Genesis 37:22

And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, [but] cast him into this pit that [is] in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again.

And Reuben {H7205} said {H559} unto them, Shed {H8210} no blood {H1818}, but cast {H7993} him into this pit {H953} that is in the wilderness {H4057}, and lay {H7971} no hand {H3027} upon him; that he might rid {H5337} him out of their hands {H3027}, to deliver {H7725} him to his father {H1} again {H7725}.

Don't shed blood," Re'uven added. "Throw him into this cistern here in the wilds, but don't lay hands on him yourselves." He intended to rescue him from them later and restore him to his father.

โ€œDo not shed his blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him.โ€ Reuben said this so that he could rescue Joseph from their hands and return him to his father.

And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood; cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him: that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.

Commentary

Commentary on Genesis 37:22

Genesis 37:22 captures a pivotal moment in the dramatic narrative of Joseph and his brothers, revealing the complex dynamics within Jacob's family and setting the stage for Joseph's extraordinary journey. This verse highlights Reuben's attempt to mitigate the brothers' murderous intent, born from deep-seated envy and resentment.

Context

The immediate context for Genesis 37:22 is the intense jealousy the ten elder brothers harbored against their younger brother, Joseph. Their hatred stemmed from Jacob's open favoritism towards Joseph (giving him a coat of many colours) and Joseph's dreams, which implied his future dominion over them (Genesis 37:5-8). Upon seeing Joseph approach in the wilderness, the brothers conspired to kill him (Genesis 37:19-20), but Reuben, as the eldest, intervened with a seemingly less violent proposal.

Key Themes

Reuben's Intervention and Mercy

Reuben, as the firstborn son, held a certain responsibility for his siblings. His plea, "Shed no blood," reveals a moral aversion to outright murder, even if his motives were mixed. He proposed casting Joseph into a dry pit in the wilderness instead of killing him directly. The verse explicitly states Reuben's secret intention: "that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again." This act of intervention, though ultimately thwarted by the later sale of Joseph (Genesis 37:28), demonstrates a flicker of conscience and an attempt to protect his brother and spare his father further grief.

The Pit as a Symbol

The "pit" (Hebrew: ื‘ึผื•ึนืจ, bor) was likely a dry cistern or well, common in the wilderness for collecting rainwater, but also serving as a natural prison. For Joseph, it symbolized a descent into despair and abandonment. However, paradoxically, it also served as an unexpected detour away from immediate death, becoming a crucial step in the unfolding of God's larger plan for Joseph and his family.

Divine Providence

While Reuben's immediate plan to rescue Joseph failed, his intervention set in motion the chain of events that would lead Joseph to Egypt, where he would eventually rise to power and save his family from famine. This illustrates how God's overarching plan can work through human actions, even those driven by jealousy or imperfect intentions. Joseph himself later recognized this divine hand, declaring that God "meant it unto good" (Genesis 50:20).

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "shed no blood" (Hebrew: ืœึนื ืชึดืฉึฐืืคึฐึผื›ื•ึผ ื“ึธื, lo tishpekhu dam) is a direct command against murder, echoing a fundamental moral principle that would later be codified in the Mosaic Law. Reuben's choice of words emphasizes the gravity of the act his brothers were contemplating, urging them to avoid direct culpability for a life.

Practical Application

Genesis 37:22 offers several timeless lessons:

  • The Power of Intervention: Reuben's actions remind us of the importance of standing against injustice and cruelty, even when it means challenging those close to us.
  • Consequences of Envy: The brothers' initial murderous plot serves as a stark warning about the destructive power of unchecked envy and hatred within relationships.
  • God's Unfolding Plan: This verse beautifully illustrates how God can use human choices and even negative circumstances to weave together His ultimate purposes, demonstrating His sovereignty over all events.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 24:11

    And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.

  • Genesis 42:22

    And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required.

  • Deuteronomy 13:9

    But thou shalt surely kill him; thine hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.

  • Genesis 22:12

    And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only [son] from me.

  • Acts 12:1

    ยถ Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth [his] hands to vex certain of the church.

  • Matthew 27:24

    When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but [that] rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed [his] hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye [to it].
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