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<< Genesis 37:  Joseph and His Brothers >>

Tissot_Joseph_Reveals_His_Dream_to_His_Brethren JACOB lived in Haran twenty years, and when he came back to the land of Canaan he brought with him his family and flocks of sheep and goats, and cows and camels and asses. From this time, Jacob is often called Israel, for the Lord gave him this name, which means "soldier of God," or perhaps, "he that striveth with God." Another son was born after Jacob came back to the land of Canaan, and now there were twelve. Joseph and Benjamin were the youngest, and their father loved them best. At the time of our story, Jacob was living in Hebron with Isaac, who was now a very old man, and Joseph was seventeen years old.

As a sign of his love, Joseph's father gave him a coat nicer than the others wore. It was pretty, with many bright colors. Most shepherd boys wore a sleeveless frock, but this was probably long and with long sleeves. Joseph's brethren " hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him." They could not speak the usual greeting, which in those days, as now, was "Peace be unto you." Joseph had two dreams which he told to his brethren, and they hated him the more. His father "observed the saying," kept it in mind.

Joseph's brothers went from Hebron to feed their father's flock in Shechem. There is a beautiful meadow opening eastward from the two mountains Ebal and Gerizim. It was ihe place of Abraham's first camp in the land of Canaan, Jacob had bought the ground when he came back from Haran, and had dug a well there, so that he would have water all his own, and have no quarrels with the people of the land about the springs near by. It was a deep well dug in the rock. It was still there in the Gospel days, and travellers can see it now, although it is half filled with stones.

Jacob sent Joseph to bring him word of his brethren and the flock. So he came to Shechem and looked for them in the field. They had gone to Dothan. He went through the valley of Shechem between Ebal and Gerizim and turned northward, and found his brethren in the green meadows around the little hill on which the town of Dothan stood.

The story tells of a "pit" that was in the field, with no water in it. Places for grain and for water were often cut in the rock in that country. Sometimes the opening was small and the cistern grew larger downward like a great flask. Water was collected in such pits in the rainy winter for use in the dry summer.

As the brethren were sitting by the pit, they looked up and saw what one might see passing the same way to-day, a long line of camels in single file, each loaded with a pair of swinging bales. They belonged to traders who were carrying spices to market in Egypt. The men are called both Midianites and Ishmaelites. Both were wandering people and descendants of Abraham. The name Ishmaelites is perhaps used in a general way to include both tribes. These traders had come from the country east of Jordan, travelling up the valley between the mountains Little Hermon and Gilboa, across the plain of Esdraelon, and were taking the usual road to the seashore plain, which they would follow the rest of the way to Egypt. "Spicery and balm and myrrh" mean gums of three different kinds. The load would  bring a high price in Egypt, where gums and spices were much used for embalming and for incense.

I will not tell you the story;   we must read it together.

 And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. 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. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: 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. 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. And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me. And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed?  Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?  And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying. And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem. 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. 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.

Tissot_Joseph_Sold_into_EgyptAnd a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?  And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks. And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan. And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams. And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him. And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again. 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; And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt. And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slayour brother, and conceal his blood?  Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content. 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. And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes. And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?   And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood; And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no. And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. 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. And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.---Genesis XXXVII.

Author: William L. Worcester 1904

Spiritual Correspondences

      Joseph and Benjamin >> Loving Perception and Understanding of the Lord's Divinity

      Joseph sold into Egypt >> All Perception of the Lord's Divinity is Lost

Celestial Correspondences

      Joseph >> The Lord

      Joseph was looking for his father's sheep >> The Lord was seeking His Heavenly Father's Sheep (humanity)

      Joseph was stripped of his coat >> The Lord's garment was removed before he was crucified

      Joseph was sold for twenty pieces of silver >> The Lord  was betrayed for thirty pieces of silver

Spiritual Meaning

 GENESIS XXXVII

1-3. And Jacob dwelt in the land of his father's sojournings, in the land of Canaan. These are the births of Jacob. Joseph a son of seventeen years was feeding the flock with his brethren; and he was a boy with the sons of Bilhah and with the sons of Zilpah his father's women; and Joseph brought their evil report unto their father. And Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a tunic of various colors.
 
 'And Jacob dwelt in the land of his father's sojournings, in the land of Canaan,' signifies that the Lord's Divine natural was accordant under Divine rational good; 'these are the births of Jacob,' signifies the things which follow; 'Joseph,' signifies the Lord's spiritual Divine Human; 'a son of seventeen years,' signifies its state; 'was feeding the flock with his brethren,' signifies that it was present with those who were in faith and taught; 'and he was a boy,' signifies at first; 'with the sons of Bilhah and with the sons of Zilpah his father's women,' signifies that it was rejected by them; 'and Joseph brought their evil report unto their father,' signifies that from it their quality was apparent; 'and Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons,' signifies the conjunction of the Divine spiritual of the rational with the Divine spiritual of the natural; 'because he was the son of his old age,' signifies its own life in it; 'and he made him a tunic of various colors,' signifies the appearances of truth thence, whereby the spiritual of the natural is known and distinguished.
 
4-11. And his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren; and they hated him, and could not speak for peace unto him. And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren, and they added yet to hate him. And he said unto them, Hear I pray this dream which I have dreamed; and behold we were binding sheaves in the midst of the field, and lo my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and behold your sheaves came round about, and bowed down themselves to my sheaf And his brethren said to him, shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? and they added yet to hate him for his dreams, and for his words. And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brethren, and said, Behold I have dreamed yet a dream, and behold the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowed down themselves to me. And he told it to his father, and to his brethren; and his father rebuked him, and said to him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? And his brethren envied him, but his father kept the word.
 
'And his brethren saw,' signifies those things which are of faith, and in the proximate sense the posterity of Jacob; 'that their father loved him more than all his brethren,' signifies that it was conjoined with the Divine natural, and in the proximate sense with the Ancient Church, which is the 'father;' 'and they hated him, and could not speak for peace unto him,' signifies contempt and aversion; 'and Joseph dreamed a dream,' signifies preaching concerning the Divine Human; 'and he told it to his brethren,' signifies in the presence of those who are of faith separate; 'and they added yet to hate him,' signifies still greater contempt and aversion; 'and he said unto them, Hear I pray this dream which I have dreamed,' signifies the contents of the preaching; 'and behold we were binding sheaves in the midst of the field,' signifies that they were teaching from doctrine; 'and lo my sheaf arose, and also stood upright,' signifies what is doctrinal concerning the Lord's Divine Human; 'and behold your sheaves came round about,' signifies those who were in faith; 'and bowed down themselves to my sheaf,' signifies adoration; 'and his brethren said to him,' signifies those who are of faith separate; 'shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us?' signifies were they to be subject as to the things of the understanding and of the will; 'and they added yet to hate him for his dreams and for his words,' signifies still greater contempt and aversion because of the preaching of the Word; 'and he dreamed yet another dream,' signifies again a preaching; 'and told it to his brethren, and said,' signifies in the presence of those who are of faith separate; 'behold I have dreamed yet a dream,' signifies the contents; 'and behold the sun and the moon,' signifies natural good and natural truth; 'and eleven stars,' signifies the knowledges of good and of truth; 'bowed down themselves to me,' signifies adoration; 'and he told it to his father and to his brethren,' signifies that it was given to know it; 'and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed?' signifies indignation; 'father' here is the Jewish religion derived from the Ancient; 'shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?' signifies whether the church will adore; 'and his brethren envied him,' signifies their aversion; 'and his father kept the word,' signifies that the truth remained in their religiosity.
 
12-17. And his brethren went to feed the flock of their father in Shechem. And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem.' come, and I will send thee into them. And he said to him, Behold me! And he said to him, Go I pray see the peace of thy brethren, and the peace of the flock, and bring me word again. And he sent him out of the valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. And a man found him, and behold he was wandering in the field; and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou? And he said, I seek my brethren, tell me I pray where they are feeding the flock. And the man said, They are departed hence, for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.
 
 'And his brethren went to feed the flock,' signifies those who teach from faith; 'of their father,' signifies of the Ancient and of the Primitive Church; 'in Shechem,' signifies the first rudiments; 'and Israel said unto Joseph,' signifies perception from the Divine spiritual; 'Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem?' signifies that they are teaching; 'come, and I will send thee unto them,' signifies that it should teach Divine spiritual goods; 'and he said to him, Behold me,' signifies affirmation; 'and he said to him, Go I pray see the peace of thy brethren,' signifies every coming of the Lord, and perception how it was with those who taught; 'and the peace of the flock,' signifies how it was with those who were learning, or the church; 'and bring me word again,' signifies knowledge; 'and he sent him out of the valley of Hebron,' signifies from the natural and sensuous Divine; 'and he came to Shechem,' signifies the knowledge of general doctrinals; 'and a man found him, and behold he was wandering in the field,' signifies that they were fallen away from the general truth of the church; 'and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou?' signifies foresight; 'and he said, I seek my brethren, tell me I pray where they are feeding the flock,' signifies the knowledge of how the case was, and in what state they were; 'and the man said, They are departed hence, for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan,' signifies that they betook themselves from generals to special things of doctrine; 'and Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan,' signifies that they were in the special things of false principles.
 
18-22. And they saw him afar off, and before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to cause him to die. And they said a man to his brother, Behold this lord of dreams cometh. Come now therefore and let us slay him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, An evil wild beast hath devoured him; and we shall see what his dreams will be. And Reuben heard, and rescued him out of their hand, and said, Let us not smite him, the soul. And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood; cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him; that he might rescue him out of their hand, to bring him back to his father.
 
'And they saw him afar off,' signifies perception of the Lord's Divine Human remotely; 'and before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to cause him to die,' signifies that they wished to extinguish the Divine spiritual which is from the Lord's Divine Human; 'and they said a man to his brother,' signifies their mutual thoughts; 'behold, this lord of dreams cometh,' signifies that those things were empty; 'come now therefore and let us slay him,' signifies the extinction of the essential of doctrine concerning the Lord's Divine Human; 'and cast him into one of the pits,' signifies among falsities; 'and we will say an evil wild beast hath devoured him,' signifies a lie from a life of cupidities; 'and we shall see what will become of his dreams,' signifies that the teachings concerning it would thus be false and would appear so; 'and Reuben heard,' signifies confession of the faith of the church in general; 'and rescued him out of their hand,' signifies liberation; 'and said let us not smite him, the soul,' signifies that it must not be extinguished, because it is the life of religion; 'and Reuben said unto them,' signifies exhortation; 'shed no blood,' signifies that they should not do violence to what is holy; 'cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness,' signifies that they should conceal it meanwhile among their falsities; 'but lay no hand upon him,' signifies that they should not do violence to it; 'that he might rescue him out of their hind, to bring him back to his father,' signifies that it might claim it for the church.
 
 23-30. And it came to pass when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of various colors that was on him, and they took him, and cast him into the pit; and the pit was empty, there was no water in it. And they sat down to eat bread, and they lifted up their eyes and saw, and behold a company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead, with their camels bearing spices and balsam and stacte, going to carry them down to Egypt. And Judah said unto his brethren, What gain is it if we slay our brother, and cover up his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our flesh. And his brethren hearkened unto him. And there passed by men, Midianites, merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. And they brought Joseph into Egypt. And Reuben returned unto the pit, and behold Joseph was not in the pit, and he rent his garments. And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither do I come?
 
'And it came to pass when Joseph was come unto his brethren,' signifies when it was preached about; 'that they stripped Joseph of his tunic,' signifies that they dispelled and annihilated the appearances of truth; 'the tunic of various colors that was on him,' signifies the quality of the appearances as to truths from good; 'and they took him and cast him into the pit,' signifies among falsities; 'and the pit was empty, there was no water in it,' signifies that there was then nothing true; 'and they sat down to eat bread,' signifies appropriation of evil from falsity; 'and they lifted up their eyes and saw,' signifies further thought; 'and behold a company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead,' signifies those who are in simple good, such as the Gentiles are in; 'with their camels bearing spices and balsam and stacte,' signifies interior natural truths; 'going to carry them down to Egypt,' signifies instruction from memory-knowledges; 'and Judah said unto his brethren,' signifies the depraved in the church who are against whatever is good; 'What gain is it if we slay our brother and cover up his blood?' signifies that there would be nothing of profit or of eminence, if this should be wholly extinguished; 'come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites,' signifies that they acknowledge it who are in simple good; 'and let not our hand be upon him,' signifies that they may be without blame; 'for he is our brother, our flesh,' signifies because what is from them is accepted; 'and his brethren hearkened unto him,' signifies compliance; 'and there passed by men, Midianites, merchantmen,' signifies those who are in the truth of this good; 'and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit,' signifies aid from them that it might not be among falsities; 'and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites,' signifies reception by those who are in simple good, and alienation on the part of those who are in faith separate; 'for twenty pieces of silver,' signifies estimation; 'and they brought Joseph into Egypt,' signifies consultation from memory-knowledges; 'and Reuben returned unto the pit,' signifies the faith of the church in general; 'and behold Joseph was not in the pit,' signifies that there was no longer any faith; 'and he rent his garments,' signifies mourning; 'and he returned unto his brethren,' signifies those who teach; 'and said, The child is not,' signifies that there was no faith in it; 'and I, whither do I come?' signifies where now is the church?
 
31-36. And they took Joseph's tunic, and killed a he-goat of the goats, and dipped the tunic in the blood; and they sent the tunic of various colors, and they brought it to their father, and said, This have we found; know now whether it be thy son's tunic or not. And he knew it, and said, It is my son's tunic; an evil wild beast hath devoured him; Joseph is surely torn in pieces. And Jacob rent his garments, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned over his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him: but he refused to comfort himself and he said, For I shall go down to the grave to my son mourning. And his father wept for him. And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, Pharaoh's chamberlain, prince of the guards.
 
'And they took Joseph's tunic,' signifies appearances; 'and killed a he-goat of the goats,' signifies external truths from delights; 'and dipped the tunic in the blood,' signifies that they defiled it with falsities from evils; 'and they sent the tunic of various colors,' signifies appearances thus defiled; 'and they brought it to their father,' signifies comparison with the goods and truths of the Ancient and the Primitive Church; 'and said, 'This have we found,' signifies that it so appears to them; 'know I pray whether it be thy son's tunic or not,' signifies whether there was a likeness; 'and he knew it,' signifies that indeed it was; 'and said, It is my son's tunic,' signifies that it was the truth of the church; 'an evil wild beast hath devoured him,' signifies that the cupidities of evil had extinguished it; 'Joseph is surely torn in pieces,' signifies that it is such from falsities as to be not at all; 'and Jacob rent his garments,' signifies mourning for truth destroyed; 'and put sackcloth upon his loins,' signifies mourning for goods destroyed; 'and mourned over his son many days,' signifies the state; 'and all his sons,' signifies those who are in falsities; 'and all his daughters, rose up,' signifies those who are in evils; 'to comfort him,' signifies to interpret from the sense of the letter of the Word; 'and be refused to comfort himself,' signifies that this could not be; 'and he said, For I shall go down to the grave to my son mourning,' signifies that the Ancient Church would perish; 'and his father wept for him,' signifies interior mourning. [AC 4667-4790]

Author: Emanuel Swedenborg

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