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SHECHEM

Text: Genesis 37:12
16 April 2013

(I) SHECHEM

1. The brothers of Joseph were tending the flock in Shechem (Genesis 37:12)

2. Joseph was sent to check on them (Genesis 37:13-14)

3. He was to report on how they did their work (Genesis 37:14)

(II) JOSEPH ON THE WAY TO SHECHEM

1. Hebron (South)

2. Shechem (North)

3. This was quite a distance (more than 30 km away)

4. Joseph asked for directions from a local man because he could not find them at Shechem (Genesis 37:15-17)

5. The brothers had moved on to Dothan (even farther away) (Genesis 37:17)

(III) THE BROTHERS WHEN THEY SAW JOSEPH

1. They conspired to kill Joseph (Genesis 37:18)

2. They called him “Dreamer” (Genesis 37:19)

3. Suggestion to kill him was raised up (Genesis 37:20)

4. They could then plan to say to their father that a wild beast had killed Joseph (Genesis 37:20)

(IV) REUBEN’S OBJECTIONS

1. He planned to deliver Joseph out of their hands (Genesis 37:22)

2. He countered and said that they should not kill him (Genesis 37:22)

3. He would go along with the idea of casting him into a pit (Genesis 37:22)

4. He had plans to rescue Joseph and bring him safely back to Jacob (Genesis 37:22)

(V) THE BROTHERS THREW JOSEPH INTO A PIT

1. They stripped Joseph of his tunic of many colours (Genesis 37:23)

2. They cast him into an empty (dry) pit (Genesis 37:24)

(VI) SELLING JOSEPH

1. The brothers were having a meal after they had cast Joseph into a pit (Genesis 37:25a)

2. They saw a caravan of Ishmaelites (Genesis 37:25b)

3. These were traders on their way to Egypt (Genesis 37:25c)

(VII) JUDAH’S IDEA

1. He also does not like the idea of killing Joseph (Genesis 37:26)

2. To sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites (Genesis 37:27)

3. Joseph is still their own flesh and blood (Genesis 37:28)

4. The brothers listened and agreed to sell Joseph to the Midianites-Ishmaelites (Genesis 37:28)

(VIII) REUBEN’S GRIEF

1. His original plans were spoilt

2. He did not rescue Joseph from the wrath of his brothers (Genesis 37:29-30)

(IX) THE BIG COVER-UP

1. A young goat was killed (Genesis 37:31a)

2. Joseph’s tunic was dipped in the blood of the kid (Genesis 37:31b)

3. They brought the coat of many colours to Jacob (Genesis 37:32)

4. Jacob concluded that a wild beast had killed his son Joseph (Genesis 37:33)

5. He goes into deep mourning and refused to be comforted (Genesis 37:34-35)

(X) JOSEPH IN EGYPT

He was sold to Potiphar, a captain of the guards of Pharaoh (Genesis 37:36)