17. The man said, “They have already left. I heard them say that they were going to Dothan.” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.
18. They saw him in the distance, and before he reached them, they plotted against him and decided to kill him.
19. They said to one another, “Here comes that dreamer.
20. Come on now, let's kill him and throw his body into one of the dry wells. We can say that a wild animal killed him. Then we will see what becomes of his dreams.”
21. Reuben heard them and tried to save Joseph. “Let's not kill him,” he said.
22. “Just throw him into this well in the wilderness, but don't hurt him.” He said this, planning to save him from them and send him back to his father.
23. When Joseph came up to his brothers, they ripped off his long robe with full sleeves.
24. Then they took him and threw him into the well, which was dry.
25. While they were eating, they suddenly saw a group of Ishmaelites travelling from Gilead to Egypt. Their camels were loaded with spices and resins.
26. Judah said to his brothers, “What will we gain by killing our brother and covering up the murder?
27. Let's sell him to these Ishmaelites. Then we won't have to hurt him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.” His brothers agreed,
28. and when some Midianite traders came by, the brothers pulled Joseph out of the well and sold him for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.