37:32. Sending some to carry it to their father, and to say: This we have found: see whether it be thy son’s coat, or not.
37:33. And the father acknowledging it, said: It is my son’s coat, an evil wild beast hath eaten him, a beast hath devoured Joseph.
37:34. And tearing his garments, he put on sackcloth, mourning for his son a long time.
37:35. And all his children being gathered together to comfort their father in his sorrow, he would not receive comfort, but said: I will go down to my son into hell, mourning. And whilst he continued weeping,
Into hell.... That is, into limbo, the place where the souls of the just were received before the death of our Redeemer. For allowing that the word hell sometimes is taken for the grave, it cannot be so taken in this place; since Jacob did not believe his son to be in the grave, (whom he supposed to be devoured by a wild beast,) and therefore could not mean to go down to him thither: but certainly meant the place of rest where he believed his soul to be.
37:36. The Madianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Putiphar, an eunuch of Pharao, captain of the soldiers.
An eunuch.... This word sometimes signifies a chamberlain, courtier, or officer of the king: and so it is taken in this place.
Genesis Chapter 38
The sons of Juda: the death of Her and Onan: the birth of Phares and Zara.
38:1. At that time Juda went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Odollamite, named Hiras.