²¹ Soothly Reuben heard this, and endeavoured to deliver him from their hands, and said, Slay we not the life of him (and he said, Nay, we should not kill him),

²² neither shed we out his blood, but cast ye him into an eld cistern, which is in the wilderness, and (so) keep ye your hands guiltless. Forsooth he said this, desiring to deliver him from their hands, and to yield him (again) to his father.

²³ Therefore anon as Joseph came to his brethren, they despoiled him of his coat, (that went) down to the heel, and (was) of many colours, (And so when Joseph came to his brothers, at once they tore off the coat, that went down to his heels, and had many colours,)