Reuben heard—and he delivered, &c.— It should seem by this, as if they had seized upon Joseph as he approached nearer to them, and were about to dispatch him; when Reuben interposed, and saved his life. As Reuben was the eldest brother, he had probably most authority among them; but, knowing the inveteracy of their malice, he despaired of being able to save Joseph's life by open and direct methods, and therefore gave them the political counsel mentioned, Genesis 37:22 which promised equally to effect their end, in a way apparently more humane, and at the same time calculated to preserve Joseph's life, which was all he aimed at. Accordingly, he carried his point: they cast the envied youth into a pit, or cistern, probably of that sort which were dug in those countries for water. See Jeremiah 2:13. And, as if they had done some great exploit, without feeling and without remorse, they sat down to eat and to drink, Jeremiah 2:25. Reuben perhaps might think himself most concerned to save his brother, as being the first-born, and therefore likely to be the first in the blame; or he might hope, by thus piously and compassionately preserving the favourite Joseph, to recover that place in his father's affection which he had lost by his incest with Bilhah, Jacob's concubinary wife. The speech, which Josephus introduces him as making upon this occasion, is very moving, and very rhetorical: "It were an abominable wickedness," says he, "to take away the life even of a stranger. But to destroy a kinsman and a brother, and in that brother a father too, with grief, for the loss of so good and so hopeful a son—bethink yourselves, if any thing can be more diabolical! Consider, that there is an all-seeing God, who will be the avenger as well as the witness of this horrid murder. Bethink yourselves, I say, and repent of your barbarous purpose. You must never expect to commit this flagitious villainy, and the Divine vengeance not overtake you; for God's Providence is everywhere, in the wilderness as well as in the city; and the horrors of a guilty conscience will pursue you wherever you go. But, put the case your brother had done you some wrong; yet, is it not our duty to pass over the offences of our friends? When the simplicity of his youth may justly plead his excuse, his brothers certainly, of all men living, should be his friends and guardians, rather than his murderers; especially when the ground of all your quarrel is this, that God loves your brother, and your brother loves God." Josephus, lib. II. c. 3.
REFLECTIONS.—Malice only waits for opportunity, and now it is come.
1. Jacob sends Joseph to inquire after his brethren; and he, like a dutiful son, and an affectionate brother, cheerfully hastes to seek them; and when he is disappointed at Shechem, where he expects to find them, he inquires them out diligently, and follows them to Dothan. Note; (1.) Joseph's dutiful obedience must be every son's example. (2.) It were happy if his love to those who hated him, were also more imitated by every Christian professor.
2. His brethren's conspiracy against him. His coat easily distinguished him at a distance (so dangerous often are our honours!), and roused the latent sparks into a flame. They resolve instantly on his death, while a lie should conceal the murder, and then there would be an end of his dreams. Note; (1.) All anger is murder in the heart. (2.) Those who mock at God's designs, and think to disappoint them, will only expose themselves to shame at last. (3.) We see how natural a lying spirit is to man. We have hardly yet had a wicked action, but there has been a lie to conceal it.
3. God raises him a friend in Reuben. He appears the most susceptive of tender passions, and averse from blood. To rescue Joseph, had been impracticable: he therefore proposes to divert the rage he saw, by casting him into a pit, where they must conclude he would die; but from which he resolved afterwards to recover him. Note; By yielding something to raging passions, we may often better prevail, than by direct opposition.