Genesis 37:22 - Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.
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What does "Genesis 37:22" mean?
This verse from Genesis 37:22 reveals Reuben's plan to save Joseph's life without directly defying his brothers' anger towards him. Let's break it down:
"Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood." Reuben is trying to dissuade his brothers from outright killing Joseph. He knows they are jealous and angry, but he wants to avoid the ultimate act of fratricide.
"Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him.” Instead of killing Joseph, Reuben suggests throwing him into an empty cistern (pit) in the wilderness. This seems cruel, but it was less extreme than murder, and he secretly had a different plan.
“that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.” This is the key to understanding Reuben's motivation. He doesn't explicitly state his plan to the brothers, but he secretly intends to return later, rescue Joseph from the pit, and bring him back to their father, Jacob. He's trying to find a way to appease his brothers' anger in the moment while ultimately saving Joseph's life.
In Summary:
Reuben is trying to be a mediator between his brothers' murderous rage and his own conscience. He proposes a seemingly harsh compromise (throwing Joseph in a pit), but his secret intention is to rescue Joseph and return him home, thus preventing bloodshed and restoring harmony within the family. His plan shows a degree of moral courage, but also a certain level of deception, as he doesn't reveal his full intentions to his brothers.
Genesis 37:22 - Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.
What does "Genesis 37:22" mean?
This verse from Genesis 37:22 reveals Reuben's plan to save Joseph's life without directly defying his brothers' anger towards him. Let's break it down:
"Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood." Reuben is trying to dissuade his brothers from outright killing Joseph. He knows they are jealous and angry, but he wants to avoid the ultimate act of fratricide.
"Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him.” Instead of killing Joseph, Reuben suggests throwing him into an empty cistern (pit) in the wilderness. This seems cruel, but it was less extreme than murder, and he secretly had a different plan.
“that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.” This is the key to understanding Reuben's motivation. He doesn't explicitly state his plan to the brothers, but he secretly intends to return later, rescue Joseph from the pit, and bring him back to their father, Jacob. He's trying to find a way to appease his brothers' anger in the moment while ultimately saving Joseph's life.
In Summary:
Reuben is trying to be a mediator between his brothers' murderous rage and his own conscience. He proposes a seemingly harsh compromise (throwing Joseph in a pit), but his secret intention is to rescue Joseph and return him home, thus preventing bloodshed and restoring harmony within the family. His plan shows a degree of moral courage, but also a certain level of deception, as he doesn't reveal his full intentions to his brothers.