Bereshis 37:26

26 And Yehudah said unto his achim, What betza (profit, gain) is it if we kill achinu (our brother), and conceal his dahm?

Bereshis 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.

Bereshis 37:26 In-Context

24 And they took him, and threw him into the borah (pit); and the bor was empty, there was no mayim in it.

25 And they sat down to eat lechem; and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, hinei, a caravan of Yishm’elim was coming from Gil‘ad with their gemalim bearing spices and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Mitzrayim.

26 And Yehudah said unto his achim, What betza (profit, gain) is it if we kill achinu (our brother), and conceal his dahm?

27 Come, and let us sell him to the Yishm’elim, and let not yadeinu (our hands) be upon him; for he is achinu (our brother) and besareinu (our flesh). And his achim agreed.

28 Then there passed by anashim Midyanim socharim (men of Midyan, traders); and they drew and lifted up Yosef out of the bor, and sold Yosef to the Yishm’elim for esrim kesef; and they took Yosef to Mitzrayim.