18. When Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they recognized him in the distance. As he approached, they made plans to kill him.
19. “Here comes the dreamer!” they said.
20. “Come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of these cisterns. We can tell our father, ‘A wild animal has eaten him.’ Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!”
21. But when Reuben heard of their scheme, he came to Joseph’s rescue. “Let’s not kill him,” he said.
22. “Why should we shed any blood? Let’s just throw him into this empty cistern here in the wilderness. Then he’ll die without our laying a hand on him.” Reuben was secretly planning to rescue Joseph and return him to his father.
23. So when Joseph arrived, his brothers ripped off the beautiful robe he was wearing.