INTRODUCTION:

(Deuteronomy 4:2 [KJV])
Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.

(Proverbs 30:5, 6 [KJV])
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

(Isaiah 28:10 [KJV])
For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:

(Isaiah 28:13 [KJV])
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken.

(2 Peter 1:20 [KJV])
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

All of the studies found here, whether book studies or topical studies, are done with research with mainly two things: The KING JAMES BIBLE and a plain old, 1828 Webster's Dictionary. Why? Outside of actually studying secular and Jewish history, archaeology, one needs nothing more. You do not need foreign, dead languages that no one speaks, nor lexicons, nor concordances, nor commentaries, because they differ not only with one another and with the KING JAMES BIBLE, they create division, confusion, debate, and unbelief, apostasy, and a falling away from God Himself. We do not need them. That Word of God written and preserved for us in our own language is supposed to be enough, like the Old Testament was for the Jews, and as the New Testament was for the early Christians in Greek, Latin, Italian, Spanish, German, etc.

Tyndale Bible
Coverdale Bible
Matthew's Bible
Great Bible
Geneva Bible
Bishop's Bible
King James/Authorized Bible

There are studies within as tangents on words, subjects found within the two testaments, as to broaden the scope of the study, to learn more, deeper truths. This is not an intellectual site with PhDs, theologians, and no worldly wisdom.. Check everything out, everything. Not just here, but with everything you read and see and hear. Be Bereans:

(Acts 17:11 [KJV])
These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

(1 Thessalonians 2:13 [KJV])
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Always research for yourself, use all of the context, and never privately interpret!

Start of study

Genesis Chapter 37: GOD'S PLAN FOR JOSEPH, ISRAEL

In Genesis chapter thirty and thirty one, Jacob had to endure hardship under his father-in-law Laban, the father of Jacob's two wives, Rachel and Leah, having his wages changed, being lied to about his being able to leave, etc. By this time, Rachel his mother had passed givinh birth to his only brother Benjamin

(Genesis 35:16-19...24 [AKJV/PCE])
¶ And they journeyed from Beth-el; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Ben-oni: but his father called him Benjamin. And Rachel died, and was buried in the way to Ephrath, which is Beth-lehem.

(Genesis 35:24 [AKJV/PCE])
The sons of Rachel; Joseph, and Benjamin:

(Genesis 37:1)
And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan.

Out with Esau, in with Jacob
Esau was not really any enemy of the land and its people, because he became one of them
Esau is Edom (Genesis 36:8)
He dwelt there, as a stranger, but not as a Canaanite. It would one day be Jacob (Israel's) land from God

(Genesis 36:8-9 [AKJV/PCE])
Thus dwelt Esau in mount Seir: Esau is Edom. ¶ And these are the generations of Esau the father of the Edomites in mount Seir:

(Genesis 37:2)
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.

Joseph, like his father his brethren and family, was a herder, a worker
Apparently the sons of Bilhah were not very friendly with Joseph, as often happens when a parent has a favorite child
Thus it was true also of all of his brethren, not just these two

(Genesis 37:3)
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.

Usually, the oldest is a favorite, the middle one(s) kind of floundering in the midst, and the youngest also a favorite
This favor was because he was among the youngest not the oldest
Joseph was not being a slanderer or as a talebearer, just a caring younger brother, hoping that his father would discipline them
God chose Joseph to eventually be lord over all of them, including Jacob his father, in Pharaoh's house, so this would be why the ehnemy would use those closest to him to hate and persecute him

(Genesis 37:4)
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.

Typical brotherly rivalry, even today among siblings
Often those God will use or uses the enemies in this world, often those closest (spouses, children, parents, siblings) are used by the god of this world to persecute, attempting to stop God's plan.
That, of course, never works, Israel being the perfect example, now Israel and the church being two that the world cannot destroy

(Genesis 37:5-6)
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:

It may be that they were inattentive way too often to anything Joseph had to say, so he had to tell them "SHHHH!!!!! LISTEN TO ME!"
God works in mysterious ways, to His will, His choosing, as with many Old Testament, in dreams and visions, none of which today He would likely use, because we have His full, complete, perfect Word now to check

(Genesis 37:7)
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.

God showed him this future event, some years to come, not immediate

JOSEPH'S DREAM, IN GOD'S TIME

(Genesis 45:3-5 [AKJV/PCE])
And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence. And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.

(Genesis 45:26-28 [AKJV/PCE])
And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not. And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived: And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.

(Genesis 46:29 [AKJV/PCE])
And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.

(Genesis 37:8)
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.

This was not an actual question, as they already hated him because his father Jacob favored him
It was more of the attitude of, "How DARE you have a dream like that!? Who do think you are!?"

(Genesis 37:9)
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.

Already hating Joseph, this would have severely hurt their hearts filled with pride, which were against Joseph already, to hear Joseph would rule over them

(Genesis 37:10)
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?

Because Rachel had already passed, Bilhah her handmaiden took over as the surrogate mother to Joseph, on behalf of Rachel. Rachel had earlier died before this time during the birth of Benjamin and, as was and still is the custom, Bilhah became the surrogate mother to Joseph and Benjamin. Bilhah was Joseph's stepmother, literally being the mother who the dream of Joseph was about, the sun (Jacob), the moon (Rachel, but Bilhah in her stead, representing her) and Jacob's other eleven sons

(Genesis 37:11)
And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

The difference between those who hate a person and a person who loves them
Jacob knew that Joseph was not his enemy; he was just relating his dream

(Genesis 37:12)
And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem.

They went...................without Joseph
They were holding a grudge against him still for his dream

(Genesis 37:13)
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.

Jacob had to send Joseph, and Joseph obeyed his father

(Genesis 37:14)
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.

Jacob sent Joseph, expecting word back by Joseph, expecting Joseph to return, safely
He was not a member of the group of his brethren any longer, just a messenger, Jacob perhaps knowing there would be problems for now. Maybe later, when things cooled down with their anger

(Genesis 37:15-17)
And 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.

For whatever reason, Joseph had to ask this. It might have been that they regularly went to this place where this man found Joseph but, at this time, were nto there
It may be that none of the twelve children of Jacob ever went there to feed the flocks, as this man was "wondering why Joseph was wandering"
But the fact that Joseph calls them "their flocks" means he was no longer included among them, else he may have said, "our flocks"

(Genesis 37:18)
And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.

They did not want to chase him off, scold him, chastise him, beat him-they wanted Joseph dead, all except one, so that is ten brethren, all wanting him dead

(Genesis 37:19)
And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh.

Mocking and name calling ("this dreamer ") is a common practice among those who hate you
He is walking right to us, as the prey to the predators

(Genesis 37:20)
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.

This they knew, that their father would never go this far to come look for him, because they would agree that Joseph was killed, as a set of ten witnesses with corroborating testimonies
"Problem solved, no more dreams, no more favored son"
They meant it for evil, God meant it to save the entire nation of Israel, in time

(Genesis 37:21)
And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him.

And God had a remnant...He always does...He always will

(Genesis 37:22)
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.

He simply did not tell them his plan, and this plan would have revealed to their father how evil the ten were, which would have now protected Joseph, perhaps made Reuben now a new target, perhaps not, Jacob watching them more closely
Had this plan of the brethren succeeded, with Reuben included, then Joseph would have died in the pit
Had Reuben stepped in and went against them, and God not intervened, they would have merely included Reuben in the pit, or another pit, and told their father both of them went together and are dead
God had a Sovereign plan for Israel, and Joseph was part of that plan, so Joseph was spared by God, not Reuben. He merely used Reuben

(Genesis 37:23-24)
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.

If God did not have another plan for Joseph, for sure, three to four days tops, Joseph would have been dead
After that, they probably would have filled in the pit, as it would have been deep, and Joseph would be a memory to his father and them
But God intervened, with His own Sovereign plan

(Genesis 37:25)
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.

Not having a good conscience, seared with ah ot iron, they threw Joseph into the pit and went on about their day like nothing had happened, literally
They would be perfect, model citizens for today's apostate world
Lying to themselves that Joseph was an enemy
Lying to their father about how Joseph died
Murdering Joseph
Sitting down to eat, as if nothing happened, knowing their brother was deep in a pit, in their mind about to slowly die a cruel, horrible death

(1 Timothy 4:2 [AKJV/PCE])
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

(Genesis 37:26)
And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?

Reuben knew that the brethren would appreciate making some money off of this action, even better to them in their eyes
To his brethren, Joseph was an article. now a possession far from their father Jacob, too far for Jacob to see anything, just an item to sell, to kill, to hide, to do whatever, so profiting would work

(Genesis 37:27)
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.

Joseph's welfare was the least thing on their mind, they were content, thinking that the Ishmaelites would kill Joseph for them, plus they would get handsomely paid for it
Reuben was content in that it is possible that Joseph would be spared

(Genesis 37:28)
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.

Midianites and Ishmaelites are used interchangeably
Reuben want Joseph saved alive, with his brethren, his parents, but God wanted Joseph in Israel to save many, after the famine drew Jacob (Israel) to Egypt
God saved Joseph alive; just not how Reuben and we think, not by Reuben at all, but God's way, by Ishmaelites

ISHMAELITES? OR MIDIANITES?

All of the ancient, pagan nations intermarried, just as Israel did, which, when Israel did it, it was against God's will. The Gentiles were not aware and not under the same law as Israel was as it was, unless they came to Israel to join themselves to the nation, so this would be common to be an Ishmaelite and a Midianite. Skeptics, mostly "atheists"and Muslims, deny this and claim a contradiction, in a desperate attempt to "prove" the Bible is not God's Word, to no avail, of course. Basically, because of intermarrriages in the heathen nations, which was common and, because they all aligned as necessary to come against Israel, they were Midianites, Amalekites, etc. depending on where they were from, who they married, where they moved to, with whom they dealt in trade, etc.

(Genesis 36:1-2 [AKJV/PCE])
Now these are the generations of Esau, who is Edom. Esau took his wives of the daughters of Canaan; Adah the daughter of Elon the Hittite, and Aholibamah the daughter of Anah the daughter of Zibeon the Hivite;

(Genesis 25:1-2 [AKJV/PCE])
Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah. And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.

(Judges 7:12 [AKJV/PCE])
And the Midianites and the Amalekites and all the children of the east lay along in the valley like grasshoppers for multitude; and their camels were without number, as the sand by the sea side for multitude.

(Judges 8:5 [AKJV/PCE])
And he said unto the men of Succoth, Give, I pray you, loaves of bread unto the people that follow me; for they be faint, and I am pursuing after Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian.

(Judges 8:24 [AKJV/PCE])
¶ And Gideon said unto them, I would desire a request of you, that ye would give me every man the earrings of his prey. (For they had golden earrings, because they were Ishmaelites.)

THE BAN IN ISRAEL

It must be remembered that God is the law maker, therefore God can also allow things in order to do things, such as Moses marrying a Midianite woman, etc. It is His law to Israel, not theirs they made up. Often, when a member of Israel;s nation did it, the result was a new nation, now an enemy to Israel, sometimes to this day

(Deuteronomy 7:1-4 [AKJV/PCE])
When the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor shew mercy unto them: Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the LORD be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly.

(Exodus 34:16 [AKJV/PCE])
And thou take of their daughters unto thy sons, and their daughters go a whoring after their gods, and make thy sons go a whoring after their gods.

(1 Kings 11:1-2 [AKJV/PCE])
But king Solomon loved many strange women, together with the daughter of Pharaoh, women of the Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Zidonians, and Hittites; Of the nations concerning which the LORD said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall not go in to them, neither shall they come in unto you: for surely they will turn away your heart after their gods: Solomon clave unto these in love.

(Ezra 10:2-3 [AKJV/PCE])
And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, one of the sons of Elam, answered and said unto Ezra, We have trespassed against our God, and have taken strange wives of the people of the land: yet now there is hope in Israel concerning this thing. Now therefore let us make a covenant with our God to put away all the wives, and such as are born of them, according to the counsel of my lord, and of those that tremble at the commandment of our God; and let it be done according to the law.

(Nehemiah 10:30 [AKJV/PCE])
And that we would not give our daughters unto the people of the land, nor take their daughters for our sons:

(Genesis 37:29)
And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.

His intentions were clear, time to act on them to save his brother Joseph
Reuben, not knowing God's plan, now did not know what to think about Joseph's whereabouts, his fate

(Genesis 37:30-32)
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.

Reuben was the oldest and responsible to Jacob and Bilhah for Joseph's welfare, safety, Joseph's very life
He would have no explanation to give, except "Joseph is no more, I do not know what has become of him"
His brothers "took care of the "what happened to Joseph?" part, faking Joseph's death

(Genesis 37:33)
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.

Jacob, knowing the coat he gave Joseph, seeing it blood, had to be horrified, thinking Joseph died a horrible death

COATS OF SKINS COVERING SIN; COAT OF BLOOD, A TOTAL DUD

(Genesis 3:21 [AKJV/PCE])
Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

(Psalms 105:17-24 [AKJV/PCE])
He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him. The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free. He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance: To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom. Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.

(Genesis 42:5 [AKJV/PCE])
And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.

(Genesis 42:6-8 [AKJV/PCE])
And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.

(Genesis 44:27-29 [AKJV/PCE])
And thy servant my father said unto us, Ye know that my wife bare me two sons: And the one went out from me, and I said, Surely he is torn in pieces; and I saw him not since: And if ye take this also from me, and mischief befall him, ye shall bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave.

Pretty much all of Genesis 45:1-28 recounts how Joseph revealed himself to the brethren, Benjamin, and pleaded with them to bring Jacob his father to Egypt to see him alive

(Genesis 46:29-31 [AKJV/PCE])
And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive. And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father's house, I will go up, and shew Pharaoh, and say unto him, My brethren, and my father's house, which were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me;

(Genesis 37:34)
And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.

This is true parental love, even as we are often told upon losing a loved on (in this case, merely thinking he had) to "let them go" and "You need to get over it" and "have the LORD'S JOY!"
All of this is true, but those who truly love a lot mourn a lot and those who do not, barely mourn, and not for long. Then there is just simply personal fortitude, whicjh even unbelievers have, not just Christians

(Genesis 37:35)
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.

So, the rest of his life mourning for his son, the exact opposite of what the world, the church in America teaches us to do, "Get over it!"
It is our job to try and comfort; it is our job to leaver them alone when they refuse to be comforted and wait for a time

(Genesis 37:36)
And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.

The next part of God's plan to save Israel out of Egypt-GET ISRAEL INTO EGYPT
Not even Joseph knows about this plan yet, just knows his dreams will be fulfilled, not sure how yet; that is all future

Links to studies by book or topic are on the top menu.

Genesis Chapter 38