^{20 Ref} Let us now put him to death and put his body into one of these holes, and we will say, An evil beast has put him to death: then we will see what becomes of his dreams.

^{21 Ref} But Reuben, hearing these words, got him out of their hands, saying, Let us not take his life.

^{22 Ref} Do not put him to a violent death, but let him be placed in one of the holes; this he said to keep him safe from their hands, with the purpose of taking him back to his father again.

^{23 Ref} So when Joseph came to his brothers, they took off his long coat which he had on;

^{24 Ref} And they took him and put him in the hole: now the hole had no water in it.

^{25 Ref} Then seating themselves, they took their meal: and looking up, they saw a travelling band of Ishmaelites, coming from Gilead on their way to Egypt, with spices and perfumes on their camels.

^{26 Ref} And Judah said to his brothers, What profit is there in putting our brother to death and covering up his blood?

^{27 Ref} Let us give him to these Ishmaelites for a price, and let us not put violent hands on him, for he is our brother, our flesh. And his brothers gave ear to him.

^{28 Ref} And some traders from Midian went by; so pulling Joseph up out of the hole, they gave him to the Ishmaelites for twenty bits of silver, and they took him to Egypt.

^{29 Ref} Now when Reuben came back to the hole, Joseph was not there; and giving signs of grief,

^{30 Ref} He went back to his brothers, and said, The child is gone; what am I to do?

^{31 Ref} Then they took Joseph's coat, and put on it some of the blood from a young goat which they had put to death,

^{32 Ref} And they took the coat to their father, and said, We came across this; is it your son's coat or not?

^{33 Ref} And he saw that it was, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast has put him to death; without doubt Joseph has come to a cruel end.

^{34 Ref} Then Jacob, giving signs of grief, put on haircloth, and went on weeping for his son day after day.

^{35 Ref} And all his sons and all his daughters came to give him comfort, but he would not be comforted, saying with weeping, I will go down to the underworld to my son. So great was his father's sorrow for him.