Genesis 41:37–41:57 Pharaoh and his officials were impressed with Joseph.
They saw the touch of God’s Spirit on his life (vv. 37-
38). Pharaoh made Joseph governor of all of Egypt (vv.
39-41), placed his ring on his hand (v. 42), gave him
royal clothing to wear, let him ride to ride in the second
chariot, and had ... Read more
Genesis 41:17–41:36 Pharaoh told how in his dream seven skinny cows ate
seven healthy cows (vv. 17-21). In another dream
seven thin heads of grain swallowed seven good heads
of grain (vv. 22-24). His magicians could not tell him
the meaning. After hearing the dreams Joseph
immed¬iately interprets them. Both ... Read more
Genesis 41:1–41:16 Two years had gone by, and Joseph was still in prison
(v. 1). Then one day Pharaoh had two dreams that
caused him great distress (vv. 2-7). He dreamed that
he was standing by the Nile River, and he saw seven fat
healthy cows coming up out of the water (vv. 1-2).
They ate grass in a field. Then ... Read more
Genesis 40:1–40:23 While in prison Joseph met two people: the butler and
the baker (vv. 1-4). The “butler” was the king’s
cupbearer, and the “baker” cooked the king’s bread.
Both had offended the king and been sent to prison.
One morning, Joseph observed that the two men were
very upset. He asked them ... Read more
Genesis 38:1–38:30 Judah, the brother who suggested they sell Joseph,
married a Canaanite woman. They had three sons, Er,
Onan, and Shelah (vv. 1-5). Intermarriage with the
Canaanites had been avoided up to this time. Judah’s
first son Er died because he was wicked (vv. 6-11). By
custom the “husband’s ... Read more
Genesis 37:18–37:36 This passage is both a story of hatred and deception.
When the brothers saw Joseph coming, they plotted to
kill him (vv. 18-20), but Reuben wanting to protect his
brother, suggested that they place him in a pit, which
they did (vv. 21-22). Reuben planned to rescue Joseph
later and take him back ... Read more
Genesis 37:1–37:17 The events of this chapter took place a few years
before Isaac’s death, while Jacob and his family were
living near Hebron (v. 1). The story begins with Joseph,
the 17-year-old son of Jacob, bringing a bad report to
his father about his half-brothers (v. 2). Naturally his
brothers Envy him ... Read more
Genesis 36:1–36:43 The first eight verses give us details about Esau
and his family; his wives who he chose from the women
of Canaan (vv. 1-3), his sons (vv. 4-5), and his
enormous wealth (vv. 6-8). Esau was Edom and the
Edomites were his descendants. He had three wives,
Adah, Oholibamah and Basemath ... Read more
Genesis 35:1–35:29 After the massacre in Shechem, Jacob returned to
Bethel, in need of a decisive word from God. The Lord
reminded Jacob of his forgotten vows. Along the way
Jacob’s wives and children had picked up idols. Jacob
decided to go to Bethel and build an altar to God who
had been at his side ... Read more
Genesis 34:1–34:31 A very tragic story unfolds in this chapter. Dinah,
Jacob’s daughter by Leah, who must have been about
14 years of age, ended up having physical relations
with Shechem, the son of Hamor (vv. 1-2). When
Jacob’s family found out, her two brothers, Simeon and
Levi, were infuriated. They ... Read more
Genesis 33:1–33:20 Esau arrived with four hundred men to meet
Jacob. If Jacob had wanted to fight, Esau was ready.
Esau knew nothing of Jacob’s changed heart and found
Jacob cautiously awaiting him (vv. 1-2). Jacob humbly
approached Esau to ward off any retaliating spirit, as he
bows to him (v. 3). This ... Read more
Genesis 32:1–32:32 Since God had told Jacob to return to Canaan, he had
been obedient. Now he had an unseen angel escort him
all the way (vv. 1-2). After Laban is gone Jacob began
to think about how he would face Esau and he became
greatly afraid. The greater part of this chapter is
concerned with all the ... Read more
Genesis 31:25–31:55 Laban claimed that Jacob had robbed him of his gods
(v. 30) and presented himself as a hurt father (v. 28)
and baffled avenger (v. 29). When Laban demanded
that Jacob return the gods, Jacob put the death penalty
on Rachael not knowing she had taken them (vv. 30-
32). He told Laban to go ... Read more
Genesis 31:1–31:24 God could not allow Jacob to settle forever in the
land from which years before he had called Abraham,
so He allowed things to turn sour. Animosity was
growing against him by Laban and his sons (vv. 1-2).
Also, God had told Jacob to return to his own land (v.
3). Up to this point Jacob ... Read more
Recent commentaries
Joseph’s Rise to Power
Genesis 41:37–41:57
Pharaoh and his officials were impressed with Joseph. They saw the touch of God’s Spirit on his life (vv. 37- 38). Pharaoh made Joseph governor of all of Egypt (vv. 39-41), placed his ring on his hand (v. 42), gave him royal clothing to wear, let him ride to ride in the second chariot, and had ... Read more
Joseph Interprets Pharoah’s Dreams
Genesis 41:17–41:36
Pharaoh told how in his dream seven skinny cows ate seven healthy cows (vv. 17-21). In another dream seven thin heads of grain swallowed seven good heads of grain (vv. 22-24). His magicians could not tell him the meaning. After hearing the dreams Joseph immed¬iately interprets them. Both ... Read more
Pharaoh’s Dream
Genesis 41:1–41:16
Two years had gone by, and Joseph was still in prison (v. 1). Then one day Pharaoh had two dreams that caused him great distress (vv. 2-7). He dreamed that he was standing by the Nile River, and he saw seven fat healthy cows coming up out of the water (vv. 1-2). They ate grass in a field. Then ... Read more
Joseph Interprets the Dreams of Pharaoh’s Two Servants
Genesis 40:1–40:23
While in prison Joseph met two people: the butler and the baker (vv. 1-4). The “butler” was the king’s cupbearer, and the “baker” cooked the king’s bread. Both had offended the king and been sent to prison. One morning, Joseph observed that the two men were very upset. He asked them ... Read more
Judah And Tamar
Genesis 38:1–38:30
Judah, the brother who suggested they sell Joseph, married a Canaanite woman. They had three sons, Er, Onan, and Shelah (vv. 1-5). Intermarriage with the Canaanites had been avoided up to this time. Judah’s first son Er died because he was wicked (vv. 6-11). By custom the “husband’s ... Read more
Joseph Sold Into Egypt by His Brothers
Genesis 37:18–37:36
This passage is both a story of hatred and deception. When the brothers saw Joseph coming, they plotted to kill him (vv. 18-20), but Reuben wanting to protect his brother, suggested that they place him in a pit, which they did (vv. 21-22). Reuben planned to rescue Joseph later and take him back ... Read more
Joseph Goes to See His Brothers Who Hate Him
Genesis 37:1–37:17
The events of this chapter took place a few years before Isaac’s death, while Jacob and his family were living near Hebron (v. 1). The story begins with Joseph, the 17-year-old son of Jacob, bringing a bad report to his father about his half-brothers (v. 2). Naturally his brothers Envy him ... Read more
Decendants of Esau
Genesis 36:1–36:43
The first eight verses give us details about Esau and his family; his wives who he chose from the women of Canaan (vv. 1-3), his sons (vv. 4-5), and his enormous wealth (vv. 6-8). Esau was Edom and the Edomites were his descendants. He had three wives, Adah, Oholibamah and Basemath ... Read more
Return to and Departure from Bethel
Genesis 35:1–35:29
After the massacre in Shechem, Jacob returned to Bethel, in need of a decisive word from God. The Lord reminded Jacob of his forgotten vows. Along the way Jacob’s wives and children had picked up idols. Jacob decided to go to Bethel and build an altar to God who had been at his side ... Read more
Jacob’s Sons Seek Revenge
Genesis 34:1–34:31
A very tragic story unfolds in this chapter. Dinah, Jacob’s daughter by Leah, who must have been about 14 years of age, ended up having physical relations with Shechem, the son of Hamor (vv. 1-2). When Jacob’s family found out, her two brothers, Simeon and Levi, were infuriated. They ... Read more
Jacob Mets Esau
Genesis 33:1–33:20
Esau arrived with four hundred men to meet Jacob. If Jacob had wanted to fight, Esau was ready. Esau knew nothing of Jacob’s changed heart and found Jacob cautiously awaiting him (vv. 1-2). Jacob humbly approached Esau to ward off any retaliating spirit, as he bows to him (v. 3). This ... Read more
Jacob Wrestles With God
Genesis 32:1–32:32
Since God had told Jacob to return to Canaan, he had been obedient. Now he had an unseen angel escort him all the way (vv. 1-2). After Laban is gone Jacob began to think about how he would face Esau and he became greatly afraid. The greater part of this chapter is concerned with all the ... Read more
Laban And Jacob Make Peace
Genesis 31:25–31:55
Laban claimed that Jacob had robbed him of his gods (v. 30) and presented himself as a hurt father (v. 28) and baffled avenger (v. 29). When Laban demanded that Jacob return the gods, Jacob put the death penalty on Rachael not knowing she had taken them (vv. 30- 32). He told Laban to go ... Read more
Jacob Moves His Flocks to Canaan
Genesis 31:1–31:24
God could not allow Jacob to settle forever in the land from which years before he had called Abraham, so He allowed things to turn sour. Animosity was growing against him by Laban and his sons (vv. 1-2). Also, God had told Jacob to return to his own land (v. 3). Up to this point Jacob ... Read more