The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-10-05
JOSEPH SOLD INTO EGYPT. (Casn. xxxvii: l2.36.)
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(0o0s xxxVh. ASsoo'l |>% " f <<<<> Jntroductiop. .--For five successive weeks we shall study incidents in the lie or So' seph the eleventh son SGr1 of joseRa ane His mother was Rachel, the second but most beloved wife, who died while Benjamin: his brother. was an infant, Witnout question Joseph was one ol the , puFne,sIs n,I Testament. and the space given to nim exceeds that allowed to any other LprioI to Moses. Although he passed througn place in his family and in Egypt he con ducted himself with uniform propriety. In disposition speech and conduct nc was free from fault No blemish can pc found in him as we look back over the centuries. It Is not surprising. therefore. that his father regarded him with pecu. liar affection. even above that bestowed upon any of his other sons, and that Tn affection. Indeed. Joseph was Jacob's pc culiar treasure, the dearest idol or his heart. the chief source of his comfort,
 Commissioned (Verses IF to lA)-Jacop resided in the vale of Hebron, some twen. ty miles south of Jerusalem. on lands that had belonged to Isaac. his father. The pastu, age of that region wss not sufficient to support the numerous herds and hocks which were accordingly driven northward to the valley where Abraham halted on first entering the land. Gen. xii,6) That region has ever been famous for it's beauty and fertility, the ideal oob-Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah. Dan, Nsphtali Cad, Asher, ZeeulIn-the chill dren of Leah. Bilhah and Ziipah Gen: xxx), all grown to manhood. were sent in charge of the stock which they led from place to place in the valley. Months may have passed since their departure: when Jacob became anxious to Know or f~1t fav. hof ha some misgivings. not without reason. con- cerning their behavior. He therefore called his beloved Joseph. the only son with him. and commissioned him to go and learn the situation. a mark or his confidence. and Joseph gladly undertook the servicc.
 Searched (verses I5 to 17)--The valley of Shechem was extensive. in form of a triangle with its base toward the east and it's apex toward the Mediterranean. It was divided into three parts by. spurs of hills and sometimes freduented by
 sraIding parties Hsnce sor e Is fms for better pasture for greater security
 and Joseph needed to search little to find them. But he did not relinquish his efforts to meet his fathers instructions. ing about in the field. somewhat confused as to the proper course to be taken. hay ing no clue from any one to direct his path Fortunately man found him who proved to be q friendly Ruide for he had met the sons and heard them speak of their purpose to remove to Dotnan. Inis will be remembered as the home or Ell sha in after years Ql Kings vi,1G, sit uated in tho southern part of the plain. perhaps twenty miles from Samaria
 Thither Joseph turned his feet and found his brethren encaMped near well their fiocks spread over the country.
 Conppired ,(ve.ses Is to 2.)--Joseph had previously awakened the Jealousy or his brethren. partly as the fathers favorite
 but chiefly by dream in which he was
 represented as supsriog to the entire fam fly. (Gen. xxxvii, 5-S.) " hen they saw him
 approaching they immediately began to
 devise mischief concerning him. InS greater number were murderously incnm, t cast tl.e body into pit, and afterward represent to their father that he had been slain by wild beast thereby shielding
 the most effective for disposing of his
 pretensions. This proposal exhibits the
 brutality of the men and shows how cruel
 and unreasoning is jealousy. (Prov.
 xvii, A. One heart stood ,sS between 10. s
 half brother. being the first born ana
 therefore in sense the ruler or the whole company. .nterposed. Coneealing
 his purpose to deliver Joseph ns.enn, anS save ing In them to shed his blood that the
 end desired could be reached as well by
 casting him into pit alive where he
 'E EmslnVed (vers .s 2s-2s.)--Reubens ad-
 vice was accepted. An empty pit receiv.
 et the young man who was first stript of
 the many-coiored coat which his father
 beautiful garment, mark of distinction and proof of paternal love, was retained
 to be used in ceceiving the loving father.
 To indicate the depth of infamy into down to eat After they had shamefully
 imprisoned the innocent youth. (Amos vi 6.) Utterly heartless they were un-
 moved by the pleadinss of innocence or pected turn in affairs then occurred through the ordering of that Providence
 that works out its benefceut designs even
 against the evil devices of men. 9Epn' |, ii.) A caravan of merchantmen, bear. ing spices to Egypt, came that way. and Judah the fourth of Jacobs sons, though he had no pity saw opportunity Tor gam.
 What profit is Il" he inquireds 70 taks | llfe?" So the unfortunate Joseph was drawn up sold for twenty pieces of sil- yer, the usual price of slave ana borne | away. that when tlis barter occurred Reuben
 was absent. He who had saved the Ire
 had gone on some errand. assuming Una: | all was well and that later In the day
 he might accomplish his purpose t1 net re
 sufficiently considered that men or evli
 thoughts, turned aside for a time rom
 one wickedn.ss are likely to devise an. i other. Joseph was not safe for moment
 while in the power of murderers. Hut | Reuben returned, after the brothers nae
 gone forth to their usual tasks. Joseph
 was not to be found Hastsning to the
 others the man in his grief rent his gar
 ments. (Job l. 20). after the fashion or
 orientalists and exclaimed in deep dis-
 tress ''T1e child is not" uer. xxxl: & !S.1
 His sorrow did not result merely from the
 fact that lie had been lost, but From ! the additional fact that he was responsi-
 hle. that he would be obliged to give ac- | count. His obligation to protect was III creased by the consideration that JosePn 1 had heen lovingly sent on DeneVolent | errand. "Whther shall I go! ne eh- Deceived (vtrses S1 to 3s)-A great crime | had been committed by nine men Who
 needed now t conceal their deed. Iney 1 therefore fel back upon their origlnai | to convince Reuben that a beast had oe- voured Joseph. At least they hoped 10 | relieve his embarrassment and may nave | enlisted hin finally inthsir--dia abohcal plot. It waS the best pretext under tne circumstances. Joseph's coat was sprink- pIs. Nlth the awful lie that 1t had been Louna and that they were not certain oI It. 1 Thereby thy closed up all the interven- | ing history, and, as they supposed 1rew | a veil ovet their evil doing. what schemes of mischief, what deeds of blood,
 what dark and devillsh conduct. have beeI. hidden by a spacious lie. The aecep,
 ton was successful Jacob. as he oeneld | the Sarme1t recognized it., accepted tns | explanation and believed that Joseph nar. nai '.
 been destioyed. So far the end soug !
 was gained. The young man was out or
 the way. The jealous brothers were sat
 isfied. Th' father attached no blame to | any one. .,.