What went wrong with Joseph and his brothers?
The story of Joseph is well known and is famous for its dramatic plot with various twists and turns which eventually concludes with a happy ending. Throughout the story of Joseph there is an intense conflict between Joseph and his brothers. What was the source of the family infighting which occurred among Jacob’s sons?
The Favorite Son
The final third of the book of Genesis (chapters 37-50) revolves around the person of Joseph. We see Jospeh take center stage in the narrative of Jacob in the beginning of this week’s Torah Portion reading:
Now Jacob lived in the land where his father had lived as a stranger, in the land of Canaan. These are the records of the generations of Jacob. Joseph, when he was seventeen 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. Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his other sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a multicolored tunic. And 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. – Gen. 37:1-4
As the generations of Jacob unfold in history, we are immediately informed of tension in the family with Joseph at the epicenter of the controversy.
I have heard many different teachings and sermons regarding the source of the animosity between Joseph and his brothers. There are some who blame Jacob for the family strife which existed between his sons as he favored Joseph and elevated him above his brothers, although Joseph was the second youngest. There are others who blame Joseph for the family infighting as a result of his sharing with them the dreams which clearly show him as elevated above his brothers with his own father and mother bowing down to him (Gen. 37:5-11). I believe that there is some truth in both of these explanations, however, I see another source which is specified in the above text which seems to be at the root of the family conflict.
Resolving Family Conflicts
As we read in the beginning of Genesis 37, Jacob sent Joseph to visit his brothers in the field while they shepherded the flocks and then Joseph returned to his father with a report. We read the following sentence in the above verses: “…And Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father.” – (Gen. 37:2) The phrase “…a bad report about them…” is a good literal translation of the Hebrew: דבתם רעה – Dibatam Ra’ah.
Joseph gave a bad report about his brothers to their father. We cannot be the judge and jury in this situation because we do not have any more information to base a judgment, however, we do know that Joseph gave a bad report about his brothers. Whatever the situation was between Joseph and his brothers, speaking evil of his brothers only made the situation worse.
The Bad Report
In studying the specific Hebrew word, דיבה – Dibah, used of Joseph’s bad report regarding his brothers, I found that this Hebrew word is only used nine times in all of the Hebrew Scriptures. The next time we see this word used after this occurrence in Genesis 37 is in the story of the spies who went to spy out the Promised Land:
So they brought a bad report of the land which they had spied out to the sons of Israel, saying, “The land through which we have gone to spy out is a land that devours its inhabitants; and all the people whom we saw in it are people of great stature. – Num. 13:32
Although Joshua and Caleb gave a good report about the land, the ten spies gave a “bad report” (דיבה – Dibah) and caused the whole congregation of Israel to sin against the LORD at that time.
The word דיבה – Dibah is always used in a negative way and carries the meaning of slander, to say something bad against another person. We see how this word is used in the book of Proverbs:
One who conceals hatred has lying lips, and one who spreads slander is a fool. – Prov. 10:18
We read about the one who “… spreads slander…” and this is the Hebrew phrase מוצא דיבה – Motzi Dibah, the one who brings forth slander or one who brings out an evil report. The one who speaks in this matter is considered a fool!
Although we know that God used the tense family situation of Joseph with his brothers to ultimately accomplish His global plan of salvation for the world at that time by sending Joseph to Egypt, the “bad report” of Joseph about his brothers to their father is the original source of infighting in the family according to the text. It is easy to speak evil about others, slander another person, and focus on the faults of others, however, we need to be careful with our words and remember that God is the ultimate judge.
Addressing The Source of Conflict
Just as there is conflict and strife in families, so there is conflict and strife in the body of Messiah. Wherever there are human relationships there will be the opportunity of conflict and strife. We need to do everything in our power to avoid conflicts and seek peace with one another. Understanding the source of our conflicts is important.
There may be times when we rightfully have to stand up for wrongs done to us, however, we need to check and make sure that we are not the source of any conflict. We read the following exhortation in the New Testament book of James regarding conflicts among us:
What is the source of quarrels and conflicts among you? Is the source not your pleasures that wage war in your body’s parts? You lust and do not have, so you commit murder. And you are envious and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask with the wrong motives, so that you may spend what you request on your pleasures. You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Or do you think that the Scripture says to no purpose, “He jealously desires the Spirit whom He has made to dwell in us”? But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, “God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Submit therefore to God. But resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God and He will come close to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be miserable, and mourn, and weep; let your laughter be turned into mourning, and your joy into gloom. Humble yourselves in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you.
Do not speak against one another, brothers and sisters. The one who speaks against a brother or sister, or judges his brother or sister, speaks against the law and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you, judging your neighbor? – James 4:1-12
We would be wise to always check that the source of the conflict in our relationships is not simply our own selfish desires wishing to be fulfilled. We also need to be careful so as to not judge others unlawfully by putting ourselves in the place of God.
Be Humble & Speak Life
The verses above from James chapter four are a tool for self-examination and a good spiritual check of our motivations in our relationships. If Jospeh would have applied this instruction to his situation with his brothers, he may not have had to endure those thirteen years of slavery and prison before being exalted in Pharaoh’s court. Being proactive to humble ourselves in the presence of the Lord and being careful with the words that we speak to others will help to minimize conflict in our relationships and keep us in right standing with God.
Shabbat Shalom!
If you enjoyed reading this article, share it today with friends! We also invite you to sign up for our weekly Torah Portion commentary on the sidebar to the right.
Help keep our weekly commentaries free and available to all. Click here to donate today:
*All Scripture take from NASB Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
**The Hebrew name “Yeshua” is used in the biblical quotations in place of the English name “Jesus” to give emphasis to the meaning of this name, salvation. The word “Messiah” is also used in place of the word “Christ” to bring clarity to the office of Yeshua.