Genesis 37:26

26 Yehudah said to his brothers, "What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?

Genesis 37:26 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 37:26

And Judah said unto his brethren
In sight of the Ishmaelites, a thought came into his mind to get Joseph sold to them;

what profit [is it] if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood?
it could be no advantage to them even if they could have concealed his blood from men; and if it was discovered, as it would, in all likelihood, by come means or another, then they must be answerable for it; and if not, God would take vengeance on them, from whom they could never conceal it; and therefore it would be most profitable and advantageous to them to sell him, and not destroy him, or take away his life; and to suffer him to lie in the pit and die was the same thing.

Genesis 37:26 In-Context

24 and they took him, and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty. There was no water in it.

25 They sat down to eat bread, and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and saw a caravan of Yishme`elim was coming from Gil`ad, with their camels bearing spices and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Mitzrayim.

26 Yehudah said to his brothers, "What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?

27 Come, and let's sell him to the Yishme`elim, and not let our hand be on him; for he is our brother, our flesh." His brothers listened to him.

28 Midyanim who were merchants passed by, and they drew and lifted up Yosef out of the pit, and sold Yosef to the Yishme`elim for twenty pieces of silver. They brought Yosef into Mitzrayim.