Genesis 37:18-24

Christian Standard Bible

¹⁸ They saw him in the distance, and before he had reached them, they plotted to kill him.^{(A) 19} They said to one another, “Oh, look, here comes that dream expert!^{[a] 20} So now, come on, let’s kill him and throw him into one of the pits.^[b] We can say that a vicious animal ate him. Then we’ll see what becomes of his dreams!”

²¹ When Reuben heard this, he tried to save him from them.^[c] He said, “Let’s not take his life.”^{(B) 22} Reuben also said to them, “Don’t shed blood. Throw him into this pit in the wilderness, but don’t lay a hand on him”—intending to rescue him from them and return him to his father.

²³ When Joseph came to his brothers, they stripped off Joseph’s robe, the long-sleeved robe that he had on. ²⁴ Then they took him and threw him into the pit. The pit was empty, without water.^(C)