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.
29. When Reuben came back to the well and found that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes in sorrow.
30. He returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is not there! What am I going to do?”
31. Then they killed a goat and dipped Joseph's robe in its blood.
32. They took the robe to their father and said, “We found this. Does it belong to your son?”
33. He recognized it and said, “Yes, it is his! Some wild animal has killed him. My son Joseph has been torn to pieces!”
34. Jacob tore his clothes in sorrow and put on sackcloth. He mourned for his son a long time.
35. All his sons and daughters came to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “I will go down to the world of the dead still mourning for my son.” So he continued to mourn for his son Joseph.
36. Meanwhile, in Egypt, the Midianites had sold Joseph to Potiphar, one of the king's officers, who was the captain of the palace guard.