And as they sat down to eat a meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying spices, balm, and myrrh on their way down to Egypt. And as they sat down to eat a mealThis phrase highlights the callousness of Joseph's brothers, who, after throwing him into a pit, are indifferent enough to sit down and eat. This act of eating while their brother is in distress underscores their lack of compassion and foreshadows their later actions. In biblical culture, sharing a meal often signifies fellowship and peace, yet here it is marked by betrayal and indifference. they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead
The Ishmaelites, descendants of Ishmael, Abraham's son with Hagar, are traders traveling from Gilead, a region known for its balm and spices. This connection to Ishmael highlights the ongoing narrative of family divisions and tensions that trace back to Abraham. Gilead's location east of the Jordan River was known for its medicinal products, indicating the trade routes and economic activities of the time. Their camels were carrying spices, balm, and myrrh
These goods were valuable trade items in the ancient Near East. Spices and myrrh were used for anointing and embalming, while balm was a healing ointment. The mention of these items not only provides historical context about trade practices but also foreshadows the later use of myrrh in the burial of Jesus (John 19:39), drawing a typological connection between Joseph and Christ. on their way down to Egypt
Egypt serves as a significant location in biblical history, often representing a place of both refuge and bondage. Joseph's journey to Egypt sets the stage for the Israelites' eventual enslavement and the Exodus. This movement towards Egypt also prefigures the flight of Jesus' family to Egypt to escape Herod's massacre (Matthew 2:13-15), further linking Joseph's story to the life of Christ. Persons / Places / Events 1. Joseph's BrothersThe sons of Jacob, who were envious of Joseph and plotted against him. They are the ones who sat down to eat after throwing Joseph into a pit. 2. IshmaelitesA group of traders descending from Ishmael, Abraham's son with Hagar. They were traveling from Gilead to Egypt, carrying goods for trade. 3. GileadA region east of the Jordan River, known for its balm, a valuable resin used for medicinal purposes. 4. EgyptA powerful and prosperous nation in ancient times, often a destination for trade due to its wealth and resources. 5. CaravanA group of travelers, often merchants, journeying together for safety and commerce, in this case, transporting valuable goods. Teaching Points God's Sovereignty in Human AffairsDespite the brothers' malicious intent, God used their actions to fulfill His greater plan for Joseph and the nation of Israel. The Consequences of Envy and HatredThe brothers' envy led them to sin against Joseph, reminding us of the destructive power of unchecked negative emotions. The Role of Divine ProvidenceThe appearance of the Ishmaelite caravan was not a coincidence but a part of God's providential plan to bring Joseph to Egypt. Trusting God's PlanEven when circumstances seem dire, like Joseph in the pit, believers can trust that God is working for their good and His glory. The Importance of ReconciliationJoseph's account ultimately leads to reconciliation with his brothers, teaching the value of forgiveness and restoration in relationships. Bible Study Questions 1. How does the presence of the Ishmaelites in this account reflect God's overarching plan for Joseph's life and the future of Israel? 2. In what ways can envy and jealousy manifest in our lives today, and how can we guard against these sins? 3. How does the concept of divine providence in Joseph's account encourage you in your current life circumstances? 4. What parallels can you draw between the balm of Gilead and the healing offered through Christ in the New Testament? 5. How can Joseph's eventual reconciliation with his brothers inspire us to seek forgiveness and restoration in our own relationships? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 16The origin of the Ishmaelites, tracing back to Ishmael, Abraham's son, highlighting the interconnectedness of biblical families and nations. Genesis 45Joseph's eventual rise to power in Egypt, showing God's providence and the fulfillment of His plans despite human actions. Jeremiah 8:22References to the balm of Gilead, symbolizing healing and restoration, which can be seen as a foreshadowing of spiritual healing through Christ. People Bilhah, Ishmaelites, Jacob, Joseph, Medanites, Midianites, Pharaoh, Potiphar, Reuben, ZilpahPlaces Canaan, Chezib, Dothan, Egypt, Gilead, Shechem, Valley of HebronTopics Aromatic, Balm, Balsam, Band, Bearing, Behold, Bore, Bread, Bring, Camels, Caravan, Carry, Company, Eat, Egypt, Gilead, Gum, Ishmaelites, Ish'maelites, Ladanum, Lift, Lifted, Loaded, Meal, Myrrh, Perfumes, Raised, Sat, Seating, Sit, Spicery, Spices, Themselves, Tragacanth, TravellingDictionary of Bible Themes Genesis 37:25 4408 balm
4466 herbs and spices
4486 myrrh
4496 perfume
5415 money, uses of
5590 travel Genesis 37:1-35 5738 sons Genesis 37:12-33 5661 brothers Genesis 37:18-27 8828 spite Genesis 37:18-28 5828 danger Genesis 37:23-28 5365 kidnapping
7447 slavery, in OT Genesis 37:25-28 5407 merchants
5587 trade Library Joseph, the Prime Minister
'And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureThe Trials and visions of Devout Youth
'And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. 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. 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. And when his brethren saw that …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Man's Passions and God's Purpose
'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. 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. And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Talmage -- a Bloody Monster
Thomas De Witt Talmage was born at Bound Brook, N.J., in 1832. For many years he preached to large and enthusiastic congregations at the Brooklyn Tabernacle. At one time six hundred newspapers regularly printed his sermons. He was a man of great vitality, optimistic by nature, and particularly popular with young people. His voice was rather high and unmusical, but his distinct enunciation and earnestness of manner gave a peculiar attraction to his pulpit oratory. His rhetoric has been criticized …
Grenville Kleiser—The world's great sermons, Volume 8 The Crucifixion.
"He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth not His mouth."--Isaiah liii. 7. St. Peter makes it almost a description of a Christian, that he loves Him whom he has not seen; speaking of Christ, he says, "whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." Again he speaks of "tasting that the …
John Henry Newman—Parochial and Plain Sermons, Vol. VII The Sixth Commandment
Thou shalt not kill.' Exod 20: 13. In this commandment is a sin forbidden, which is murder, Thou shalt not kill,' and a duty implied, which is, to preserve our own life, and the life of others. The sin forbidden is murder: Thou shalt not kill.' Here two things are to be understood, the not injuring another, nor ourselves. I. The not injuring another. [1] We must not injure another in his name. A good name is a precious balsam.' It is a great cruelty to murder a man in his name. We injure others in …
Thomas Watson—The Ten Commandments Appendix 2 Extracts from the Babylon Talmud
Massecheth Berachoth, or Tractate on Benedictions [76] Mishnah--From what time is the "Shema" said in the evening? From the hour that the priests entered to eat of their therumah [77] until the end of the first night watch. [78] These are the words of Rabbi Eliezer. But the sages say: Till midnight. Rabban Gamaliel says: Until the column of the morning (the dawn) rises. It happened, that his sons came back from a banquet. They said to him: "We have not said the Shema.'" He said to them, "If the column …
Alfred Edersheim—Sketches of Jewish Social Life Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of …
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament Links Genesis 37:25 NIVGenesis 37:25 NLTGenesis 37:25 ESVGenesis 37:25 NASBGenesis 37:25 KJV
Genesis 37:25 Commentaries
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