So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring me word.” So he sent him from the Valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jacob’s request isn't just about checking on his sons and sheep; it’s a veiled expression of his fear for their safety, especially after the recent violence in Shechem. This subtle paternal anxiety colors his sending Joseph, his favorite, into a potentially dangerous situation.
So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring me word.” So he sent him from the Valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Following Joseph's dreams and his brothers' growing hatred for him, Jacob sends Joseph from their home near Hebron to check on his brothers and their flocks in Shechem. This journey takes Joseph to Shechem, a city where a previous act of violence by his brothers had caused significant regional tension, making Jacob's concern for their well-being understandable. Upon arriving in Shechem, Joseph discovers his brothers have moved on to Dothan, setting the stage for the next dramatic events.
Jacob sends Joseph on a mission into uncertain territory. What does this reveal about their relationship and Joseph's character?
Jacob, worried about his sons and flocks in distant Shechem, commissions Joseph to go and check on them. This simple request highlights a few things:
A Father's Concern
Jacob's question, 'see whether it is well with your brothers and with the flock,' reveals his deep paternal concern. He hasn't heard from them in a while and likely worries about their safety, especially given the history of conflict in the region (Genesis 34).
Joseph's Readiness
Joseph's immediate response, 'Here I am' (Genesis 37:13), demonstrates his willing obedience. Despite being favored and perhaps shielded by his father, he doesn't hesitate to follow instructions, even if it means a long and potentially perilous journey.
The Journey Begins
Sent from the familiar 'valley of Hebron' to the more distant 'Shechem,' Joseph embarks on a journey that will profoundly change his life. This act of obedience, though seemingly simple, sets in motion a chain of events leading to his eventual rise.
Why would Jacob send his favorite son, Joseph, on such a task? What does this reveal about their dynamic?
Jacob's decision to send Joseph, his 'son of old age' and the recipient of a special 'coat of many colors,' is layered with meaning:
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A Calculated Risk
While Joseph's obedience is clear, Jacob's decision to send him is particularly striking. This wasn't just any son; Joseph was Jacob's favorite, the one born in his old age, and clearly doted upon. Sending him into a potentially dangerous situation, where his brothers already harbored deep resentment (Genesis 37:4), suggests either a degree of naivete or a trust that Joseph's presence might foster reconciliation.
The Familial Divide
The brothers' intense hatred, fueled by Jacob's favoritism and Joseph's dreams, created a tense family atmosphere. Jacob's command, intended to check on the distant brothers and flocks, inadvertently places Joseph directly into the path of this simmering animosity. It highlights the painful distance and lack of trust that had grown between Jacob's sons.
Providence at Work
From our vantage point, we see that this mission, seemingly ordinary, is orchestrated by God's providence. It's the very act that brings Joseph face-to-face with his brothers, leading directly to the events that will shape his destiny and the future of Israel.
Understand the original words
shalom · Hebrew Noun
A term (shalom) denoting completeness, soundness, welfare, peace, and health. It implies not just the absence of conflict but a state of wholeness and prosperity under God's favor.
Chebron · Hebrew Proper Noun
A place associated with the ancestors of Israel; historically significant as the site of burial for the patriarchs and a center of early covenant history. It suggests a place of established roots and divine promise.
This verse places Joseph's journey into a landscape of family tension and long-distance communication. Jacob's concern for his sons' welfare highlights the precariousness of their existence in Canaan, while Joseph's obedience sets him on the path to his destiny.
~1898 BC
Jacob settles near Hebron
After years of nomadic life and struggle, Jacob's family is settled in the land of Canaan, near the established city of Hebron. This period marks a semblance of stability before the tumultuous events involving Joseph.
~1881 BC— this verse
Joseph is sent to his brothers
Jacob, residing in the valley near Hebron, sends his favorite son, Joseph, to check on his older brothers and their flocks in the distant city of Shechem, a journey of about sixty miles.
~1881 BC
Brothers conspire against Joseph
Upon seeing Joseph approach, his envious brothers plot to kill him. Reuben intervenes, persuading them to cast Joseph into a pit instead of shedding his blood.
~1881 BC
Joseph is sold to Ishmaelites
The brothers sell Joseph to a caravan of Ishmaelite traders heading to Egypt for twenty pieces of silver, a decision spearheaded by Judah.
~1881 BC
Joseph arrives in Egypt
The Ishmaelites bring Joseph to Egypt, where he is sold to Potiphar, an official in Pharaoh's court.
~1870 BC
Joseph's early years in Egypt
Joseph experiences a period of rising influence and subsequent unjust imprisonment in Egypt, demonstrating his faithfulness and resilience.
This passage highlights the rejection Jesus faced from His own people, mirroring how Joseph was sent to his brothers, who then rejected him. It shows a pattern of divine sending and human rejection.
Matthew 2:16Just as Herod sought to kill the young Jesus, Joseph's brothers conspired to kill him, demonstrating a recurring theme of innocent individuals targeted by those in power or close relation.
Romans 8:28This verse speaks to God working all things for good for those who love Him, which is the ultimate unfolding of Joseph's story after his perilous journey. It provides the divine perspective on events that seem tragic and unjust at the moment.
Proverbs 19:21The proverb states that many are the plans in the heart of a man, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails. This resonates with Jacob's plan to send Joseph and his brothers' wicked intentions, both ultimately subservient to God's sovereign plan for Joseph's life.
calvinGenesis 37:1-36: "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.
Istae sunt generationes Iahacob. Joseph filius septendecim annorum pascebat cum fratribus suis pecudes, et erat puer cum filiis Bil…
pooleGenesis 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."
No text from Poole on this verse.
Jacob’s request isn't just about checking on his sons and sheep; it’s a veiled expression of his fear for their safety, especially after the recent violence in Shechem. This subtle paternal anxiety colors his sending Joseph, his favorite, into a potentially dangerous situation.
Following Joseph's dreams and his brothers' growing hatred for him, Jacob sends Joseph from their home near Hebron to check on his brothers and their flocks in Shechem. This journey takes Joseph to Shechem, a city where a previous act of violence by his brothers had caused significant regional tension, making Jacob's concern for their well-being understandable. Upon arriving in Shechem, Joseph discovers his brothers have moved on to Dothan, setting the stage for the next dramatic events.
Following Joseph's dreams and his brothers' growing hatred for him, Jacob sends Joseph from their home near Hebron to check on his brothers and their flocks in Shechem. This journey takes Joseph to Shechem, a city where a previous act of violence by his brothers had caused significant regional tension, making Jacob's concern for their well-being understandable. Upon arriving in Shechem, Joseph discovers his brothers have moved on to Dothan, setting the stage for the next dramatic events.
"So he said to him, “Go now, see if it is well with your brothers and with the flock, and bring me word.” So he sent him from the Valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem." — Jacob’s request isn't just about checking on his sons and sheep; it’s a veiled expression of his fear for their safety, especially after the recent violence in Shechem. This subtle paternal anxiety c…
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Last reviewed October 2026