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Genesis 37:24-36
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
Genesis 37:24-36
New American Bible (Revised Edition)
24 then they took him and threw him into the cistern. The cistern was empty; there was no water in it.
25 Then they sat down to eat. Looking up, they saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead, their camels laden with gum, balm, and resin to be taken down to Egypt.(A) 26 Judah said to his brothers: “What is to be gained by killing our brother and concealing his blood?(B) 27 Come, let us sell him to these Ishmaelites, instead of doing away with him ourselves. After all, he is our brother, our own flesh.” His brothers agreed.
28 Midianite traders passed by, and they pulled Joseph up out of the cistern. They sold Joseph for twenty pieces of silver[a] to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.(C) 29 When Reuben went back to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not in it, he tore his garments,[b] 30 and returning to his brothers, he exclaimed: “The boy is gone! And I—where can I turn?” 31 They took Joseph’s tunic, and after slaughtering a goat, dipped the tunic in its blood. 32 Then they sent someone to bring the long ornamented tunic to their father, with the message: “We found this. See whether it is your son’s tunic or not.” 33 He recognized it and exclaimed: “My son’s tunic! A wild beast has devoured him! Joseph has been torn to pieces!”(D) 34 Then Jacob tore his garments, put sackcloth on his loins, and mourned his son many days. 35 Though his sons and daughters tried to console him, he refused all consolation, saying, “No, I will go down mourning to my son in Sheol.”[c] Thus did his father weep for him.(E)
36 The Midianites, meanwhile, sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an official of Pharaoh and his chief steward.(F)
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 37:28 They sold Joseph…silver: editors tried to solve the confusion, created by different sources, by supposing that it was the Midianite traders who pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him to Ishmaelites. In all probability, one source had the brothers selling Joseph to Ishmaelites, whereas the other had them cast him into the pit whence he was taken by Midianite traders.
- 37:29 Tore his garments: the traditional sign of mourning in the ancient Near East.
- 37:35 Sheol: see note on Ps 6:6.
Genesis 37:24-36
New International Version
Genesis 37:24-36
New International Version
24 and they took him and threw him into the cistern.(A) The cistern was empty; there was no water in it.
25 As they sat down to eat their meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites(B) coming from Gilead.(C) Their camels were loaded with spices, balm(D) and myrrh,(E) and they were on their way to take them down to Egypt.(F)
26 Judah(G) said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?(H) 27 Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother,(I) our own flesh and blood.(J)” His brothers agreed.
28 So when the Midianite(K) merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern(L) and sold(M) him for twenty shekels[a] of silver(N) to the Ishmaelites,(O) who took him to Egypt.(P)
29 When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes.(Q) 30 He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy isn’t there! Where can I turn now?”(R)
31 Then they got Joseph’s robe,(S) slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood.(T) 32 They took the ornate robe(U) back to their father and said, “We found this. Examine it to see whether it is your son’s robe.”
33 He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! Some ferocious animal(V) has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.”(W)
34 Then Jacob tore his clothes,(X) put on sackcloth(Y) and mourned for his son many days.(Z) 35 All his sons and daughters came to comfort him,(AA) but he refused to be comforted.(AB) “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son(AC) in the grave.(AD)” So his father wept for him.
36 Meanwhile, the Midianites[b](AE) sold Joseph(AF) in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.(AG)
Footnotes
- Genesis 37:28 That is, about 8 ounces or about 230 grams
- Genesis 37:36 Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac (see also verse 28); Masoretic Text Medanites
New American Bible (Revised Edition) (NABRE)
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