Bereschit 37:12 Midrasch: Bereishit Rabbah

And his brothers went to pasture sheep (Gen. 37:12) - there are dots on the [direct object marker] ET. This teaches you that they did not go to pasture sheep, rather, it is to pasture themselves. "And Israel said to Yosef: 'aren't your brothers pasturing in Shechem?'" (Gen. 37:13) Rabbi Tanchuma in the name of Rabbi Berachia: he behaved towards [his father] with the appropriate respect: "And he answered him: 'here I am'. Rabbi Chama bar Chanina: Yaakov remembered these words and his internal organs would feel like they were being chopped up: you knew that your brothers hated you, and still you said to me 'here I am.' ""And he said to him, “Go and see how your brothers are and how the flocks are faring" (Gen. 37:14) - it would have been sufficient 'how your brothers are faring', what does 'and the sheep' add? One explanation is that a person should always ask one's fellow about the things that bring sustenance. "And bring me back word.' So he sent him from the valley of Hebron." (Gen. 37:14) Isn't Hebron in the valley? R. Acha said, " He went to fulfill that deep counsel that the Holy One of Blessing gave between Himself and the fine colleague who is buried in Hebron [Abraham] : ' and they shall be enslaved and oppressed' (Genesis 15:13).