting partiality of their common father, could have
goaded them on to such a pitch of frenzied resentment or confirmed them
in such consummate wickedness. Their hatred to Joseph must have had a
far deeper seat. It must have been produced by dislike to his piety and
other excellencies, which made his character and conduct a constant
censure upon theirs, and on account of which they found that they could
never be at ease till they had rid themselves of his hated presence.
This was the true solution of the mystery, just as it was in the case
of Cain
(1Jo 3:12).
they lifted up their eyes, . . . and, behold, a company of
Ishmaelites--They are called Midianites
(Ge 37:28),
and Medanites, in Hebrew
(Ge 37:36),
being a travelling caravan composed of a mixed association of Arabians.
Those tribes of Northern Arabia had already addicted themselves to
commerce, and long did they enjoy a monopoly, the carrying trade being
entirely in their hands. Their approach could easily be seen; for, as
their road, after crossing the ford from the trans-jordanic district,
led along the south side of the mountains of Gilboa, a party seated on
the plain of Dothan could trace them and their string of camels in the
distance as they proceeded through the broad and gently sloping valley
that intervenes. Trading in the produce of Arabia and India, they were
in the regular course of traffic on their way to Egypt: and the chief
articles of commerce in which this clan dealt were
spicery from India, that is, a species of resinous gum, called
storax,
balm--"balm of Gilead," the juice of the balsam tree, a native
of Arabia-Felix, and
myrrh--an Arabic gum of a strong, fragrant smell. For these
articles there must have been an enormous demand in Egypt as they were
constantly used in the process of embalming.
JFB.
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
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