When Joseph drew near to his brothers, they forthwith stripped him of his coat of divers colours, and cast him into the pit[1], in which, happily, there was no water. Then they sat down to eat bread, and saw some foreign merchants passing by, with camels, carrying spices, balm and myrrh into Egypt. Juda then said to his brothers: “What will it profit us to kill our brother? It is better that he be sold, and that our hands be not defiled, for he is our brother.” The others agreed, and, the merchants having come up, they drew Joseph out of the pit, and sold him for twenty pieces of silver[2]. Joseph wept and besought them to have pity upon him, but in vain. The merchants took him away with them into Egypt[3].
Reuben, being absent at the moment, knew nothing of this wicked bargain. On going to the pit into which Joseph had been cast, and not finding him there, he rent his garments in despair, saying: “The boy doth not appear, and whither shall I go?” The other brothers remained quite unconcerned. Having killed a kid, they dipped Joseph’s coat in it, and sent it to their father, saying: “This we have found; see, if it be thy son’s coat, or no.” The father, knowing the coat, said: “It is my son’s coat; a wild beast hath devoured Joseph.” Then he rent his garments, and putting on sackcloth, mourned his son a long time. His children gathered around and strove to soothe his grief, but he would not be comforted, saying: “I will go down[4] to my son into the grave[5], mourning.”
- ↑ Cast him into the pit. Imagine to yourself how Joseph must have wept, and prayed for mercy: “Ah, spare me, my brothers! Am I to die of hunger and thirst in that pit! Think of our old father, how he will mourn, if I do not return to him! Think of the justice of God, and how He will punish you as He punished Cain! What have I done to harm you?" But his brothers had no compassion, and cast him without mercy into the pit; and then sat down to eat, just as if nothing had happened.
- ↑ Twenty pieces of silver. This was the usual price of a young slave. His brothers sold him as a slave, out of covetousness. As a slave, his owner could do as he pleased with him, and he was no more thought of than a beast, or any other piece of merchandise which could be had for money.
- ↑ Egypt. This country lies to the N.-E. of Africa, and was inhabited by pagans.
- ↑ I will go down. i. e. I care no more to live. I wish to die, so that I may join my beloved Joseph. Jacob thus expressed his belief in the immortality of the soul.
- ↑ Grave. To Limbo, where the souls of the just were detained.
