Genesis 37:21-28

Christian Standard Bible

²¹ When Reuben heard this, he tried to save him from them.^[a] He said, “Let’s not take his life.”^{(A) 22} Reuben also said to them, “Don’t shed blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him”—intending to rescue him from them and return him to his father.

²³ When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped off Joseph’s robe, the long-sleeved robe that he had on. ²⁴ Then they took him and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty, without water.^(B)

²⁵ They sat down to eat a meal,^(C) and when they looked up, there was a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead.^(D) Their camels were carrying aromatic gum, balsam, and resin, going down to Egypt.^(E)

²⁶ Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? ²⁷ Come on, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh,” and his brothers agreed. ²⁸ When Midianite^(F) traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took Joseph to Egypt.^(G)