The National tribune., 1894-04-05
SUNDAY MEDITATION
A Study of the International Sunday
School Lesson APPOINTED for April
Is, 1894 nx

ECHuUl Ltoouu hgpuintCu iUi hpAII
Is, 1894 rAz
Subject: The Selling nsiSoseph. Gen., 81
23-36saS
lone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated aboye.I ofc
=. INTRODUCTION
We pass from Hebron, tise location of our
last lesson, to Dothan. We deal now not
with dreams, but with solid, serious, hard
facts One of the most interesting characters
of the Old Testament is he who figures most
prominently in this lesson. There is no
model save Christ which young men in
special may study to so great advantage.
Example has power. We recall the Arabian
proyerb, "a fig tree looking on fig tree be-
cometh fruitful" poet unnamed wrote:
We scatter seeds viii, careless hand,
And dream we me- er shall see them more;
But for u thousand years their fruit appears,
In weeds that mar the land, or healtbful store.
Jacob
We recently left Jacob prince in prayer,
and about ready TO meet his brother Esau.
His name became Israel 49, %; 35: 10.)
From Peniel he went to Succoth. (32: III
Then he went to Shalem. (1S.) Next he
went to Bethel. $3.50 Now we read of
him at Bethlehem. Benjamin was born
there, and there Jacobs wife, Rachel, died.
At length he reached Hebron, (27,) finding
his father still alive. He had been absent
probably as many as 40syears. Meanwhile
he had married four wives, had ~ sons and
two daughters, and had become wealthy. He
married his wives in Padan-aram, and there
all his children, except Benjamin, were born.
At Bethlehem his most loved wife, Rachel,
died. At the age of SO he settled down in
Hebron. (35:27.)
Joseph.
The prominent figure now before US is Jo-
seph, the next to the youngest son of Jacob.
His mother was Rachel and his own brother
was Benjamin. The mother was dead. It
seems Jacob was very partial toward Joseph,
and this fact occasoned much domestic fric-
ton. A grand destiny was before Joseph, of
which he had dreams. These dreams were
doubtless of supernatural origin. Their in
depreciation magnifed Joseph's position and
importance above those Of his brothers, and,
indeed, above those even of his father.
Jacobs greater regard for Joseph manifested
itself in paternal favoritism. Excess of love
for this son was shown, e. g., in providing
him more expensive apparel than for the
other children. 1872, 3. The consequence
was jealousy The brothers hated Joseph.
They even became murderers, and only
awaited convenient opportunity to waylay
him.
Time.
We learn that at the time of his visit to
Dothan, Joseph was II years old. (37:2)
The date of our lesson 10 2276 A. M. We
find from AIS that Jacob was $50 years
old when he went downinto Egypt. Joseph
was 80 years old when he became Governor
of Egypt. al: 49, Just after followed
seven years of plenty Al: AL Then
succeeded two years z'of want. 45:11.)
Hence, Joseph was SO sears of age when his
father was 100. Therefore Joseph was born
when his father was 81. But Jacob was born
2168 A. M. 1t follows Joseph was born in
the year 2259 A M. Add IL (37: p and we
have 2276 A. NJ, the idatepf Joseph's sale.
Abraham had been dead $40 years when
Joseph was born. Isaac was 1853 years old
after his birth. At the time Of our lesson,
Isaac had been dead Eve years.
q. Piace.sIh1 O. ee- Z
shechem was in The valley between Mounts
Ebal and Gerizim. 1t was Abrams first
known stopping place in Canaan. u: g.
1t was seven miles southeast Of Samaria, 81
north of Jerusalem, 81 from Hebron, Is
south of Dothan. From Hebron to Dothan
is therefore SO miles, and this, hence, is the
distance gone over by Joseph to overtake
his brothers. Having gone 81 miles from
home (Hebron to Shechem), it must have
seemed discouraging to be necessitated to 60
Is miles farther. Dothan was IL miles north
of Samaria. Elisha lived at Dothan for a
time. q XII, s: 49, The first mention of
the locality in the Bible is in our lesson.
The place is still pointed,out to the traveller.
1t bears its old name, Dothan. The region
all south of it is very rich in pasturage.
We remember how distressed the servant of
Elisha was when surrounded by foes at this
same Dothan. We recall the forces which
came to the assistance of the prophet. Elisha
prayed that the young mans eyes might
be opened SO he could see there were more
for his master (Elisha) and for himself than
for their enemies. e XII, 6 16, I'D Could
the eyes of Joseph have been so opened
that he could have seen beforehand his grand
future in Egypt growing out from the abuse
he received at Dothan-his sale, his slavery,
his Governorship, etc.--he could we'll have
welcomed all his trials. Two very inter-
esting events associate themselves in the
mind of the Bible reader when he thinks
of Dothan. At the mention Of the word,
two representative characters tower up
Joseph and Elisha.
Joseph Sold.
Jacob was a grazier and herdsman. He
had some pasture lands in the neighborhood
of Shechem 80: Is, 1877, and though he re-
sided at Hebron, he utilized his northern
ranches for his focks, sending some of his
sons thither to care for the sheep. Becom-
ing anxious as to his sons and focks so far
off, he sent Joseph up TO find out and report
the state of things at Shechem. By the
time Joseph reached Shechem, his brothers
had moved up farther north to the vicinity
of Dothan, and SO he set out to join them.
At sight of him the brothers thought their
opportunity had come TO. put him out of the
way. His father had given him a rare coat.
1913 That garment they snatched off
from him. 81: 23.) Reuben and Judah
took his part. Rather than take his blood
it was suggested by Reuben that they cast
him into pit to starve.i Reuben intended
to rescue him. Judah hinted it would be
better to sell him to some merchants as q
slave, and let him be i9lte1 down to Egypt.
This proposition prevailed"
The hard feelings OF Joseph's brothers
toward him originated, from two causes:
First, the fact that the father showed great
and offensive partiality for him; and, second
ly, the fact Joseph hadea habit of dreaming
be was to be superi0rl to- all his brothers,