Genesis 37:21-24 ▼

21 When Reuben heard about it, he tried to save Joseph from their plot. |Let's not do any killing,|

22 Reuben told them. |And no blood shedding, either. Instead, let's toss him into this cistern that's way out here in the wilderness. But don't lay a hand on him.| (Reuben intended to free Joseph and return him to his father.)

23 As it was, when Joseph arrived where his brothers were, they stripped off the tunic that Jacob had given him—that is, the richly-embroidered tunic that he was wearing.

24 They grabbed him and tossed him into the cistern, but the cistern was empty. (There was no water in it.)