Bible Study Online ArticleLocated at the Bottom of Page
In the last article we learned that Joseph had received a divine confirmation, which came through a dream that revealed he would perhaps, one day be a ruler of some sort. Because of this, Joseph's brothers would become increasingly envious of him and his father Jacob would become concern with the overall situation as well. Be that as it may, life would continue on as normal for Jacob's household, despite the hatred that Joseph's brothers had develop towards their younger brother. So it was during one of these normal days, the Sacred Record revealed that the sons of Jacob, which were the ten that were older than Joseph, had headed out towards the land of Shechem to graze their father's flocks. We must keep in mind that it had not been too long ago that Simeon and Levi (Jacob's sons through Leah) had lead a deceptive and fatal attack against the Shechemites for what prince Shechem had done to their sister Dinah. So it's only natural for Jacob to have some concerns, in regards to their surrounding neighbors. Jacob's concerns could have easily dealt with, worrying that their surrounding neighbors who were loyal to the Shechemites would have tried to seek revenge, or retaliation against Jacob's household, because of that fatal event that was lead by his sons against the Shechemites. After all, we have to keep in mind that to his neighbors, Jacob and his family were foreigners in the land. And on the other hand the Shechemites were a respected royal family that belonged to the land of Canaan. So when it came to his sons journeying so close to the place where they had enacted their fatal plot against the Shechemites, you should be able to see how it's only natural for Jacob to have had concerns for the overall safety of his sons. Jacob does what would seem to be a wise thing and sends forth his most trusted and favorite son Joseph, to go out and make sure that his brothers are doing well. So Jacob tells his son: "As you know, your brothers are grazing the flocks near Shechem. Come, I'm going to send you to them. Go and see if all is well with your brothers and with the flocks, and bring word back to me." Being the person that he was, Joseph would obey his father and headed out to see about his brothers. But when he reached the area that his father had instructed him to go, he would find that his brothers weren't there. As he grew concern, Joseph would begin to search for them. Soon after, a stranger would notice Joseph looking and searching frantically for something: "What are you looking for?" the man asked him. "I'm looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they might be grazing their flocks?" Joseph replied. "They have moved on from here. I heard them say, 'Let's go to Dothan.'" The man told Joseph. Now Dothan wasn't very far from Shechem, so Joseph would head out in search for his brothers over in that area. As he approached Dothan, he would spot his brothers from afar off. His brothers had also seen Joseph coming in from the distance as well. So they plotted to murder him, as they saw him approaching. The sons of Jacob would say amongst themselves: "Here comes that dreamer. Come now, let's kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns and say that a ferocious animal had devoured him. Then we'll see what comes of his dreams." Note: My translation uses the word "cistern" to describe the place in which Joseph's brothers were intending to discard his body at. Other translations uses the word "ditch." Now I'm just pointing this out. Personally I feel that it's no big deal actually. However, when it comes to an "cistern", this is basically an artificial reservoir that's used for storing water. So this could have been an abandon well also, I wanted to point this out, because as we go forward the Holy Scriptures would seem to indicate this. Could Joseph's brothers hatred be so strong towards him, to where they're willing to murder him? Could their disdain when it comes to possibly paying homage to their younger brother, had become so fretted that they're willing to go towards a level that's so dark and blood-thirsty against their own sibling? Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty **YOUR CURRENT BIBLE STUDY ONLINE SERIES WOULD BE HERE**
69) Joseph the Interpreter of Dreams 70) <-CURRENT BIBLE STUDY ONLINE PAGE-> 71) Joseph & The Pit of Darkness 72) Jacob the Father of Sorrow 73) The Importance of Judah's History 76) Tamar's Revenge 78) Joseph the Servant of Favor 79) Potiphar's Wife Pursues Joseph 82) The Dreaming Cupbearer & Baker 84) Joseph's Dark Dreams Interpretation 85) Joseph the Overseer of Egypt 
|
|
|
