Reasons for Joseph's Brothers' Hatred in Genesis
Reasons for Joseph's Brothers' Hatred in Genesis
The narrative of Joseph and his brothers in Genesis 37 provides several reasons for the brothers' intense hatred towards Joseph. The biblical account attributes their animosity to Jacob's favoritism towards Joseph, Joseph's reporting of his brothers' wrongdoings, and Joseph's dreams that foretold his future supremacy over his family [1, 2].
Jacob's favoritism towards Joseph is the initial cause of the brothers' hatred. The text states that Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons because Joseph was the son of his old age, and he made him a special tunic, often referred to as a "coat of many colors" [1]. This visible display of favoritism created tension among the brothers, who felt jealous and resentful towards Joseph.
Furthermore, Joseph's decision to report his brothers' evil deeds to their father exacerbated the situation. The biblical text notes that Joseph brought an evil report about his brothers to Jacob, which increased their hatred towards him [1, 4]. Calvin interprets this as Joseph complaining that his brothers vexed him with their reproaches, suggesting that Joseph's actions were motivated by a desire to inform his father about the difficulties he faced [4].
The final trigger for the brothers' intense hatred was Joseph's sharing of his dreams with them. In the first dream, Joseph's sheaf stood upright while his brothers' sheaves bowed down to it, and in the second dream, the sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed down to him [2, 9]. These dreams implied that Joseph would have authority over his family, which further enraged his brothers [5, 6].
The brothers' reaction to Joseph's dreams demonstrates their jealousy and malice. Instead of recognizing the divine origin of the dreams, they attempted to prevent their fulfillment by plotting against Joseph [5]. This response highlights their unsuitability for leadership and their lack of commitment to God's plan.
The narrative of Joseph and his brothers is not an isolated incident in the biblical account. A similar dynamic is observed in the story of Esau and Jacob, where Esau's hatred towards Jacob is motivated by Jacob's receipt of the blessing [3]. Matthew Henry notes that Esau's hatred was causeless and cruel, driven by envy towards Jacob's spiritual privileges [7].
The consequences of the brothers' actions are later revealed when they are forced to confront their guilt and remorse. During their second visit to Egypt, they reflect on their past wrongdoing and acknowledge that they are being punished for their treatment of Joseph [8].
Sources
- Genesis “Genesis 37:4 (BSB) — When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.”
- Genesis “Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him all the more. -- Genesis 37:5”
- Genesis “Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father blessed him. Esau said in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are at hand. Then I will kill my brother Jacob.” -- Genesis 27:41”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 2 (Gen 24-50), section 14.7: malignant and perverse disposition. But, that a manycoloured coat and similar trifles inflamed them to devise a scheme of slaughter, is a proof of their detestable cruelty. Moses also says that their hatred increased, because Joseph conveyed the evil speeches of his brethren to their father. Some expound the word evil as meaning some intolerable crime; but others more correctly suppose, that it was a complaint of the boy that his brothers vexed him with their reproaches; for, what follows in Moses, I take to have been added in ex”
- Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 37:11: 37:11 His brothers hated Joseph because they were jealous of him. Rather than recognize the hand of God, the brothers tried to prevent the dream from being fulfilled (37:18-36). These actions show that they were not fit to lead the household of faith. God’s sovereign choice of a leader, especially if the one chosen is young or appears unqualified, often brings out the true colors of those who have to submit to that leader’s authority. The brothers represent people throughout history who have been driven by envy and malice because they were not committed to doing”
- Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 37:8: 37:8 The brothers’ angry response to the revelation, in contrast to Joseph’s honesty and faithfulness, clearly demonstrates why they were not chosen for leadership: Leaders in God’s plan cannot be consumed with jealousy and hatred. In their anger, they missed an important part of the revelation—they too would be rulers (stars, 37:9) who would productively bind their sheaves (37:7).”
- Genesis (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Genesis 27:41: Here is, I. The malice Esau bore to Jacob upon account of the blessing which he had obtained, Gen 27:41. Thus he went in the way of Cain, who slew his brother because he had gained that acceptance with God of which he had rendered himself unworthy. Esau's hatred of Jacob was, 1. A causeless hatred. He hated him for no other reason but because his father blessed him and God loved him. Note, The happiness of saints is the envy of sinners. Whom Heaven blesses, hell curses. 2. It was a cruel hatred. Nothing less would satisfy him than to slay his brother. It is the ”
- Genesis (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Genesis 42:21: 42:21-23 Clearly we are being punished: The brothers sensed that having to bring Benjamin back to Egypt against their father’s wishes was God’s punishment for their having sold Joseph to the traders. The sense of divine retribution began to awaken feelings of remorse that Joseph’s cries for mercy and their father’s tears (37:34-35) had failed to arouse.”
- Genesis (Lutheran) “Keil & Delitzsch on Genesis 37:5: This hatred was increased when Joseph told them of two dreams that he had had: viz., that as they were binding sheaves in the field, his sheaf "stood and remained standing," but their sheaves placed themselves round it and bowed down to it; and that the sun (his father), and the moon (his mother, "not Leah, but Rachel, who was neither forgotten nor lost"), and eleven stars (his eleven brethren) bowed down before him. These dreams pointed in an unmistakeable way to the supremacy of Joseph; the first to supremacy over his brethren, the second over the whole hous”