Scofield Reference Bible Notes
Genesis 37

Gen 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.

Joseph

While it is nowhere asserted that Joseph was a type of Christ, the analogies are too numerous to be accidental. They are:

1. both were especial objects of a father's love (Genesis 37:3; Matthew 3:17; John 3:35; 5:20);
2. both were hated by their brethren (Genesis 37:4; John 15:25);
3. the superior claims of both were rejected by their brethren (Genesis 37:8; Matthew 21:37-39; John 15:24, 25);
4. the brethren of both conspired against them to slay them (Genesis 37:18; Matthew 26:3, 4);
5. Joseph was, in intent and figure, slain by his brethren, as was Christ (Genesis 37:24; Matthew 27:35-37);
6. each became a blessing among the Gentiles, and gained a Gentile bride (Genesis 41:1-45; Acts 15:14; Ephesians 5:25-32);
7. as Joseph reconciled his brethren to himself, and afterward exalted them, so will it be with Christ and His Jewish brethren (Genesis 45:1-15; Deuteronomy 30:1-10; Hosea 2:14-18; Romans 11:1, 15, 25, 26).

Gen 37:5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

Joseph dreamed a dream

Cf. Gen 37:9, 10 and Gen 40:5-23.

hated

Cf. Gen 27:41; John 15:18-20.

Gen 37:7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf.

obeisance

See Gen 44:14; Hos 3:4, 5; Phl 2:10.

Gen 37:8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.

dominion over us

John 19:15.

Gen 37:11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

envied

Mat 27:17, 18; Acts 7:9.

Gen 37:13 And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.

Israel (history), vs. 13-28; Gen 46:1-6. (Gen 12:2, 3; Rom 11:26.)

Gen 37:14 And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.

sent him

1 Sam 17:17, 18; Luk 20:13-15; Jhn 3:16.

Gen 37:18 And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.

conspired against him to slay him

Mat 21:38; 26:3, 4

Gen 37:23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him;

stript

Mat 27:28.

Gen 37:28 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

sold

Mat 27:9.

Gen 37:35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.

grave

Hebrew sheol. See Scofield Habakkuk 2:5, note.