Genesis 37:17-28

17The man said, ‘They have moved away from here. I heard them say, “Let us go to Dothan.” ’ So Joseph went to look for his brothers. He found them at Dothan.

18But his brothers recognized Joseph, while he was still far away. Before he had arrived where they were, they decided on a way to kill him.

19They said to each other, ‘Here comes the man who likes to dream!

20We will kill him. We can throw him into one of the dry wells. We can tell people that a wild animal ate him. Then his dreams will never become true!’

21When Reuben heard this, he tried to save Joseph from the other brothers. He said, ‘We should not kill him.

22Do not even get his blood on your hands. Just throw him into this dry well here in the wilderness. But do not attack him.’ Reuben said this to save Joseph, so that his brothers would not kill him. Then later, Reuben could take Joseph back to his father.

23So Joseph arrived at where his brothers were. He was wearing his special coat, but they took it off him.

24Then they took hold of Joseph and they threw him into the empty well. It had no water in it.

25Then the brothers sat down to eat their meal. They looked up and they saw a group of Ishmaelites coming towards them. They were coming from Gilead region. They were riding on camels that carried spices, and different kinds of oils for medicine. They were taking them to sell in Egypt.

26Judah said to his brothers, ‘We could kill our brother and then hide his body. But then we will not get anything for ourselves.

27So let us sell him to these Ishmaelites. We do not need to hurt him. Then we will not have to kill him. We should remember that he is our brother. He is our own relative.’ Judah's brothers agreed with what he said.

28When the Midianite traders came near to Joseph's brothers, they pulled him out of the dry well. They sold him to the Ishmaelites for 20 silver coins. The Ishmaelites took Joseph with them to Egypt.