Knowing The Word in Genesis 37:5-11, Joseph's Dreams

5 Now Joseph had a dream [the first of three pairs], and when he told it to his brothers they hated him even more [the theme is building]. 6 He said to them, “Hear this dream that I have dreamed [he is arrogantly full of his dream]: 7 Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and stood upright. And behold, your sheaves gathered around it and bowed down to my sheaf.” [This dream and the next make a single point: one day his family will bow down to him. The doubling of the dream suggests the certainty of it being established by God (41:32).] 8 His brothers said to him, “Are you indeed to reign over us? Or are you indeed to rule over us?” [Their words predict exactly what will happen.] So they hated him even more [a play on his name “may he add”] for his dreams and for his words.

9 Then he dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have dreamed another dream. Behold, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” [The first dream happened on earth, the second in heaven. The sun is mostly likely his father, the moon his mother, the 11 stars his brothers. With himself as a 12th star, could he also be referring to the Zodiac?] 10 But when he told it to his father and to his brothers, his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall I and your mother and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves to the ground before you?” [Even Jacob feels Joseph has gone too far.] 11 And his brothers were jealous of him [ominous, suggesting revenge], but his father kept the saying in mind [in case there really is something to these dreams].