Genesis
37:1 ¶ And Jacob dwelt in the land
wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. 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. 3 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. 4 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.
Having
just given a list of Jacob’s sons, then an interlude where Esau’s brief
genealogy is given, the narrative
returns to Jacob and focuses on Joseph, who, in many particulars is a type of
Christ. Joseph is his father’s favorite. Christ, as the Son of God, is the Father’s
beloved, as well. Jacob made Joseph a coat
of many colors. Note that this is kind of clothing was considered very
valuable. This is reflected in Deborah’s victory song in Judges 5.
Judges
5:28 The mother of Sisera looked out at
a window, and cried through the lattice, Why is his chariot so long in coming?
why tarry the wheels of his chariots? 29
Her wise ladies answered her, yea, she returned answer to herself,
30 Have they not sped? have they not
divided the prey; to every man a damsel or two; to Sisera a prey of divers colours, a prey of divers colours of
needlework, of divers colours of needlework on both sides, meet for the necks
of them that take the spoil?
It
is the type of coat worn by King David’s daughter.
2Samuel
13:18 And she had a garment of divers colours upon her: for with such robes were the king’s
daughters that were virgins apparelled. Then his servant brought her out,
and bolted the door after her.
I
have read reports that there have been Egyptian tomb paintings showing traders
from the area of Canaan wearing such clothing, probably made more valuable by
the costly work of dyeing the fabric.
Because
Joseph was his father’s favorite his brothers were envious. The Jewish
leadership were envious of Christ, as well, because of His influence on the
people.
Matthew
27:17 Therefore when they were gathered
together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you?
Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? 18
For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
Here
we see that Joseph’s brothers hated him, which I showed before meant to hold
him in contempt, to despise him. They are jealous of Jacob’s love for Joseph.
Joseph
gave his father a report of his brother’s bad behavior. As Matthew Henry’s
commentary says one of the reasons his brothers hated him was, “Because he
informed his father of their wickedness.”
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