Stirring Up Conflict

Genesis 37:2-11

Isaac had favored Esau while Rebekah had favored Jacob, creating a jealousy between the boys. Then Jacob was tricked into marrying Leah when he loved Rachael, when he married Rachael as well, jealousy and conflict became a way of life. Rachael’s death in giving birth to Benjamin probably accentuated the favoritism. The story takes place ten or eleven years after Jacob’s return from Padanaram.

“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.” (Genesis 37:2

Jacob had not formally married Bilhah or Zilpah, yet the scripture recognizes them as his wives. Leah’s four sons were not with the others herding the flocks, but Jacob was. Apparently they were not behaving as they should, and Jacob told on them. Having been raised surrounded by jealousy and conflict, the older boys were angered by Jacob’s tattling.

“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 their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.” (Genesis 37:3-4)

Joseph was the oldest son of his favorite wife, but younger than all the kids but Benjamin and Dinah. In his old age, Jacob doted on Joseph, giving him expensive gifts and aggravating the jealousy of the other boys. He could have hardly done anything more likely to stir up resentment between his children and their hatred reached a point where the boys wouldn’t speak to Joseph.

“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: 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.” (Genesis 37:5-7)

God sent Joseph a dream about future events, that one day the other boys would look up to him, probably to comfort Joseph in his isolation. Joseph couldn’t wait to rub it in that some day his brothers would be bowing to him.

“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.” (Genesis 37:8)

His snotty attitude and superior airs further inflamed his brother’s anger. Their hatred grew stronger as a result. Joseph just wouldn’t quit.

“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.

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?” (Genesis 37:9-10)

Even his father was troubled by Joseph’s claims that one day the entire family would be bowing down to him. Though the jealousy was largely the result of his own favoritism, even Jacob realized how offensive Joseph’s attitude was and rebuked him. It was probably the first time he’d realized just how spoiled Joseph had become.

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

Though he’d been offended by Joseph’s flaunting of his dream, Jacob took it seriously, believing it came from God. That he didn’t remonstrate more strongly on their behalf only made his brothers more jealous. They knew what would have happened to them if they had said something like that.