23 So it came about, when Joseph reached his brothers , that they stripped Joseph of his tunic , the varicolored tunic that was on him; 24 and they took him and threw him into the pit . Now the pit was empty , without any water in it. 25 Then they sat down to eat a meal . And as they raised their eyes and looked , behold , a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead , with their camels bearing aromatic gum and balm and myrrh , on their way to bring them down to Egypt . 26 Judah said to his brothers , "What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood ? 27 " Come 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 to him. 28 Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him up and lifted Joseph out of the pit , and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver . Thus they brought Joseph into Egypt . 29 Now Reuben returned to the pit , and behold , Joseph was not in the pit ; so he tore his garments . 30 He returned to his brothers and said , " The boy is not there; as for me, where am I to go ?"
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 37:23-30
Commentary on Genesis 37:23-30
(Read Genesis 37:23-30)
They threw Joseph into a pit, to perish there with hunger and cold; so cruel were their tender mercies. They slighted him when he was in distress, and were not grieved for the affliction of Joseph, see Psalm 76:10. Joseph's brethren were wonderfully restrained from murdering him, and their selling him as wonderfully turned to God's praise.