Genesis 37:19-29

19 They said one to another, "Behold, this dreamer comes.

20 Come now therefore, and let's kill him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say, 'An evil animal has devoured him.' We will see what will become of his dreams."

21 Re'uven heard it, and delivered him out of their hand, and said, "Let's not take his life."

22 Re'uven said to them, "Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand on him" - that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.

23 It happened, when Yosef came to his brothers, that they stripped Yosef of his coat, the coat of many colors that was on him;

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.

29 Re'uven returned to the pit; and saw that Yosef wasn't in the pit; and he tore his clothes.

Genesis 37:19-29 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.