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they prayed that no part of what they suspected to be its meaning
might come to pass； and they bare a still greater hatred to him
on that account。
3。 But God； in opposition to their envy； sent a second vision to
Joseph； which was much more wonderful than the former； for it
seemed to him that the sun took with him the moon； and the rest
of the stars； and came down to the earth； and bowed down to him。
He told the vision to his father； and that； as suspecting nothing
of ill…will from his brethren； when they were there also； and
desired him to interpret what it should signify。 Now Jacob was
pleased with the dream： for； considering the prediction in his
mind； and shrewdly and wisely guessing at its meaning； he
rejoiced at the great things thereby signified； because it
declared the future happiness of his son； and that； by the
blessing of God； the time would come when he should be honored；
and thought worthy of worship by his parents and brethren； as
guessing that the moon and sun were like his mother and father；
the former； as she that gave increase and nourishment to all
things； and the latter； he that gave form and other powers to
them； and that the stars were like his brethren； since they were
eleven in number； as were the stars that receive their power from
the sun and moon。
4。 And thus did Jacob make a judgment of this vision； and that a
shrewd one also。 But these interpretations caused very great
grief to Joseph's brethren； and they were affected to him
hereupon as if he were a certain stranger； that was to those good
things which were signified by the dreams and not as one that was
a brother； with whom it was probable they should be
joint…partakers； and as they had been partners in the same
parentage； so should they be of the same happiness。 They also
resolved to kill the lad； and having fully ratified that
intention of theirs； as soon as their collection of the fruits
was over； they went to Shechem； which is a country good for
feeding of cattle； and for pasturage； there they fed their
flocks； without acquainting their father with their removal
thither； whereupon he had melancholy suspicions about them； as
being ignorant of his sons' condition； and receiving no messenger
from the flocks that could inform him of the true state they were
in； so； because he was in great fear about them； he sent Joseph
to the flocks； to learn the circumstances his brethren were in；
and to bring him word how they did。
CHAPTER 3。
How Joseph Was Thus Sold By His Brethren Into Egypt； By Reason Of
Their Hatred To Him； And How He There Grew Famous And Illustrious
And Had His Brethren Under His Power。
1。 Now these brethren rejoiced as soon as they saw their brother
coming to them； not indeed as at the presence of a near relation；
or as at the presence of one sent by their father； but as at the
presence of an enemy； and one that by Divine Providence was
delivered into their hands； and they already resolved to kill
him； and not let slip the opportunity that lay before them。 But
when Reubel； the eldest of them； saw them thus disposed； and that
they had agreed together to execute their purpose； he tried to
restrain them； showing them the heinous enterprise they were
going about； and the horrid nature of it； that this action would
appear wicked in the sight of God； and impious before men； even
though they should kill one not related to them； but much more
flagitious and detestable to appear to have slain their own
brother； by which act the father must be treated unjustly in the
son's slaughter； and the mother （1） also be in perplexity while
she laments that her son is taken away from her； and this not in
a natural way neither。 So he entreated them to have a regard to
their own consciences； and wisely to consider what mischief would
betide them upon the death of so good a child； and their youngest
brother； that they would also fear God； who was already both a
spectator and a witness of the designs they had against their
brother； that he would love them if they abstained from this act；
and yielded to repentance and amendment； but in case they
proceeded to do the fact； all sorts of punishments would overtake
them from God for this murder of their brother； since they
polluted his providence； which was every where present； and which
did not overlook what was done； either in deserts or in cities；
for wheresoever a man is； there ought he to suppose that God is
also。 He told them further； that their consciences would be their
enemies； if they attempted to go through so wicked an enterprise；
which they can never avoid； whether it be a good conscience； or
whether it be such a one as they will have within them when once
they have killed their brother。 He also added this besides to
what he had before said； that it was not a righteous thing to
kill a brother； though he had injured them； that it is a good
thing to forget the actions of such near friends； even in things
wherein they might seem to have offended； but that they were
going to kill Joseph； who had been guilty of nothing that was ill
towards them； in whose case the infirmity of his small age should
rather procure him mercy； and move them to unite together in the
care of his preservation。 That the cause of killing him made the
act itself much worse； while they determined to take him off out
of envy at his future prosperity； an equal share of which they
would naturally partake while he enjoyed it； since they were to
him not strangers； but the nearest relations； for they might
reckon upon what God bestowed upon Joseph as their own； and that
it was fit for them to believe； that the anger of God would for
this cause be more severe upon them； if they slew him who was
judged by God to be worthy of that prosperity which was to be
hoped for； and while； by murdering him； they made it impossible
for God to bestow it upon him。
2。 Reubel said these and many other things； and used entreaties
to them； and thereby endeavored to divert them from the murder of
their brother。 But when he saw that his discourse had not
mollified them at all； and that they made haste to do the fact；
he advised them to alleviate the wickedness they were going
about； in the manner of taking Joseph off； for as he had exhorted
them first； when they were going to revenge themselves； to be
dissuaded from doing it； so； since the sentence for killing their
brother had prevailed； he said that they would not； however； be
so grossly guilty； if they would be persuaded to follow his
present advice； which would include what they were so eager
about； but was not so very bad； but； in the distress they were
in； of a lighter nature。 He begged of them； therefore； not to
kill their brother with their own hands； but to cast him into the
pit that was hard by； and so to let him die； by which they would
gain so much； that they would not defile their own hands with his
blood。 To this the young men readily agreed； so Reubel took the
lad and tied him to a cord； and let him down gently into the pit；
for it had no water at all in it； who； when he had done this；
went his way to seek for such pasturage as was fit for feeding
his flocks。
3。 But Judas； being one of Jacob's sons also； seeing some
Arabians； of the posterity of Ismael； carrying spices and Syrian
wares out of the land of Gilead to the Egyptians； after Rubel was
gone； advised his brethren to draw Joseph out of the pit； and
sell him to the Arabians； for if he should die among strangers a
great way off； they should be freed from this barbarous action。
This； therefore； was resolved on； so they drew Joseph up out of
the pit； and sold him to the merchants for twenty pounds （2） He
was now seventeen years old。 But Reubel； coming in the night…time
to the pit； resolved to save Joseph； without the privity of his
brethren； and when； upon his calling to him； he made no answer；
he was afraid that they had destroyed him after he was gone； of
which he complained to his brethren； but when they had told him
what they had done； Reubel left off his mourning。
4。 When Joseph's brethren had done thus to him； they considered
what they should do to escape the suspicions of their father。 Now
they had taken away from Joseph the coat which he had on when he
came to them at the time they let him down into the pit； so they
thought proper to tear that coat to pieces； and to dip it into
goats' blood； and then to carry it and show it to their father；
that he might believe he was destroyed by wild beasts。 And when
they had so done； they came to the old man； but this not till
what had happened to his son had already come to his knowledge。
Then they said that they had not seen Joseph； nor knew what
mishap had befallen him； but that they had found his coat bloody
and torn to pieces； whence they had a suspicion that he had
fallen among wild beasts； and so perished； if that was the coat
he had on when he came from home。 Now Jacob had before some
better hopes that his son was only made a captive； but now he
laid aside that notion； and supposed that this coat was an
evident argument that he was dead； for he well remembered that
this was the coat he had on when he sent him to his brethren； so
he hereafter lam