Genesis 37:2-36

(JE). Joseph sold into Egypt

2 b (J). and he was a lad with, &c. The English here gives an awkward rendering. The meaning is, "he was keeping sheep, being still a lad, with his brethren, the sons of Bilhah and Zilpah," i.e. Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. Joseph's home at this time seems to have been at Hebron (cf. Genesis 35:27). The life of Joseph, the elder son of the favourite wife, spent in the field with the sons of the concubines, was not likely to be happy.

the evil report What this was, does not appear; cf. 1 Samuel 2:23. But Joseph's action brought upon him the odium of tale-bearing. On the words for "evil report" cf. Numbers 13:32; Numbers 14:36-37 (P).