22. And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—that he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father.
23. So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, the robe of many colors that he wore.
24. And they took him and threw him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.
25. Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing gum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt.
26. Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it if we kill our brother and conceal his blood?
27. Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him.
28. Then Midianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.
29. When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes
30. and returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is gone, and I, where shall I go?”
31. Then they took Joseph’s robe and slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood.
32. And they sent the robe of many colors and brought it to their father and said, “This we have found; please identify whether it is your son’s robe or not.”
33. And he identified it and said, “It is my son’s robe. A fierce animal has devoured him. Joseph is without doubt torn to pieces.”
34. Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days.