²¹ But ^(A)Reuben heard this and rescued him out of their hands ^[a]by saying, “Let’s not ^[b]take his life.” ²² Then Reuben said to them, “Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but do not lay a hand on him”—so that later he might rescue him out of their hands, to return him to his father.

³⁷ Then Reuben spoke to his father, saying, “You may put my two sons to death if I do not bring him back to you; put him in my ^[a]care, and I will return him to you.” ³⁸ But ^[b]Jacob said, “My son shall not go down with you; for his ^(A)brother is dead, and he alone is left. ^(B)If harm should happen to him on the journey ^[c]you are taking, then you will ^(C)bring my gray hair down to Sheol in sorrow.”

¹¹ Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: take some of the best products of the land in your ^[a]bags, and carry down to the man ^(A)as a gift, a little ^(B)balsam and a little honey, labdanum resin and ^[b]myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. ¹² And take double the money in your hand, and take back in your hand ^(C)the money that was returned in the opening of your sacks; perhaps it was a mistake. ¹³ Take your brother also, and arise, return to the man; ¹⁴ and may ^[c](D)God Almighty ^(E)grant you compassion in the sight of the man, so that he will release to you ^(F)your other brother and Benjamin. And as for me, ^(G)if I am bereaved of my sons, I am bereaved!”