“Dothan.” This verse reveals some of the travel that was involved with shepherding large flocks and finding water and good pasture for them. The brothers had started in Hebron (Gen. 37:14), then went to Shechem (Gen. 37:12, 14), about 50 miles north, then traveled about 15 more miles north to Dothan. Sheep do not move very fast, so this journey would have taken many days if made at one time.

[For more on shepherds and their travels, see commentary on Exod. 3:1.]