# Day 26

# The Dreamer Is Sold as a Slave

Genesis 37:12–35

The sons of Jacob were tending flocks in the fields. Jacob wondered, “Are my sons safe?” He sent Joseph to find out. The brothers saw Joseph’s brightly colored coat far off. “Look, here comes the dreamer,” one announced.

“Let’s kill him,” another said, “and throw his body in a pit. We’ll say a wild animal ate him.”

“Good idea,” said a third. “Then we’ll see what happens to his dreams.”

But Reuben, the oldest son, said, “No. Let’s not kill him. Just throw him in the pit to die.” Reuben planned to rescue Joseph later. So the brothers stole Joseph’s pretty coat and dumped him in a pit.

Reuben left and was absent when a caravan of Ishmaelites came. The brothers sold Joseph to them for twnety silver pieces. The caravan carried Joseph to Egypt.

When Reuben returned, he cried, “The boy is gone; what shall I do?” The brothers decided to lie to Jacob. They stained Joseph’s coat with animal blood. Jacob thought Joseph was killed.

“I will weep for my son the rest of my life,” Jacob cried.

Questions: Why did Joseph’s brothers want to kill him? Why did they stain Joseph’s coat with animal blood?