Joseph and his Brothers

The brothers are shepherding their sheep near Shechem. Jacob sends his son Joseph to join them.

So he sent him from the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. (Genesis 37:14b [Leeser])

The brothers see Joseph coming and conspire out of jealousy to kill him! Why would the brothers do such a thing?

Reuven, the oldest brother, will not permit it so the brothers throw Joseph into a pit.

And they took him, and cast him into the pit; and the pit was empty; there was no water in it. (Genesis 37:24 [Leeser])

Innocent young Joseph was about to loose his life in the pit if it were not for his oldest brother Judah.

And Judah said unto his brothers, What profit will it be if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, but let our hand not be upon him; for he is our brother, our flesh.... (Genesis 37:26-27 [Leeser])

And what did the brothers tell their father Jacob?

And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a he-goat, and dipped the coat in the blood; And they sent the coat of many colors, and they brought it to their father, and said, This have we found: acknowledge, we pray thee, whether it be thy son’s coat or not. And he recognized it, and said, it is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is surely torn in pieces. (Genesis 37:31-33 [Leeser])

This amazing story is illustrated on the wall opposite us in the Biblical Garden.