Genesis 37:21-30

21But 1Reuben heard this and rescued him out of their hands and said, “Let us not 2take his life.” 22Reuben further said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but do not lay hands on him”--that he might rescue him out of their hands, to restore him to his father. 23So it came about, when Joseph 3reached his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his 4tunic, the varicolored tunic that was on him; 24and they took him and threw him into the pit. Now the pit was empty, without any water in it.

25Then they sat down to eat 5a meal. And as they raised their eyes and looked, behold, a caravan of 6Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing 78aromatic gum and 910balm and 11myrrh, 12on their way to bring them down to Egypt. 26Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it for us to kill our brother and 13cover up his blood? 2714Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. 28Then some 15Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him up and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and 16sold 17him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. Thus 18they brought Joseph into Egypt.

29Now Reuben returned to the pit, and behold, Joseph was not in the pit; so he 19tore his garments. 30He returned to his brothers and said, “20The boy is not there; as for me, where am I to go?”