And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I.
And Israel said to Joseph, 'Aren't your brothers taking care of the sheep in Shechem? Come here, and I will send you to them.' And Joseph said to him, 'Here I am.'
Israel (Jacob) is sending his son Joseph to check on his brothers who are shepherding the flocks in Shechem, and Joseph willingly agrees to go.
📚 Historical Context
This occurs when Joseph was about 17 years old and already his father's favorite son, which had created jealousy among his brothers. Shechem was a significant location where Jacob's family had previously settled, and it was common for shepherds to move their flocks to find better pasture. This seemingly innocent errand would lead to Joseph being sold into slavery by his jealous brothers.
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