371 Now Jacob lived in the land where his father had sojourned , in the land of Canaan . 2 These are the records of the generations of Jacob . Joseph , when seventeen e years of age , was pasturing the flock with his brothers while he was still a youth , along with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah , his father's wives . And Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father . 3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons , because he was the son of his old age ; and he made him a varicolored tunic . 4 His brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers ; and so they hated him and could not speak to him on friendly terms .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 37:1-4
Commentary on Genesis 37:1-4
(Read Genesis 37:1-4)
In Joseph's history we see something of Christ, who was first humbled and then exalted. It also shows the lot of Christians, who must through many tribulations enter into the kingdom. It is a history that has none like it, for displaying the various workings of the human mind, both good and bad, and the singular providence of God in making use of them for fulfilling his purposes. Though Joseph was his father's darling, yet he was not bred up in idleness. Those do not truly love their children, who do not use them to business, and labour, and hardships. The fondling of children is with good reason called the spoiling of them. Those who are trained up to do nothing, are likely to be good for nothing. But Jacob made known his love, by dressing Joseph finer than the rest of his children. It is wrong for parents to make a difference between one child and another, unless there is great cause for it, by the children's dutifulness, or undutifulness. When parents make a difference, children soon notice it, and it leads to quarrels in families. Jacob's sons did that, when they were from under his eye, which they durst not have done at home with him; but Joseph gave his father an account of their ill conduct, that he might restrain them. Not as a tale-bearer, to sow discord, but as a faithful brother.