Genesis 37:29-36

New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition

²⁹ When Reuben returned to the pit and saw that Joseph was not in the pit, he tore his clothes.^{(A) 30} He returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is gone, and I, where can I turn?”^{(B) 31} Then they took Joseph’s robe, slaughtered a goat, and dipped the robe in the blood.^{(C) 32} They had the ornamented robe^[a] taken to their father, and they said, “This we have found; see now whether it is your son’s robe or not.” ³³ He recognized it and said, “It is my son’s robe! A wild animal has devoured him; Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.”^{(D) 34} Then Jacob tore his garments and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days.^{(E) 35} All his sons and all his daughters sought to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted and said, “No, I shall go down to Sheol to my son, mourning.” Thus his father bewailed him.^{(F) 36} Meanwhile the Midianites had sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.^(G)