Genesis 37:29-36 ▼

29 Later, when Reuben returned to the cistern, Joseph wasn't there! In mounting panic, he tore his clothes,

30 returned to his brothers, and shouted, |He's not there! Now what? Where am I to go?|

31 So they took Joseph's coat, slaughtered a young goat, and dipped the coat in the blood.

32 Then they stretched out the richly-embroidered tunic to dry, and brought it to their father. |We've found this,| they reported. |Look at it and see if this is or isn't your son's tunic.|

33 Examining it, he cried out, |It's my son's tunic! A wild animal has no doubt torn Joseph to pieces.|

34 So Jacob tore his clothes, dressed himself in sackcloth, and then mourned many days for his son.

35 All his sons and daughters showed up to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. He kept saying, |Leave me alone! I'll go down to the next world, still mourning for my son.| So Joseph's father wept for him.

36 Meanwhile, down in Egypt, the Midianites sold Joseph to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's court officials, who was also Commander-in-Chief of the imperial guards.