of Aholibamah Esau's wife; duke Jeush, duke Jaalam, duke Korah these [were] the dukes [that came] of Aholibamah, 19 the daughter of Anahi, Esau's wife. These [are] the sons of Esau, who [is] Edom, and these [are] their dukes.

20 These [are] the sons of Seir the Horite, who inhabited the 21 land; Lotan, and Shobal, and Zibeon, and Anah, And Dishon, and Ezer, and Dishan: these [are] the dukes of the Horites, 22 the children of Seir in the land of Edom. And the children of Lotan, were Hori, and Heman; and Lotan's sister [was] 23 Timna. And the children of Shobal [were] these; Alvan, 24 and Manahath, and Ebal, Shepho, and Onam. And these

[are] the children of Zibeon; both Ajah, and Anah: this [was that] Anah that found the mules in the wilderness, as 25 he fed the asses of Zibeon his father. And the children of Anah [were] these ; Dishon, and Aholibamah the daughter 26 of Anah. And these [are] the children of Dishon; Hemdan, 27 and Eshban, and Ithran, and Cheran. The children of Ezer 28 [are] these; Bilhan, and Zaavan, and Akan. The children 29 of Dishan [are] these; Uz, and Aran. These [are] the dukes

[that came] of the Horites; duke Lotan, duke Shobal, duke 30 Zibeon, duke Anah, Duke Dishon, duke Ezer, duke Dishan : these [are] the dukes [that came] of Hori, among their dukes in the land of Seir.

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And these [are] the kings that reigned in the land of Edom, before there reigned any king over the children of Isra32 el. And Bela the son of Beor reigned in Edom: and the name 33 of his city [was] Dinhabah. And Bela died, and Jobab the 34 son of Zerah of Bozrah reigned in his stead. And Jobab died,

and Husham of the land of Temani reigned in his stead. 35 And Husham died, and Hadad the son of Bedad, who smote

Midian in the field of Moab, reigned in his stead: and the 36 name of his city [was] Avith. And Hadad died, and Samlah 37 of Masrekah reigned in his stead. And Samlah died, and 38 Saul of Rehoboth [by] the river reigned in his stead. And

Saul died, and Baalhanan the son of Achbor reigned in his 39 stead. And Baalhanan the son of Achbor died, and Hadar reigned in his stead: and the name of his city [was] Pau; and his wife's name [was] Mehetabel, the daughter of Matred, the daughter of Mezahab.

40 And these [are] the names of the dukes [that came] of Esau, according to their families, after their places, by their 41 names; duke Timnah, duke Alvah, duke Jetheth, Duke 42 Aholibamah, duke Elah, duke Pinon, Duke Kenaz, duke 43 Teman, duke Mibzar, Duke Magdiel, duke Iram: these [be] the dukes of Edom, according to their habitations, in the land of their possession: he [is] Esau the father of the Edomites.

Or rather, a gigantic race of people called Emims, (Deut. ü. 10.) whom this Anak found, that is, encountered or fell upon unexpectedly. Edit.

CHAP. XXXVII.

We are now entering on the history of Joseph, who was a most amiable and excellent character. ' I believe,' says a good writer,' it is impossible for any one in the world to read the history of Joseph, as related by the sacred historian, without being prepossessed in favour of that great man, The occurrences of his life are so peculiar; the extraordinary providences that attended him, are so remarkable; the moderation and equity of his conduct, are so apparent through the whole of his behaviour; that no person of humanity can help sharing with him in his misfortunes, taking pleasure in his prosperity, and admiring the life and character of a person who seemed to be the favourite both of God and man.' Most of the remainder of this book is taken up with his history, This chapter gives an account of his brethren's great hatred to him; their infamous design to murder him; their selling him as a slave; and the behaviour of his father when he was told of his death.

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ND Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. These [are] the generations of Jacob, the events or occurrences that befel him and his family. 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; the report of their wicked conduct and conversation, or ill usage 3 of him; this was one cause of their hatred of him. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he [was] the son of his old age,* the son of his dearest wife, whom she bore after long barrenness : Benjamin indeed was younger, but being only four years old, he had not so engaged his father's affection: and he made him a coat of [many] colours; a rich striped garment, such as distinguished him from the rest of his brethren; being a mark of his father's favour, and of his giving him the 4 birthright, which Reuben had forfeited. And when his breth

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ren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him; all their words and actions were illnatured and churlish.

And what confirmed their hatred of him was, that Joseph dreamed a dream, which probably he did not understand at first, and he, with an honest simplicity, told [it] his brethren and 6 they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, Hear, 7 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

The Jewish writers would render it, He was the son of the Elders, their disciple. The Chaldee paraphrase says, He was a wise and prudent child; showed marks of piety and goodness betimes; and excelled the rest in wisdom and understanding.

8 round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said unto 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.

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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 10 obeisance to me. And he told [it] to his father, and to his brethren and his father, partly through ignorance, and partly in policy, to abate the hatred of his brethren, rebuked him, and said unto him, What [is] this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come 11 to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth? And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying: being thus doubled, and so very remarkable, it made a deep impression on his mind, and he laid it up in his heart.

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And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in She13 chem, about twenty miles off. And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed [the flock] in Shechem ? 'I fear lest some evil should come to them from the inhabitants, because of their murder of the Shechemites; come, and I will send thee unto them, to see how they are. And he said unto him, Here 14 [am] I, ready to obey your commands. 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. 15 And a certain man found him, and, behold, [he was] wandering in the field and the man asked him, saying, What 16 seekest thou? And he said, I seek my brethren tell me, I 17 pray thee, where they feed [their flocks.] And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan,

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18 And when they saw him afar off, even before he came

near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him. 19 And they said one to another, Behold this dreamer cometh. 20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into

some pit, that is digged to hold rain water, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him and we shall see what 21 will become of his dreams.* And Reuben heard [it,] and he, to make some amends for the injury he had done his father, and to regain his favour, delivered him out of their hands; and 22 said, Let us not kill him. And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, [but] cast him into this pit, that [is] in the wilder ness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.

It is a lamentable and surprising thing, that there should be such wretches in Jacob's family; and such treachery, ingratitude, cruelty, and inhumanity, among this good old patriarch's children,

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And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph out of his coat, [his] coat 24 of many colours that [was] on him; And they took him, and cast him into a pit; though, as we are told (ch, xlii. 21.) he besought them with great anguish of soul not to do it and the 25 pit [was] empty, [there was] no water in it. And they sat down to eat bread, to feast on the provisions, which,it is probable, he brought them, while he was starving in the pit (see Amos vi. 6.) and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead, with their camels bearing spicery and balm, and myrrh, going to carry [it] down 26 to Egypt. And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit [is it] if we slay our brother, or suffer him to perish in the pit, 27 and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and thus make some money of him, and let not our hand be upon him; for he [is] our brother [and] our flesh. 28 And his brethren were content. Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they, that is, Joseph's brethren, drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver, about forty shillings of our money and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

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And Reuben, who it seems was absent at the time this was done, returned unto the pit, probably to deliver Joseph out of it, and send him home: and, behold, Joseph [was] not in the pit; and he rent his clothes, and thus expressed his grief and concern, because, being the eldest brother, his father would expect that he should have taken care of him; and for this neglect would treat him more severely, on account of his former crime. 30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child [is] not in the land of the living; and I, whither shall I go? His brethren then told him the story, and he consented to the cheat intended to be put on his father.

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And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, 32 and dipped the coat in the blood; And they sent the coat of [many] colours, probably first by a messenger, and then they themselves came, and they brought [it] to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it [be] thy son's coatorno; not our brother's, but thy son's, thy favourite's coat? 33 And he knew it, and said, [It is] my son's coat; an evil beast

hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. 34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, 35 and mourned for his son many days. And all his sons and all his daughters, Dinah, and his sons' wives, rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For

A caravan of Ishmaelites and Midianites used to travel together, for fear of robbers er wild beasts.

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I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father* wept for him.

And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, [and] captain, or chief commander, of the king's guard. Thus, as Stephen observes (Acts vii. 9, 10.) God was with him and delivered him out of all his afflictions.

REFLECTIONS.

Itiality to any of their children.

T is dangerous for parents to manifest too great parJacob's fondness for Joseph caused him a great deal of grief, and exposed his son to imminent danger. Allowances ought to be made for merit; where there is any thing serious and pious, it ought to be cherished, encouraged, and rewarded: but this should be done prudently; for the spirit even of children lusteth to envy. The difference should not be too remarkable between one and another. This is one instance in which Paul's advice may be applied; Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.

2. How hateful and dangerous a passion is envy! It had like to have cost this amiable youth his life, as well as his liberty, if God had not interposed. It led his brethren to a most deliberate and malicious design, that shocks human nature. What a diabolical spirit is this! and how careful should we be to guard against it. It destroys all the bonds of natural affection, and makes persons deaf to all pity and humanity. Who, says Solomon, is able to stand before envy? When we see others more beloved and applauded than ourselves, more rich and healthful, easy and comfortable, let us guard our minds, check and suppress the first risings of an envious disposition, which tends to so much mischief; and ever remember, that envy is one of those wretched tempers which exclude from the kingdom of heaven.

3. Inordinate passions are their own punishment. Jacob's fondness for Joseph was a source of bitterness and anxiety: it was near twenty years after this before he heard of him. A mind which is not under the influence of strong passions, is likely to be most at ease. The nearer creature comforts are to us, the faster root they take in our hearts, and the removal of them, or the fear of that removal, is the more grievous. It is our duty, and will be our wisdom, to have relatives and other comforts, as though we had them not; that is, not to be over fond of them, but expect trouble and changes. The greater our love, the greater will be our grief.

That is, as some imagine, and I think very probable, thus Isaac, Jacob's father, wept for the loss of his grandson: he was alive at this time, and no doubt bore his part in the melancholy affliction of the family.