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29 Some time later, Reuben returned to get Joseph out of the cistern. When he discovered that Joseph was missing, he tore his clothes in grief. 30 Then he went back to his brothers and lamented, “The boy is gone! What will I do now?”

31 Then the brothers killed a young goat and dipped Joseph’s robe in its blood. 32 They sent the beautiful robe to their father with this message: “Look at what we found. Doesn’t this robe belong to your son?”

33 Their father recognized it immediately. “Yes,” he said, “it is my son’s robe. A wild animal must have eaten him. Joseph has clearly been torn to pieces!” 34 Then Jacob tore his clothes and dressed himself in burlap. He mourned deeply for his son for a long time. 35 His family all tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. “I will go to my grave[a] mourning for my son,” he would say, and then he would weep.

36 Meanwhile, the Midianite traders[b] arrived in Egypt, where they sold Joseph to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. Potiphar was captain of the palace guard.

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Footnotes

  1. 37:35 Hebrew go down to Sheol.
  2. 37:36 Hebrew the Medanites. The relationship between the Midianites and Medanites is unclear; compare 37:28. See also 25:2.

29 When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes.(A) 30 He went back to his brothers and said, “The boy isn’t there! Where can I turn now?”(B)

31 Then they got Joseph’s robe,(C) slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood.(D) 32 They took the ornate robe(E) 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(F) has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.”(G)

34 Then Jacob tore his clothes,(H) put on sackcloth(I) and mourned for his son many days.(J) 35 All his sons and daughters came to comfort him,(K) but he refused to be comforted.(L) “No,” he said, “I will continue to mourn until I join my son(M) in the grave.(N)” So his father wept for him.

36 Meanwhile, the Midianites[a](O) sold Joseph(P) in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.(Q)

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 37:36 Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Vulgate and Syriac (see also verse 28); Masoretic Text Medanites

29 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.

30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?

31 And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;

32 And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it be thy son's coat or no.

33 And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.

34 And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.

35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him.

36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard.

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