Genesis 37:26-34

New International Version

²⁶ Judah^(A) said to his brothers, “What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?^{(B) 27} Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother,^(C) our own flesh and blood.^(D)” His brothers agreed.

²⁸ So when the Midianite^(E) merchants came by, his brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern^(F) and sold^(G) him for twenty shekels^[a] of silver^(H) to the Ishmaelites,^(I) who took him to Egypt.^(J)

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

³¹ Then they got Joseph’s robe,^(M) slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood.^{(N) 32} They took the ornate robe^(O) 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^(P) has devoured him. Joseph has surely been torn to pieces.”^(Q)

³⁴ Then Jacob tore his clothes,^(R) put on sackcloth^(S) and mourned for his son many days.^(T)