Bereishis 37
Bereishis (Book of Genesis), Chapter 37
'"`UNIQ--named-00000000-QINU`"'1 And Jacob dwelt in the land of his father's sojournings, in the land of Canaan.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000001-QINU`"'2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren, being still a lad even with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives; and Joseph brought evil report of them unto their father.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000002-QINU`"'3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a coat of many colours.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000003-QINU`"'4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000004-QINU`"'5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brethren; and they hated him yet the more.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000005-QINU`"'6 And he said unto them: 'Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:
'"`UNIQ--named-00000006-QINU`"'7 for, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves came round about, and bowed down to my sheaf.'
'"`UNIQ--named-00000007-QINU`"'8 And his brethren said to him: 'Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us?' And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000008-QINU`"'9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brethren, and said: 'Behold, I have dreamed yet a dream: and, behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowed down to me.'
'"`UNIQ--named-00000009-QINU`"'10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren; and his father rebuked him, and said unto him: 'What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down to thee to the earth?'
'"`UNIQ--named-0000000A-QINU`"'11 And his brethren envied him; but his father kept the saying in mind.
'"`UNIQ--named-0000000B-QINU`"'12 And his brethren went to feed their father's flock in Shechem.
'"`UNIQ--named-0000000C-QINU`"'13 And Israel said unto Joseph: 'Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them.' And he said to him: 'Here am I.'
'"`UNIQ--named-0000000D-QINU`"'14 And he said to him: 'Go now, see whether it is well with thy brethren, and well with the flock; and bring me back word.' So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem.
'"`UNIQ--named-0000000E-QINU`"'15 And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field. And the man asked him, saying: 'What seekest thou?'
'"`UNIQ--named-0000000F-QINU`"'16 And he said: 'I seek my brethren. Tell me, I pray thee, where they are feeding the flock.'
'"`UNIQ--named-00000010-QINU`"'17 And the man said: 'They are departed hence; for I heard them say: Let us go to Dothan.' And Joseph went after his brethren, and found them in Dothan.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000011-QINU`"'18 And they saw him afar off, and before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000012-QINU`"'19 And they said one to another: 'Behold, this dreamer cometh.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000013-QINU`"'20 Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into one of the pits, and we will say: An evil beast hath devoured him; and we shall see what will become of his dreams.'
'"`UNIQ--named-00000014-QINU`"'21 And Reuben heard it, and delivered him out of their hand; and said: 'Let us not take his life.'
'"`UNIQ--named-00000015-QINU`"'22 And Reuben said unto them: 'Shed no blood; cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but lay no hand upon him' --that he might deliver him out of their hand, to restore him to his father.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000016-QINU`"'23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stripped Joseph of his coat, the coat of many colours that was on him;
'"`UNIQ--named-00000017-QINU`"'24 and they took him, and cast him into the pit--and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000018-QINU`"'25 And they sat down to eat bread; and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites came from Gilead, with their camels bearing spicery and balm and ladanum, going to carry it down to Egypt.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000019-QINU`"'26 And Judah said unto his brethren: 'What profit is it if we slay our brother and conceal his blood?
'"`UNIQ--named-0000001A-QINU`"'27 Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother, our flesh.' And his brethren hearkened unto him.
'"`UNIQ--named-0000001B-QINU`"'28 And there passed by Midianites, merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they brought Joseph into Egypt.
'"`UNIQ--named-0000001C-QINU`"'29 And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.
'"`UNIQ--named-0000001D-QINU`"'30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said: 'The child is not; and as for me, whither shall I go?'
'"`UNIQ--named-0000001E-QINU`"'31 And they took Joseph's coat, and killed a he-goat, and dipped the coat in the blood;
'"`UNIQ--named-0000001F-QINU`"'32 and they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said: 'This have we found. Know now whether it is thy son's coat or not.'
'"`UNIQ--named-00000020-QINU`"'33 And he knew it, and said: 'It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt torn in pieces.'
'"`UNIQ--named-00000021-QINU`"'34 And Jacob rent his garments, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000022-QINU`"'35 And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said: 'Nay, but I will go down to the grave to my son mourning.' And his father wept for him.
'"`UNIQ--named-00000023-QINU`"'36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain of the guard.
See also
References
Portions © 1997 by Benyamin Pilant. Portions © 1998 by Larry Nelson.
