Joseph, the Coat, and his Brothers who Sold him into Slavery - Genesis 37

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Jacob and his family are finally rooted in the land God promised them.

Many scholars believe Joseph's coat was a "full length coat", a "long sleeved coat", or a "richly ornamented coat", any of which would be the uniform of management in a business, rather than labour. Dad was probably putting Joseph in charge. In this case, coming back to Dad with a report would have been his job. Also, showing this kind of leadership early over his older brothers foreshadows a lifetime of second in command leadership.

Was Joseph sent to check on his brothers at Shechem because of the violence at Shechem from his brothers two decades before? Did his father still suspect his sons?

Joseph, the youngest of the sons, was a shepherd. Before he even had dreams, he gave his brothers reason to be hostile by giving his father a bad report about them.

Joseph had dreams. God's promises came when he was young. His brothers and Father were provoked to jealousy over his dreams.

Which mother was his dream about? His mother died when he was ten and his little brother was born. Was his mother's handmaiden his new mother?

Even though Joseph was not the oldest, he was still the firstborn of their father’s favourite wife. It may be that Rueben has expected his whole life to receive the birthright, but now Joseph may be seen as the “legitimate” firstborn ahead of even him. Just like Ismael and Isaac before them, the younger son of the preferred wife may be the next in line.

Joseph’s dreams would certainly have brought to mind the issue of birthright and family name to the brothers. This preferred son coming late into the game would have been annoying at best. For Rueben, Joseph’s dreams may have trampled his own. He probably had been preparing to be the next patriarch of the family. Joseph’s dreams and his father’s obvious preferences could have been shattering to him.
Just as Ishmael was sent away WITHOUT the birthright, so do these brothers try to send away Joseph. It is notable that Joseph is sent away with Ishmaelites.

With Rueben’s birthright in question, the other two firstborn of wife three and four, Dan and Gad, may also be vying for position. The atmosphere isn’t great for brotherly unity.

Rueben is ready to rescue Joseph, his competition for the birthright.

Jacob is fooled by his senses by deceptive sons just as he deceived his own father. Isaac ate stew and felt hairy arms, and believed he was blessing Esau. Jacob sees a bloodstained cloak and believes his son has died.

Jacob's (Israel's) sons were as deceptive toward him as he had been toward his own father. Jacob wore his brother’s clothes to deceive his father. Joseph’s coat is used by his brothers to deceive Jacob. The jealous brothers sold Joseph to the older brother not of the promise, Ishmael.

Is Joseph mourning the loss of his son only or the covenant as well?

Foreshadowing Jesus -

Sold by his brothers for twenty pieces of silver – mirrored in Christ being betrayed for thirty pieces of silver. Both are considered the cost of a slave in their time.

Also, they have a meal of bread before the betrayal. Joseph ends up being falsely accused and sentenced to prison. Through Joseph's life and suffering, his family is redeemed from the drought. Joseph's brothers are forgiven by Joseph for their betrayal. Joseph is glorified.