GENESIS CHAPTER 37 ------------------ Verse 1, Pink calls the remaining chapters "The sunset of Jacob's life." Verses 2-4, Pink says, That in Abraham we have the doctrine of election illustrated; in Isaac we have the doctrine of divine Sonship; in Jacob the conflict of the two natures in the believer. He says that Joseph, typically, speaks to us of heirship preceded by suffering and points forward to the time when the sons and heirs shall reign together with Christ. Pink points out that there are 7 saints who have prominent positions in the book of Genesis (Adam, Abel, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph). But more space is devoted to Joseph than any of the previous 6. Pink says that he is the connection between Exodus and Genesis. That his life is described in such fulness of detail because almost everything in it typified something in connection with Christ. 1) His name: Joseph had two names: Joseph and Zaphnathpaaneah (given to him by Pharaoh). Joseph = Yowceph {yo-safe'} "Jehovah has added" The first Adam was the great subtractor, but the last Adam was the great adder. In the first Adam men became lost, but in the last Adam men became found. Christ adds to heaven's inhabitants. Zaphnath-paaneah = "treasury of the glorious rest" Pink says that this name means "revealer of secrets." Jesus the Christ revealed the hearts of men. Lu 2:34 And Simeon blessed them, and said unto Mary his mother, Behold, this [child] is set for the fall and rising again of many in Israel; and for a sign which shall be spoken against; 35 (Yea, a sword shall pierce through thy own soul also,) that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed. Joseph revealed the heart of his father and also the heart of his brethren. Jesus revealed the heart of His Father and the heart of the ones given to him. Everywhere the Lord Jesus went he exposed all. He exposed the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. They were good actors, but he knew their hearts and revealed it to all. 2) His occupation: He was a shepherd, "feeding the flock" in verse 2. So to, Jesus is the "good shepherd." 3) His opposition to evil: Joseph brought unto his father their evil report (vs 2). Joseph was not a tattle-tail but a truth-speaker. Compare Christ: Joh 7:7 The world cannot hate you; but me it hateth, because I TESTIFY of it, that the works thereof are evil. 4) His father's love for him: "Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children." Benjamin was the other son that was born of Rachel. Joseph being a type of the Lord Jesus Christ, therefore Abraham loved Joseph more than his other sons just as Jesus was the Father's BELOVED Son (Matt 3:17). 5) The son of his father's old age - perhaps this points to the eternality of the Father and the fact that Jesus is the eternal Son of God. 6) His coat of many colours - Compare 2Sa 13:18 2Sa 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. Jud 5:30 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? So the coat of many colours represented honour and a noble birth. No doubt Jacob was singling him out as one that was special, being the first of two sons born to Rachel while many of his other sons were born to slave wives. Jesus was a Jew, but was born of a virgin and was different than his brethren. 7) His brethren's hatred for him (vs 4) - The hated him because their father loved Joseph more than any of his sons. The Pharisees hated Christ, the beloved Son, especially when he revealed their hypocrisy. When you are revealed to be a sinner, either you will hate the truth and try and hide behind your filthy rags of self-righteousness or you will come to Christ and trust in His righteousness. Verses 5-11, Joseph's dream 1) Three times in this passage we are told that his brethren hated and envied him more for his words. They hated him for who and what he was, and they also hated him for his words. So to, Jesus was hated because of who he said he was (the Son of God) and what He was (King of Israel) and because of His words (He revealed their sinfulness). Joh 3:20* For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. {reproved: or, discovered} 2) Joseph's dream was prophetic in nature - This we see from verse 10, where Jacob viewed it as future, notice the words "come to" which suggests some time in the future. We see in this prophetic dream that Joseph would be exalted to a place of Sovereignty. That he would reign and rule over his brethren. Eventually he would be over all Egypt and his brethren would come and bow down to him and he would out of his own sovereign heart show them mercy. So to, Christ was hated by the Jews because of who He said he was, King over them. They hated him because of the future He revealed about himself, being King over a Kingdom. Mat 26:64 Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven. 65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. They killed the lowly one, but he will come back to this earth and they will be forced to flea to him for refuge and He will in His sovereignty have mercy on His brethren, according to the flesh, just as Joseph had mercy on his brethren. This here is a picture of the future where Israel will bow down to Jesus Christ. Zec 12:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, [that] I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem. 10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for [his] only [son], and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for [his] firstborn. 3) The sun, moon and eleven stars - This speaks of Josephs father and mother and eleven brethren. Pink says that it is also typical of Christ's reign over heaven. Mt 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Compare: Re 12:1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: Can this be none other than the nation of Israel? Verses 12-13, Joseph sent by his father to his brethren. The brethren of Joseph are seen away from their father, up to no good perhaps. Jacob being concerned about their welfare sends his beloved son to them. Joseph responds immediately to his father's request. So to, Jesus was sent to the house of Israel, who were his people, and they betrayed him and sold him (Judas) and slew him. Verse 14, He came out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem for the welfare of his brethren. Hebron means association or communion, the vale signifying the valley (a resting place). So Joseph left the communion and resting place he had with his father and went to Shechem, which means back or shoulder (bearing a burden on the back or shoulder). Shechem was mentioned before in scripture (Gen 34:25-30) where sin, sorrow, evil passions, and bloodsheding had taken place. So Christ left the communion He had with His Father and came to this earth to be a servant and to bear the sin of many. Verses 15-16, The field is the world according to Jesus' parables. A wanderer in the field or the world, compare: Mt 8:20 And Jesus saith unto him, The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air [have] nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay [his] head. The world was not his home anymore than the field was Joseph's home. Verse 17, Joseph seeks out his brethren till he finds them. So to the Lord Jesus seeks and finds all of his lost sheep. Dothan = "two wells", Dr. Haldeman says that Dothan signifies "law or custom." Jesus came to His brethren who were dwelling under the bondage of the law and had changed God's law into the customs of the Pharisees. Verse 18, Joseph's brethren conspired to slay him. So too Herod conspired how that he might kill Jesus, and also the Pharisees conspired how that they might kill Him. Mat 12:14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a COUNCIL against him, how they might destroy him. Mt 27:1 When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: Joh 11:53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put him to death. Verses 19-22, They disbelieved his dreams and sought to slay him to see what would become of his dreams. So too with Christ. The Pharisees thought that they were bringing to nought the sayings of Jesus, but only fulfilled them. Mat 27:40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest [it] in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross. 41 Likewise also the chief priests mocking [him], with the scribes and elders, said, 42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. Perhaps Reuben is typical of Nicodemus, who was in the middle, so to speak. Verse 23, They insulted him by stripping him of his garment of many colours. Compare: Mat 27:27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band [of soldiers]. 28 And they STRIPPED him, and put on him a scarlet robe. 29 And when they had platted a crown of thorns, they put [it] upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and MOCKED him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews! Joh 19:23 Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to every soldier a part; and also [his] coat: now the coat was without seam, woven from the top throughout. 24 They said therefore among themselves, Let us not rend it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be: that the scripture might be fulfilled, which saith, They parted my raiment among them, and for my vesture they did cast lots. These things therefore the soldiers did. Verse 24, They cast him into the pit with no water. Zech 9:11 As for thee also, by the blood of thy covenant I have sent forth thy prisoners out of the pit wherein [is] no water. {by...: or, whose covenant is by blood} Pink says that this signifies Hades. Mat 12:40 For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Verses 25-36, 1) Joseph was taken alive out of the pit in his own body. Jesus arose from the grave in his own body. 2) They sat down to eat bread after their deed. Mat 27:35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots. 36 And sitting down they watched him there; 3) The Jews wanted Pilate to put him to death. They did not want to do it themselves. Joh 18:31 Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death: 4) Joseph is sold: It was one of the brethren who came up with this idea, Judah (vs 26). It was Judas who sold the Lord Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Judas means Judah. Greek = Ioudas {ee-oo-das'} of Hebrew origin 03063;; n m ³ AV - Judas (Iscariot) 22, Juda (Son of Jacob) 7, Judah (Son of Jacob) 1, Judas (Son of Jacob) 2, Judas (Brother of James) 3, Jude (Brother of James) 1, Judas Barsabas 3, Juda (Ancestors of Jesus 2, misc 4; 45 Judah or Judas = "he shall be praised" 1) the fourth son of Jacob 2) an unknown ancestor of Christ 3) a man surnamed the Galilean, who at the time of the census of Quirinus, excited the revolt in Galilee, Acts 5:37 4) a certain Jew of Damascus, Acts 9:11 5) a prophet surnamed Barsabas, of the church at Jerusalem, Acts 15:22,27,32 6) the apostle, Jn 14:22, who was surnamed Lebbaeus or Thaddaeus, and according to opinion wrote the Epistle of Jude. 7) the half-brother of Jesus, Mt. 13:55 8) Judas Iscariot, the apostle who betrayed Jesus 5) Joseph's blood sprinkled coat presented to his father Jacob. So to, the blood of Jesus, the scapegoat, is presented to His Father.