Gen 37:20-28 | ESV | STEP | Come now , let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits . Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams .

Genesis 37:20-28

20 Come now, ^alet us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. ^{▼▼Or cisterns; also verses 22, 24} Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.” 21 But when ^cReuben heard it, he rescued him out of their hands, saying, “Let us not take his life.” 22 And Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood; throw him into this pit here in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”— ^dthat he might rescue him out of their hand to restore him to his father. 23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped him of his robe, ^ethe robe of many colors that he wore. 24 And they took him and ^fthrew him into a pit. The pit was empty; there was no water in it.

25 Then they sat down to eat. And looking up they saw a ^gcaravan of ^hIshmaelites coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing ⁱgum, balm, and myrrh, on their way to carry it down to Egypt. 26 Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is it ^jif we kill our brother and conceal his blood? 27 Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and ^klet not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened to him. 28 Then ^lMidianite traders passed by. And they drew Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and ^msold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels ^{▼▼A shekel was about 2/5 ounce or 11 grams} of silver. They took Joseph to Egypt.