Genesis 37:21-30

21When Reuben heard this, he tried to save him from them. He said, “Let’s not take his life.”

22Reuben also said to them, “Don’t shed blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him” — intending to rescue him from them and return him to his father.

23When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped off Joseph’s robe, the long-sleeved robe that he had on.

24Then they took him and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty, without water.

25They sat down to eat a meal, and when they looked up, there was a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying aromatic gum, balsam, and resin, going down to Egypt.

26Judah said to his brothers, “What do we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?

27Come on, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh,” and his brothers agreed.

28When Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took Joseph to Egypt.

29When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes.

30He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy is gone! What am I going to do?”