And the man said to him: They are departed from this place: for I heard them say: Let us go to Dothain. And Joseph went forward after his brethren, and found them in Dothain.
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הָאִישׁ֙ נָסְע֣וּ מִזֶּ֔ה כִּ֤י שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ אֹֽמְרִ֔ים נֵלְכָ֖ה דֹּתָ֑יְנָה וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ יוֹסֵף֙ אַחַ֣ר אֶחָ֔יו וַיִּמְצָאֵ֖ם בְּדֹתָֽן׃
6 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Reflect on the divine wisdom of God: while they sought to bring about His death, He who orchestrates all events allows various challenges to arise, thereby enhancing the glory of His servant and ensuring that His plans come to fruition.
He begins his voyage, scarcely able to locate them, and although they should have been in Shechem, they were instead found in Dothaim. Shechem, which signifies ‘shoulder,’ can symbolize a place of loving labor; the sacred Scriptures often depict the shoulder as a representation of strength or work. For example, the phrase ‘Turn thine heart into the way, into the path’ (Jer. 31:21) alludes to lovingkindness. On the other hand, Dothaim translates to ‘great fault.’ Thus, the Israelites were not revealed as being devoted to the pursuit of virtue or seeking honor under the law, but rather, they exhibited significant shortcomings, particularly regarding truth and integrity. As it is written, ‘none is righteous, no, not one; there is none who does good, not even one’ (Rom. 3:10, 12; Ps.
13:3; Ps. 52:4). Furthermore, as the Lord states through the prophet, they honored Him merely with their words, but their thoughts were diverted and their hearts were far removed from fulfilling the commands of the law of Moses (Is. 29:13; Mt. 15:8; Mk. 7:6). They were diligently focused solely on the teachings and precepts of men.
Upon receiving his father's instruction, Joseph happily set out to meet his brothers, eager to convey his parents' peace and his concern for them. However, he strayed from the path and could not locate his brothers tending their sheep. In his distress and sadness for his siblings, a stranger encountered him and guided him on his journey.
Joseph discovered his brothers in Dothan, a name that signifies abandonment. Where else can one find an individual who has forsaken God, if not in a state of forsakenness? It is understandable that those who fail to heed the voice of the speaker find themselves in desolation: “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). So Joseph approached Dothan, and from a distance, they spotted him; and before he reached them, they conspired to take his life. Those who remained distant were indeed far off, scheming wickedness, for Christ had not drawn near to them. If one resembling Christ had approached, they would have at least shown love for their brother; however, those who plotted against him could not bear to be near him.
Observe, they exclaimed, “Here comes this dreamer; let us go now and kill him.” Were these not the very words uttered by those intent on fratricidal wrongdoing, as Solomon states, “Let us destroy the righteous man, for he is of no benefit to us” (Prem. 2:12 LXX)?
The man informed him, "They have moved on from this place, as I overheard them mentioning, 'Let us head to Dothaim.'" He directed Joseph to the route. Joseph pursued his brothers and located them in Dothaim. Upon seeing them from a distance, he felt great joy for them, as his love for them was deep.
The outsider responded, "They have departed from this place; I overheard them discussing, 'Let us head to Dothaim.' It seems that destiny has intentionally orchestrated the encounter between this man and Joseph, directing him towards his divine purpose. The young man resumes his search for his brothers, a true offering from his heart, and discovers them in Dothaim."
THEOSIS