Genesis 37:21 Commentary and Bible Study

Reuben is the oldest of the brothers. He feels that he has to save his life, and he is going to suggest something else, and then come back a little later and rescue the boy. But why doesn't he just try to persuade the brothers straight out? ‘You cannot do this. You cannot do this to your brother?’ Reuben doesn't even attempt to do that. Why not? Because he knows how savage these brothers are. He knows he cannot appeal to them. That will be wholly unsuccessful. For all his seniority and authority, he knew he had no hope of doing it except by deceit. He knows how cruel they are, and how murderous their instincts are, and how impossible they will be to soften them. There is no hope of changing their minds! So the fact that Reuben himself has to resort to cunning in a feeble and abortive attempt to rescue Joseph from this murder, tells us something more of the hatred and the awfulness of the brothers. But Reuben’s suggestion is cowardly and awful in its own right. He does intend to rescue Joseph and return him to his father, but he is an appeaser. ‘Cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him.’ Perhaps he is slightly less callous than the other brothers and as the oldest feels some responsibility for family conduct, but a man of principle and courage would have stood firm against them no matter how unpleasant they were. All this discussion took place while Joseph was still approaching them, and finally he arrives.