Genesis 37:21

21 And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands and said, "Let us not kill him."

Genesis 37:21 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 37:21

And Reuben heard [it]
Overheard what they said, not being in the consultation; perhaps knowing his temper and disposition to be more mild and gentle, and being the elder brother, might fear he would overrule matters against them, and therefore Simeon and Levi did not choose to have him in the debate; or he might be at some distance and entirely absent when the consultation was held, and their intention was reported to him by some of them:

and he delivered him out of their hands;
from slaying him; that is, he endeavoured to do it by proposing another scheme:

and said, let us not kill him;
or let us not smite the soul ^F20; the dear soul, or take away life.

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FOOTNOTES:

F20 (vpn wnkn al) "ne percutiamus vel occidamus animam", Sam. Ar. Syr.

Genesis 37:21 In-Context

19 And they said one to another, "Behold, this dreamer cometh.

20 Come now therefore and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, `Some evil beast hath devoured him'; and we shall see what will become of his dreams."

21 And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands and said, "Let us not kill him."

22 And Reuben said unto them, "Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him" -- that he might rid him out of their hands to deliver him to his father again.

23 And it came to pass, when Joseph had come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph of his coat, his coat of many colors that was on him;