The Generations of Jacob

1Now Jacob lived in the land [†]where his father had sojourned, in the land of Canaan. 2These are the generations of Jacob.

Joseph, when seventeen years of age, was pasturing the flock with his brothers while he was still a youth, along with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought back an evil report about them to their father. 3Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a [†]varicolored tunic. 4And his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, and so they hated him and could not speak to him in peace.

Joseph’s Dreams

5Then Joseph [†]had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; so they hated him even more. 6And he said to them, “Please listen to this dream which I have [†]had: 7Indeed, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf rose up and also stood upright; and behold, your sheaves gathered around and bowed down to my sheaf.” 8Then his brothers said to him, “Are you really going to reign over us? Or are you really going to rule over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

9Then he [†]had still another dream and recounted it to his brothers and said, “Behold, I have [†]had still another dream; and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me.” 10And he recounted it to his father and to his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have [†]had? Shall I and your mother and your brothers really come to bow ourselves down before you to the ground?” 11And his brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the saying in mind.

12Then his brothers went to pasture their father’s flock in Shechem. 13And Israel said to Joseph, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flock in Shechem? Come, and I will send you to them.” And he said to him, “[†]I will go.” 14Then he said to him, “Go now and see about the welfare of your brothers and the welfare of the flock, and bring word back to me.” So he sent him from the valley of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.

15And a man found him, and behold, he was wandering in the field; and the man asked him, “[†]What are you seeking?” 16And he said, “I am seeking my brothers; please tell me where they are pasturing the flock.” 17Then the man said, “They have journeyed from here; for I heard them saying, ‘Let us go to Dothan.’” So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan.

Joseph Sold by His Brothers

18And they saw him from a distance, and before he came close to them, they plotted against him to put him to death. 19Then they said to one another, “[†]Here comes this dreamer! 20So now, come and let us kill him and cast him into one of the pits; and we will say, ‘A wild beast devoured him.’ Then let us see what will become of his dreams!” 21But Reuben heard this and delivered him out of their hands and said, “Let us not strike down his life.” 22Reuben further said to them, “Shed no blood. Cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but do not put forth your hands against him”—that he might deliver him out of their hands to return him to his father. 23Now it happened, when Joseph [†]reached his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his [†]tunic, the varicolored tunic that was on him; 24and they took him and cast him into the pit. Now the pit was empty, without any water in it.

25And they sat down to eat [†]a meal. Then they lifted up their eyes and saw, and behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels bearing [†]aromatic gum and [†]balm and [†]myrrh, going to bring them down to Egypt. 26And Judah said to his brothers, “What gain is it that we kill our brother and cover up his blood? 27Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.” And his brothers listened. 28Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him up and lifted Joseph out of the pit and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for [†]twenty shekels of silver. Thus they brought Joseph into Egypt.

29Then Reuben returned to the pit, and behold, Joseph was not in the pit; so he tore his garments. 30Then he returned to his brothers and said, “The boy is not there; as for me, where am I to go?” 31So they took Joseph’s tunic and slaughtered a male goat and dipped the tunic in the blood; 32and they sent the varicolored tunic and brought it to their father and said, “We found this; please recognize it—whether it is your son’s tunic or not.” 33And he recognized it and said, “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him; Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!” 34So Jacob tore his clothes and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days. 35Then all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. And he said, “Surely I will go down to Sheol in mourning for my son.” So his father wept for him. 36Meanwhile, the [†]Midianites sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s officer, the captain of the bodyguard.