The Legends of the Jews, vol 2 | Page 7

and mercy.[30] Through a prophetic
revelation they learned that the Hivites were preparing to make war
upon them, and therefore they departed hence to go to Dothan. And
they had to leave this place for other reasons, too. I heard, while I was
still standing behind the curtain that veils the Divine throne, that this
day the Egyptian bondage would begin, and thou wouldst be the first to
be subjected to it."[31] Then Gabriel led Joseph to Dothan.[32]
When his brethren saw him afar off, they conspired against him, to slay
him. Their first plan was to set dogs on him. Simon then spoke to Levi,
"Behold, the master of dreams cometh with a new dream, he whose
descendant Jeroboam will introduce the worship of Baal. Come now,
therefore, and let us slay him, that we may see what will become of his
dreams." But God spoke: "Ye say, We shall see what will become of
his dreams, and I say likewise, We shall see, and the future shall show
whose word will stand, yours or Mine."[33]
Simon and Gad set about slaying Joseph, and he fell upon his face, and
entreated them: "Have mercy with me, my brethren, have pity on the
heart of my father Jacob. Lay not your hands upon me, to spill innocent
blood, for I have done no evil unto you. But if I have done evil unto
you, then chastise me with a chastisement, but your hands lay not upon
me, for the sake of our father Jacob." These words touched Zebulon,

and he began to lament and weep, and the wailing of Joseph rose up
together with his brother's, and when Simon and Gad raised their hands
against him to execute their evil design, Joseph took refuge behind
Zebulon, and supplicated his other brethren to have mercy upon him.
Then Reuben arose, and he said, "Brethren, let us not slay him, but let
us cast him into one of the dry pits, which our fathers dug without
finding water." That was due to the providence of God; He had
hindered the water from rising in them in order that Joseph's rescue
might be accomplished, and the pits remained dry until Joseph was safe
in the hands of the Ishmaelites.[34]
Reuben had several reasons for interceding in behalf of Joseph. He
knew that he as the oldest of the brethren would be held responsible by
their father, if any evil befell him. Besides, Reuben was grateful to
Joseph for having reckoned him among the eleven sons of Jacob in
narrating his dream of the sun, moon, and stars. Since his disrespectful
bearing toward Jacob, he had not thought himself worthy of being
considered one of his sons.[35] First Reuben tried to restrain his
brethren from their purpose, and he addressed them in words full of
love and compassion. But when he saw that neither words nor
entreaties would change their intention, he begged them, saying: "My
brethren, at least hearken unto me in respect of this, that ye be not so
wicked and cruel as to slay him. Lay no hand upon your brother, shed
no blood, cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and let him
perish thus.[36]
Then Reuben went away from his brethren, and he hid in the mountains,
so that he might be able to hasten back in a favorable moment and draw
Joseph forth from the pit and restore him to his father. He hoped his
reward would be pardon for the transgression he had committed against
Jacob.[37] His good intention was frustrated, yet Reuben was rewarded
by God, for God gives a recompense not only for good deeds, but for
good intentions as well.[38] As he was the first of the brethren of
Joseph to make an attempt to save him, so the city of Bezer in the tribe
of Reuben was the first of the cities of refuge appointed to safeguard
the life of the innocent that seek help.[39] Furthermore God spake to
Reuben, saying: "As thou wast the first to endeavor to restore a child
unto his father, so Hosea, one of thy descendants, shall be the first to
endeavor to lead Israel back to his heavenly Father."[40]

The brethren accepted Reuben's proposition, and Simon seized Joseph,
and cast him into a pit swarming with snakes and scorpions, beside
which was another unused pit, filled with offal.[41] As though this
were not enough torture, Simon bade his brethren fling great stones at
Joseph. In his later dealings with this brother Simon, Joseph showed all
the forgiving charitableness of his nature. When Simon was held in
durance in Egypt as a hostage, Joseph, so far from bearing him a
grudge, ordered crammed poultry to be set before him at all his
meals.[42]
Not satisfied with exposing