Genesis 37:20
Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
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The brothers' plan isn't just about getting rid of Joseph; it's a direct assault on God's promise to him. By asking "what will become of his dreams?" they're essentially challenging God's ability to fulfill what He's shown Joseph, revealing their deep defiance against divine plans.
Joseph's brothers, consumed by envy over their father's favoritism and Joseph's prophetic dreams of their submission, have lured him away to a desolate place. When they see him approaching, their hatred boils over into a violent conspiracy, leading them to consider the unthinkable: murder. They plot to kill him, dispose of the body in a hidden cistern, and then fabricate a story about a wild animal to cover their crime and mock his visions.
Joseph's brothers, consumed by jealousy, plotted his death. What drives such hatred, and how does it twist the mind?
The brothers' envy wasn't just a passing feeling; it was a deep-seated resentment fueled by their father's favoritism and Joseph's dreams. Their plan to kill him and fabricate a story shows how envy can lead to cold, calculated cruelty. It strips away empathy, making them willing to destroy their own kin. This highlights a fundamental human struggle: the battle against envy that seeks to extinguish what it cannot possess or understand.
Their cruel logic in verse 20 is chilling: 'Let us slay him... and we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.' They believed that by ending Joseph's life, they could also end his aspirations and prophecies. They saw his dreams not as God's promises, but as a personal affront to their own status.
The brothers devised a plan to deceive Joseph's father. But was their deception truly effective in the eyes of the One who sees all?
The brothers' scheme to disguise their crime reveals a critical flaw in human thinking: the belief that hiding something from others means it's hidden from God. They concocted a story about a wild beast devouring Joseph, a plausible lie in their environment. This act of deception was meant to shield them from their father's grief and anger, and perhaps even from their own conscience.
However, the text implicitly reminds us that God's gaze pierces through all human plots and pretenses. Their attempt to 'cover their crime' and 'conceal his blood,' as Judah later says, ultimately fails because their actions are laid bare before the Almighty. This teaches us that true accountability isn't just to people, but to a holy God who knows our hearts and motives.
Even as Joseph's brothers plotted his demise, God was weaving a plan for his salvation and future. How does this verse reveal divine providence?
This moment of intense human cruelty is also a profound display of God's sovereign hand. While the brothers intended to kill Joseph and extinguish his dreams, God was already orchestrating events. The mention of 'one of the pits' (cisterns) is significant. These were often deep, dry wells, a seemingly final resting place. Yet, it becomes a temporary holding place from which Joseph is rescued.
Understand the original words
bowr · Hebrew Noun
A hollow place or underground cistern used for storing water or, metaphorically, a grave or place of imprisonment. It signifies danger, abandonment, and hopelessness in biblical narratives.
chayyah ra'ah · Hebrew Noun phrase
Wild or savage beasts that roam outside of human civilization. They are often used symbolically to represent chaotic, destructive forces or judgment from God.
chalowm · Hebrew Noun
Refers to the divine messages or visions given by God to reveal His will or future purposes. They are often symbolic and require interpretation by those gifted by the Holy Spirit.
This passage directly parallels Joseph's story, highlighting how God used betrayal and hardship, including being sold and imprisoned, to bring about His purposes, mirroring the intent of Joseph's brothers to crush his dreams.
Matthew 27:3-4Judas' betrayal of Jesus, driven by greed and leading to Jesus' death, echoes the brothers' plot to kill Joseph. The text reveals Judas' own regret and confession, a stark contrast to the hardened hearts of Joseph's brothers in this moment.
Acts 7:9Stephen recounts the story of Joseph, emphasizing that the patriarchs, driven by envy, sold Joseph into slavery. This reference underscores the recurring theme of envy leading to attempted destruction of God's chosen one.
Proverbs 1:11-14This proverb speaks about sinners plotting to shed blood and lying in wait for the innocent, which directly reflects the actions and deceptive plan of Joseph's brothers. It shows how such schemes are ultimately foolish and self-destructive.
gillGenesis 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."
Come now therefore, and let us slay him,.... Agree to do it, and actually do it: and cast him into some pit; or, "one of the pits" (s), which were near, and were dug for the collection of rainwater, as was usual in those countries where water was scarce: and we will say, some evil beast hath devoured him; which…
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…
The brothers' plan isn't just about getting rid of Joseph; it's a direct assault on God's promise to him. By asking "what will become of his dreams?" they're essentially challenging God's ability to fulfill what He's shown Joseph, revealing their deep defiance against divine plans.
Joseph's brothers, consumed by envy over their father's favoritism and Joseph's prophetic dreams of their submission, have lured him away to a desolate place. When they see him approaching, their hatred boils over into a violent conspiracy, leading them to consider the unthinkable: murder. They plot to kill him, dispose of the body in a hidden cistern, and then fabricate a story about a wild animal to cover their crime and mock his visions.
Joseph's brothers, consumed by envy over their father's favoritism and Joseph's prophetic dreams of their submission, have lured him away to a desolate place. When they see him approaching, their hatred boils over into a violent conspiracy, leading them to consider the unthinkable: murder. They plot to kill him, dispose of the body in a hidden cistern, and then fabricate a story about a wild animal to cover their crime and mock his visions.
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This isn't accidental. God uses the brothers' wicked plot, and even Reuben's attempt to save Joseph by placing him in the pit, as stepping stones in His plan. The brothers thought they were seeing the end of Joseph's dreams, but God intended the pit as a prelude to his rise. This demonstrates that even the darkest human actions cannot thwart God's ultimate purposes. He can bring good out of evil, and salvation out of destruction.
"Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.”" — The brothers' plan isn't just about getting rid of Joseph; it's a direct assault on God's promise to him. By asking "what will become of his dreams?" they're essentially challenging God's ability to…
