Genesis 37

The coat of many whats? Augh - I have used colour elsewhere as a reflection of what appears to the eye עין. I could get rid of the usage but I am not going to. It seems quite natural where it is (and that's rare for my English). And I used it to describe coloured cloth צבע, which is also glossed as speckled or wet. The word here is פסים from פסס - this is a rare word only occurring 7 times and it is not confined to colour. I have it glossed as vanished and minute amount. So maybe Jacob got Joseph an invisibility cloak! But I have vanished also elsewhere for an acrostic and within the Aramaic corpus. (Overlaps to be expected here and there is too little data in this corpus to complain). פס is also fingertip. Maybe related in the sense that fingers weave and dye the cloth for the eye. But I have kept them as separate stems.

Other stems beginning with פס, (If it is capitalized, I used it as a name somewhere.)
פס fingertip (2) Fingertip (1)
פסג pass between (1)
פסגה Pisgah (4)
פסח Passover (45) lame (16) pass (3) Paseax (2) Passover offering (2) Lame (1)
פסל graven image (47) sculpt (5) emboss (1)
פסנטרין psaltery (4)
פסס vanish (1) many hued (1) minute amount (1)

FWIW, JB has a coat with long sleeves. So people are guessing what this word means. You can see why. There are two few uses for it to have a dominant gloss. Perhaps many hued will become its dominant gloss for me since the remaining uses appear to be here and in 2 Samuel 13 (still to come).

One of our questions, you will remember, was how the brothers could maintain a lie with their father for so many years. Here is the setting. It was the dream, the favoritism, and sibling rivalry. And the fortunate arrival of both Ishmaelites and Midianites to relieve them of some of the anguish and for character development in this novella. This is one of the stories where we can imagine some aspects of youth in the culture of the time.

Here is the music for verse 7.

Genesis 37:7, Joseph's first dream, cantillation using the deciphering key of Suzanne Haïk-Vantoura

Only twice in the scripture does the letter sequence המלך תמלך occur, here in verse 8 and in Esther 2:4.

In verse 32 there is a clear correction to the text, not noted in JB or KJV or NIV. The Leningrad codex has וישׁלחו from שׁלח (to send) but the word is read as if לקח (to take). I have never seen a qof disappear from a stem. A lamed will disappear, but never a qof.

Genesis 37		Fn		Min	Max	Syll
וַיֵּ֣שֶׁב יַעֲקֹ֔ב בְּאֶ֖רֶץ מְגוּרֵ֣י אָבִ֑יו בְּאֶ֖רֶץ כְּנָֽעַן	1		And Jacob settled in the land where his father was guest, in the land of Canaan.	3e	4B	14 6
אֵ֣לֶּה ׀ תֹּלְד֣וֹת יַעֲקֹ֗ב יוֹסֵ֞ף בֶּן־שְׁבַֽע־עֶשְׂרֵ֤ה שָׁנָה֙ הָיָ֨ה רֹעֶ֤ה אֶת־אֶחָיו֙ בַּצֹּ֔אן וְה֣וּא נַ֗עַר אֶת־בְּנֵ֥י בִלְהָ֛ה וְאֶת־בְּנֵ֥י זִלְפָּ֖ה נְשֵׁ֣י אָבִ֑יו וַיָּבֵ֥א יוֹסֵ֛ף אֶת־דִּבָּתָ֥ם רָעָ֖ה אֶל־אֲבִיהֶֽם	2	B	These are the successions of Jacob. Joseph, a child of seventeen years, was shepherding with his brothers among the sheep, and he, a youth, was with the children of Bilhah and the children of Zilpah, wives of his father. And Joseph brought their evil defamation to their father.	3d	4C	44 15
וְיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל אָהַ֤ב אֶת־יוֹסֵף֙ מִכָּל־בָּנָ֔יו כִּֽי־בֶן־זְקֻנִ֥ים ה֖וּא ל֑וֹ וְעָ֥שָׂה ל֖וֹ כְּתֹ֥נֶת פַּסִּֽים	3		And Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons, for the son of old age he was for him. And he made for him a many hued coat.	3e	4C	20 9
וַיִּרְא֣וּ אֶחָ֗יו כִּֽי־אֹת֞וֹ אָהַ֤ב אֲבִיהֶם֙ מִכָּל־אֶחָ֔יו וַֽיִּשְׂנְא֖וּ אֹת֑וֹ וְלֹ֥א יָכְל֖וּ דַּבְּר֥וֹ לְשָׁלֹֽם	4		And his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, and they hated him, and were not able to speak to him in peace.	3e	4C	22 9
וַיַּחֲלֹ֤ם יוֹסֵף֙ חֲל֔וֹם וַיַּגֵּ֖ד לְאֶחָ֑יו וַיּוֹסִ֥פוּ ע֖וֹד שְׂנֹ֥א אֹתֽוֹ	5		And Joseph dreamed a dream and he told his brothers, and they again further hated him.	3e	4C	14 9
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר אֲלֵיהֶ֑ם שִׁמְעוּ־נָ֕א הַחֲל֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֥ר חָלָֽמְתִּי	6		And he said to them, Hear, if you will, this dream that I have dreamed.	3e	4A	6 12
וְ֠הִנֵּה אֲנַ֜חְנוּ מְאַלְּמִ֤ים אֲלֻמִּים֙ בְּת֣וֹךְ הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה וְהִנֵּ֛ה קָ֥מָה אֲלֻמָּתִ֖י וְגַם־נִצָּ֑בָה וְהִנֵּ֤ה תְסֻבֶּ֙ינָה֙ אֲלֻמֹּ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם וַתִּֽשְׁתַּחֲוֶ֖יןָ לַאֲלֻמָּתִֽי	7	~	And behold, we were sheaving sheaves in the midst of the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and moreover stood firm, and behold, round about were your sheaves, and they prostrated themselves to my sheaf.	3d	4C	31 23
וַיֹּ֤אמְרוּ לוֹ֙ אֶחָ֔יו הֲמָלֹ֤ךְ תִּמְלֹךְ֙ עָלֵ֔ינוּ אִם־מָשׁ֥וֹל תִּמְשֹׁ֖ל בָּ֑נוּ וַיּוֹסִ֤פוּ עוֹד֙ שְׂנֹ֣א אֹת֔וֹ עַל־חֲלֹמֹתָ֖יו וְעַל־דְּבָרָֽיו	8		And his brothers said to him, Sovereign? Will you be sovereign over us? Or govern? You will govern in us? And they again further hated him over his dreams and over his words.	3e	4C	21 19
וַיַּחֲלֹ֥ם עוֹד֙ חֲל֣וֹם אַחֵ֔ר וַיְסַפֵּ֥ר אֹת֖וֹ לְאֶחָ֑יו וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הִנֵּ֨ה חָלַ֤מְתִּֽי חֲלוֹם֙ ע֔וֹד וְהִנֵּ֧ה הַשֶּׁ֣מֶשׁ וְהַיָּרֵ֗חַ וְאַחַ֤ד עָשָׂר֙ כּֽוֹכָבִ֔ים מִֽשְׁתַּחֲוִ֖ים לִֽי	9		And he dreamed further another dream and recounted it to his brothers. And he said, Behold, I have dreamed a further dream, and behold, the sun, and the moon and eleven stars worshiped me.	3c	4C	17 35
וַיְסַפֵּ֣ר אֶל־אָבִיו֮ וְאֶל־אֶחָיו֒ וַיִּגְעַר־בּ֣וֹ אָבִ֔יו וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ מָ֛ה הַחֲל֥וֹם הַזֶּ֖ה אֲשֶׁ֣ר חָלָ֑מְתָּ הֲב֣וֹא נָב֗וֹא אֲנִי֙ וְאִמְּךָ֣ וְאַחֶ֔יךָ לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֺ֥ת לְךָ֖ אָֽרְצָה	10		And he recounted to his father and to his brothers. And his father rebuked him, and said to him, What is this dream that you have dreamed? Will we come, I and your mother and your kin, to prostrate ourselves to you to the earth.	3d	4B	31 22
וַיְקַנְאוּ־ב֖וֹ אֶחָ֑יו וְאָבִ֖יו שָׁמַ֥ר אֶת־הַדָּבָֽר	11		And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter.	3e	4A	5 9
וַיֵּלְכ֖וּ אֶחָ֑יו לִרְע֛וֹת אֶׄתׄ־צֹ֥אן אֲבִיהֶ֖ם בִּשְׁכֶֽם	12		And his brothers went, to shepherd the sheep of their father in Shechem.	3d	4A	5 9
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יִשְׂרָאֵ֜ל אֶל־יוֹסֵ֗ף הֲל֤וֹא אַחֶ֙יךָ֙ רֹעִ֣ים בִּשְׁכֶ֔ם לְכָ֖ה וְאֶשְׁלָחֲךָ֣ אֲלֵיהֶ֑ם וַיֹּ֥אמֶר ל֖וֹ הִנֵּֽנִי	13		And Israel said to Joseph, Are not your brothers shepherding in Shechem? Come and I will send you to them. And he said to him, Here I am.	3e	4C	28 7
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ לֶךְ־נָ֨א רְאֵ֜ה אֶת־שְׁל֤וֹם אַחֶ֙יךָ֙ וְאֶת־שְׁל֣וֹם הַצֹּ֔אן וַהֲשִׁבֵ֖נִי דָּבָ֑ר וַיִּשְׁלָחֵ֙הוּ֙ מֵעֵ֣מֶק חֶבְר֔וֹן וַיָּבֹ֖א שְׁכֶֽמָה	14		And he said to him, Go, please. See the welfare of your brothers and the welfare of the flock and bring me back a word. And he sent him out from the valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.	3e	4C	27 16
וַיִּמְצָאֵ֣הוּ אִ֔ישׁ וְהִנֵּ֥ה תֹעֶ֖ה בַּשָּׂדֶ֑ה וַיִּשְׁאָלֵ֧הוּ הָאִ֛ישׁ לֵאמֹ֖ר מַה־תְּבַקֵּֽשׁ	15		And someone found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying, What do you seek?	3c	4B	14 13
וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אֶת־אַחַ֖י אָנֹכִ֣י מְבַקֵּ֑שׁ הַגִּֽידָה־נָּ֣א לִ֔י אֵיפֹ֖ה הֵ֥ם רֹעִֽים	16		And he said, I am seeking my brothers. Tell me, please, where they are shepherding.	3e	4B	12 10
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר הָאִישׁ֙ נָסְע֣וּ מִזֶּ֔ה כִּ֤י שָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ אֹֽמְרִ֔ים נֵלְכָ֖ה דֹּתָ֑יְנָה וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ יוֹסֵף֙ אַחַ֣ר אֶחָ֔יו וַיִּמְצָאֵ֖ם בְּדֹתָֽן	17		And the man said, They pulled out from here, for I heard them saying, Let us go to Dothan. And Joseph went after his brothers, and he found them in Dothan.	3e	4C	20 16
וַיִּרְא֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ מֵרָחֹ֑ק וּבְטֶ֙רֶם֙ יִקְרַ֣ב אֲלֵיהֶ֔ם וַיִּֽתְנַכְּל֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ לַהֲמִיתֽוֹ	18		And they saw him in the distance. And before he approached them, they were canny with him to have him executed.	3e	4B	8 18
וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ אִ֣ישׁ אֶל־אָחִ֑יו הִנֵּ֗ה בַּ֛עַל הַחֲלֹמ֥וֹת הַלָּזֶ֖ה בָּֽא	19		And they said, each to his brother, Behold, the husband of these dreams has come.	3d	4B	7 12
וְעַתָּ֣ה ׀ לְכ֣וּ וְנַֽהַרְגֵ֗הוּ וְנַשְׁלִכֵ֙הוּ֙ בְּאַחַ֣ד הַבֹּר֔וֹת וְאָמַ֕רְנוּ חַיָּ֥ה רָעָ֖ה אֲכָלָ֑תְהוּ וְנִרְאֶ֕ה מַה־יִּהְי֖וּ חֲלֹמֹתָֽיו	20		So now, come, and let us slay him, and let us cast him into the first pit, and we will say, An evil animal devoured him. And we will see what will become of his dreams.	3e	4B	33 10
וַיִּשְׁמַ֣ע רְאוּבֵ֔ן וַיַּצִּלֵ֖הוּ מִיָּדָ֑ם וַיֹּ֕אמֶר לֹ֥א נַכֶּ֖נּוּ נָֽפֶשׁ	21		When Reuben heard, he delivered him from their hand, and he said, Let us not strike his being.	3e	4B	14 9
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֣ם ׀ רְאוּבֵן֮ אַל־תִּשְׁפְּכוּ־דָם֒ הַשְׁלִ֣יכוּ אֹת֗וֹ אֶל־הַבּ֤וֹר הַזֶּה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר בַּמִּדְבָּ֔ר וְיָ֖ד אַל־תִּשְׁלְחוּ־ב֑וֹ לְמַ֗עַן הַצִּ֤יל אֹתוֹ֙ מִיָּדָ֔ם לַהֲשִׁיב֖וֹ אֶל־אָבִֽיו	22		And Reuben said to them, Do not shed blood. Cast him away to this pit that is in the wilderness, but do not extend a hand on him. (So that he might deliver him from their hand and return him to his father.)	3e	4C	35 17
וַֽיְהִ֕י כַּֽאֲשֶׁר־בָּ֥א יוֹסֵ֖ף אֶל־אֶחָ֑יו וַיַּפְשִׁ֤יטוּ אֶת־יוֹסֵף֙ אֶת־כֻּתָּנְתּ֔וֹ אֶת־כְּתֹ֥נֶת הַפַּסִּ֖ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר עָלָֽיו	23		And it happened as Joseph came to his brothers, that they stripped Joseph from his coat, the many hued coat that was over him,	3e	4C	11 22
וַיִּ֨קָּחֻ֔הוּ וַיַּשְׁלִ֥כוּ אֹת֖וֹ הַבֹּ֑רָה וְהַבּ֣וֹר רֵ֔ק אֵ֥ין בּ֖וֹ מָֽיִם	24		And they took him and they cast into him the pit. And the pit was empty. There was no water in it.	3e	4B	14 8
וַיֵּשְׁבוּ֮ לֶֽאֱכָל־לֶחֶם֒ וַיִּשְׂא֤וּ עֵֽינֵיהֶם֙ וַיִּרְא֔וּ וְהִנֵּה֙ אֹרְחַ֣ת יִשְׁמְעֵאלִ֔ים בָּאָ֖ה מִגִּלְעָ֑ד וּגְמַלֵּיהֶ֣ם נֹֽשְׂאִ֗ים נְכֹאת֙ וּצְרִ֣י וָלֹ֔ט הוֹלְכִ֖ים לְהוֹרִ֥יד מִצְרָֽיְמָה	25		And they settled to eat bread, and they lifted up their eyes, and they saw, and behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites came from Gilead, and their camels, bearing gum and balm and resin, going on the descent toward Egypt.	3e	4C	31 20
וַיֹּ֥אמֶר יְהוּדָ֖ה אֶל־אֶחָ֑יו מַה־בֶּ֗צַע כִּ֤י נַהֲרֹג֙ אֶת־אָחִ֔ינוּ וְכִסִּ֖ינוּ אֶת־דָּמֽוֹ	26		And Judah said to his brothers, What gain is it that we slay our brother and cover his blood?	3e	4C	9 18
לְכ֞וּ וְנִמְכְּרֶ֣נּוּ לַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִ֗ים וְיָדֵ֙נוּ֙ אַל־תְּהִי־ב֔וֹ כִּֽי־אָחִ֥ינוּ בְשָׂרֵ֖נוּ ה֑וּא וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֖וּ אֶחָֽיו	27		Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be on him, for our brother, our flesh he is. And his brothers heard.	3e	4B	27 6
וַיַּֽעַבְרוּ֩ אֲנָשִׁ֨ים מִדְיָנִ֜ים סֹֽחֲרִ֗ים וַֽיִּמְשְׁכוּ֙ וַיַּֽעֲל֤וּ אֶת־יוֹסֵף֙ מִן־הַבּ֔וֹר וַיִּמְכְּר֧וּ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֛ף לַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִ֖ים בְּעֶשְׂרִ֣ים כָּ֑סֶף וַיָּבִ֥יאוּ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֖ף מִצְרָֽיְמָה	28		And Midianite vendors passed by, and they drew out and they brought up Joseph from the pit, and they sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver, and they brought Joseph toward Egypt.	3c	4C	44 10
וַיָּ֤שָׁב רְאוּבֵן֙ אֶל־הַבּ֔וֹר וְהִנֵּ֥ה אֵין־יוֹסֵ֖ף בַּבּ֑וֹר וַיִּקְרַ֖ע אֶת־בְּגָדָֽיו	29		And Reuben returned to the pit, and behold, there was no Joseph in the pit. And he ripped his garments.	3e	4C	17 7
וַיָּ֥שָׁב אֶל־אֶחָ֖יו וַיֹּאמַ֑ר הַיֶּ֣לֶד אֵינֶ֔נּוּ וַאֲנִ֖י אָ֥נָה אֲנִי־בָֽא	30		And he returned to his brothers and said, The boy is not. And I, where I will go?	3e	4B	9 13
וַיִּקְח֖וּ אֶת־כְּתֹ֣נֶת יוֹסֵ֑ף וַֽיִּשְׁחֲטוּ֙ שְׂעִ֣יר עִזִּ֔ים וַיִּטְבְּל֥וּ אֶת־הַכֻּתֹּ֖נֶת בַּדָּֽם	31		And they sent for Joseph's coat, and they butchered a kid of the she-goats, and they dipped the coat in the blood.	3e	4B	9 19
וַֽיְשַׁלְּח֞וּ אֶת־כְּתֹ֣נֶת הַפַּסִּ֗ים וַיָּבִ֙יאוּ֙ אֶל־אֲבִיהֶ֔ם וַיֹּאמְר֖וּ זֹ֣את מָצָ֑אנוּ הַכֶּר־נָ֗א הַכְּתֹ֧נֶת בִּנְךָ֛ הִ֖וא אִם־לֹֽא	32		And they took the many hued coat and they came to their father, and they said, We found this. Recognize, if you will. The coat of your son it is, or not.	3c	4B	25 11
וַיַּכִּירָ֤הּ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ כְּתֹ֣נֶת בְּנִ֔י חַיָּ֥ה רָעָ֖ה אֲכָלָ֑תְהוּ טָרֹ֥ף טֹרַ֖ף יוֹסֵֽף	33		And he recognized it, and he said, The coat of my son. An evil animal has devoured him. Joseph is torn, torn to pieces.	3e	4C	20 6
וַיִּקְרַ֤ע יַעֲקֹב֙ שִׂמְלֹתָ֔יו וַיָּ֥שֶׂם שַׂ֖ק בְּמָתְנָ֑יו וַיִּתְאַבֵּ֥ל עַל־בְּנ֖וֹ יָמִ֥ים רַבִּֽים	34		And Jacob ripped his stole, and he set sackcloth on his waist, and he lamented over his son many days.	3e	4C	16 11
וַיָּקֻמוּ֩ כָל־בָּנָ֨יו וְכָל־בְּנֹתָ֜יו לְנַחֲמ֗וֹ וַיְמָאֵן֙ לְהִתְנַחֵ֔ם וַיֹּ֕אמֶר כִּֽי־אֵרֵ֧ד אֶל־בְּנִ֛י אָבֵ֖ל שְׁאֹ֑לָה וַיֵּ֥בְךְּ אֹת֖וֹ אָבִֽיו	35		And all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him, and he would not be comforted, and he said, For I will go down to my son lamenting to the grave. So his father wept for him.	3c	4A	36 7
וְהַ֨מְּדָנִ֔ים מָכְר֥וּ אֹת֖וֹ אֶל־מִצְרָ֑יִם לְפֽוֹטִיפַר֙ סְרִ֣יס פַּרְעֹ֔ה שַׂ֖ר הַטַּבָּחִֽים	36		And the Midianites sold him to Egypt, to Potiphar, eunuch of Pharaoh, chief of the slaughter.	3e	4B	12 13