Bible Strands
Genesis 37:12
Some time later, Joseph’s brothers had gone to pasture their father’s flocks near Shechem.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records Joseph’s brothers traveling to pasture their father’s flocks near Shechem, a factual update that follows the note of their jealousy and precedes Jacob’s direct command to Joseph.
The words — The verb וַיֵּלְכוּ (va.ye.le.khu) literally means "and they went," while לִרְעוֹת (li.r.'ot) means "to pasture," establishing the brothers' physical movement toward Shechem for their assigned duty.
The thread — Shechem functions as a recurring family location, first where Jacob camped upon returning from Paddan-aram (Genesis 33:18) and later where Simeon and Levi carried out violence (Genesis 34:25), placing the brothers' current position within established narrative geography.
Why it lands — The text requires the reader to track the brothers' relocation as a necessary narrative step, treating geography as the immediate precondition for the commission that follows.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And his brethren went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem.
Cross-references
- Genesis 33:18 After Jacob had come from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely at the city of Shechem in the land of Canaan, and he camped just outside the city.
- Genesis 34:25 Three days later, while they were still in pain, two of Jacob’s sons (Dinah’s brothers Simeon and Levi) took their swords, went into the unsuspecting city, and slaughtered every male.
- Genesis 37:1 Now Jacob lived in the land where his father had resided, the land of Canaan.