Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 37:21

21 And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands, and said, Let us not kill him.

He did so, as to the violent and certain dispatch of his life which was intended: Or the act is here put for the purpose and endeavour of doing it, in which sence Balak is said to fight against Israel, Jos. 24. 9. and Abraham to offer up Isaac, Heb. 11. 17. So here, he delivered him, i. e. used his utmost power to deliver him, that so he might recover his fathers favour lost by his incestuous action.

Marginal references: chap. 42. 22.