Summary of Genesis 37:1-11:
Joseph was Israel’s/Jacob’s favorite son, being the oldest son of Rachel. At age 17, he attended the flocks. He was given a rich robe as his father’s favorite, which made all of his brothers hate him. Joseph had a prophetic dream where his sheave of grain rose up and his brothers’ sheaves gathered around him and bowed down to it. This angered his brothers who understood the meaning and said he would never rule over them. Joseph had another dream where the sun, moon, and 11 stars bowed down to him. He told his brothers this dream and his father who rebuked him, saying that does he expect his mother, him and his brothers to bow down to him? His brothers again grew jealous, but Jacob knew it was from God and remembered it.
BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 23, Day 2: Genesis 37:1-11
3) His dreams
4a) God planned for Joseph to be the leader of Egypt.
b) God is good and great.
5) Jacob knew this dream was from God.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 23, Day 2: Genesis 37:1-11
Joseph is my absolute favorite person in the Bible (after Jesus, of course). I love this story!
Unsure why Joseph would tell his brothers his dreams, especially his second dream. Either 1) he was bragging or 2) he was utterly clueless how everyone hated him. Then again, he is a teenager. He has A LOT to learn about the world and how it works.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 23, Day 2: Genesis 37:1-11
We immediately notice that the family of Jacob is dysfunctional with kids from four different women, Jacob playing favorites amongst his kids and his wives, and the brothers murdering a whole town over the reputation of their sister. Yet, the story of Jospeh, Jacob, and Abraham is about God’s triumph over sin. He uses all of us despite our sins.
Joseph tattled on his brothers, which did not help his case.
The coat of many colors was probably not a work coat but one meant to show privilege.
Joseph’s First Dream
The first dream of Joseph conveyed the fact that he would rule over his brothers with the sheaves bowing down to him. Note the symbolism of the sheaves since Joseph will meet his brothers in Egypt when they come for grain during the famine.
Joseph’s Second Dream
Joseph’s second dream revealed that Joseph would be over his father and mother, as well as his brothers. This made everyone angry. This illustrates that sometimes keeping information to yourself, even if it’s from God, is best for all involved.
Note that here Rachel seems to still be alive Genesis 35:16-20,. This shows that Genesis is not in chronological order, probably to keep the story of Joseph as one whole here.
Note that most likely Jacob is ending his tale here and Joseph is picking it up so Joseph is telling his remembrances. Genesis 37:2: This is the genealogy of Jacob. You’ll see these transitions elsewhere in the book of Genesis Genesis 5:1, 6:9 and 25:19.
The sun, moon, and stars represents those from Jacob. We see this again in Revelation 12:1 as we Jesus coming from Israe.