Genesis 37:20Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

The depiction of what is to come was intended: these occurrences served as a reflection, foreshadowing the truths presented in the Gospel. Just as Joseph visited his brothers, who, disregarding both their kinship and the purpose of his visit, initially sought to kill him before selling him into captivity, so too did our Lord, in His earthly form, come to engage with humanity, willingly adopting our flesh and embracing us as His siblings. As Paul proclaims, "For He does not take on the nature of angels, but He takes on the seed of Abraham. Therefore, He had to be made like His brothers in every way" (Heb. 2:16, 17). Yet, the ungrateful Jews conspired to execute the Healer of our souls and bodies, who continually performed numerous miracles.

Upon his arrival, he was met with an unforeseen assault. Jealousy seized the moment to execute a long-simmering scheme. The descendants of the handmaids Valla and Zelpha were intent on ending his life. Yet, as they spotted him approaching, they mocked the young man, whom they found distasteful and loathsome, exclaiming, “Behold, a dreamer is coming” (Gen. 37:19). When they recognized the Beloved who had taken on human form, the intellectual Joseph; for the esteemed Evangelist John noted that “of the rulers many believed in Him; but for the Pharisees’ sake they did not confess” (John 12:42). Similarly, when they came to know Him, their rage intensified.

Joseph’s brothers declared, “Let us kill him and eliminate his dreams.” Similarly, the Jewish leaders plotted, “Come, let us put him to death and seize his inheritance” (Matthew 21:38).

The book of Genesis reveals, "And we shall see what shall be, from his dreams." This passage pertains to Joseph and finds its fulfillment in Christ, particularly when the Jewish leaders, during His passion, mocked Him, saying, "If He be the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and let us believe in Him; He trusted in God; let Him now deliver Him, if it please Him" (Matt. 27:42-48). Can it be that the brothers would be so malicious as to bring harm to their own kin? And what, then, accounts for the outstanding virtue of such great patriarchs that the Law identifies the tribes of the entire nation by their names (See Gen. 49:1-28)? How can their noble names be associated with such grievous wrongs? Nevertheless, they acted in this manner, representing the people, not due to an inherent moral corruption. Thus arises all enmity and the intention of fratricide: enmity arising from a type, but righteousness emerging from love.

Upon the sight of Joseph, his brothers conspired to take his life. Similarly, when the Jewish leaders beheld Christ the true Joseph, they unanimously decided to have Him crucified (cf. Matt. 27:22-25). Joseph was stripped of his vibrant garments, while the Jews removed Christ's clothing at the moment of His crucifixion (cf. Matt. 27:28). After being deprived of his attire, Joseph was thrown into a pit (cf. Gen. 37:24), and in a profound parallel, Christ, having shed His earthly form, descended into the depths. Subsequently, Joseph was extracted from the pit and sold to the Ishmaelites, representing the Gentiles—similarly, upon His resurrection from the grave, Christ was embraced by all nations through the currency of faith.

From a distance, they identified him and conspired to take his life. They acknowledged him from afar and started to devise a plan to murder him. Let us slay him and claim that a wild animal has devoured him. Then we shall see what becomes of his dreams! After these dreadful words, malicious hands were raised.