Genesis 37:21-31

21 And Ruben having heard it, rescued him out of their hands, and said, Let us not kill him.
22 And Ruben said to them, Shed not blood; cast him into one of these pits in the wilderness, but do not lay hands upon him; that he might rescue him out of their hands, and restore him to his father.
23 And it came to pass, when Joseph came to his brethren, that they stripped Joseph of his many-coloured coat that was upon him.
24 And they took him and cast him into the pit; and the pit was empty, it had not water.
25 And they sat down to eat bread; and having lifted up their eyes they beheld, and lo, Ismaelitish travellers came from Galaad, and their camels were heavily loaded with spices, and resin, and myrrh; and they went to bring them to Egypt.
26 And Judas said to his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?
27 Come, let us sell him to these Ismaelites, but let not our hands be upon him, because he is our brother and our flesh; and his brethren hearkened.
28 And the men, the merchants of Madian, went by, and they drew and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ismaelites for twenty pieces of gold; and they brought Joseph down into Egypt.
29 And Ruben returned to the pit, and sees not Joseph in the pit; and he rent his garments.
30 And he returned to his brethren and said, The boy is not; and I, whither am I yet to go?
31 And having taken the coat of Joseph, they slew a kid of the goats, and stained the coat with the blood.

Genesis 37:21-31 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 37

In this chapter begins the history of Joseph, with whom the remaining part of this book is chiefly concerned; and here are related the hatred of his brethren to him, because he brought an ill report of them to his father, and because his father loved him, and which was increased by the dream he dreamed, and told them of, Ge 37:1-11; a visit of his to his brethren in the fields, whom he found after a long search of them, Ge 37:12-17; their conspiracy on sight of him to slay him, but by the advice of Reuben it was agreed to cast him into a pit, which they did, Ge 37:18-24; and after that, at the motion of Judah, sold him to the Ishmaelites, who were going to Egypt, Ge 37:25-28; this being done, Reuben being absent, and not finding Joseph in the pit, was in great distress, Ge 37:29,30; their contrivance to deceive their father, and make him believe that Joseph was destroyed by a wild beast, which on the sight of the coat he credited, and became inconsolable, Ge 37:31-35; and the chapter concludes with the sale of Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, Ge 37:36.

Footnotes 2

The Brenton translation of the Septuagint is in the public domain.