20 pCome therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, ‘Some wild beast has devoured him.’ We shall see what will become of his dreams!”

21 But qReuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands, and said, “Let us not kill him.” 22 And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit which is in the wilderness, and do not lay a hand on him”—that he might deliver him out of their hands, and bring him back to his father.

23 So it came to pass, when Joseph had come to his brothers, that they rstripped Joseph of his tunic, the tunic of many colors that was on him. 24 Then they took him and cast him into a pit. And the pit was empty; there was no water in it.

25 sAnd they sat down to eat a meal. Then they lifted their eyes and looked, and there was a company of tIshmaelites, coming from Gilead with their camels, bearing spices, ubalm, and myrrh, on their way to carry them down to Egypt. 26 So Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and vconceal his blood? 27 Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and wlet not our hand be upon him, for he is xour brother and your flesh.” And his brothers listened. 28 Then zMidianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, aand sold him to the Ishmaelites for btwenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.

29 Then Reuben returned to the pit, and indeed Joseph was not in the pit; and he ctore his clothes. 30 And he returned to his brothers and said, “The lad dis no more; and I, where shall I go?”