The Legends of the Jews, vol 2 | Page 8

Joseph to the snakes and scorpions, his
brethren had stripped him bare before they flung him into the pit. They
took off his coat of many colors, his upper garment, his breeches, and
his shirt.[43] However, the reptiles could do him no harm. God heard
his cry of distress, and kept them in hiding in the clefts and the holes,
and they could not come near him. From the depths of the pit Joseph
appealed to his brethren, saying: "O my brethren, what have I done
unto you, and what is my transgression? Why are you not afraid before
God on account of your treatment of me? Am I not flesh of your flesh,
and bone of your bone? Jacob your father, is he not also my father?
Why do you act thus toward me? And how will you be able to lift up
your countenance before Jacob? O Judah, Reuben, Simon, Levi, my
brethren, deliver me, I pray you, from the dark place into which you
have cast me. Though I committed a trespass against you, yet are ye
children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who were compassionate with
the orphan, gave food to the hungry, and clothed the naked. How, then,
can ye withhold your pity from your own brother, your own flesh and
bone? And though I sinned against you, yet you will hearken unto my
petition for the sake of my father. O that my father knew what my
brethren are doing unto me, and what they spake unto me!"
To avoid hearing Joseph's weeping and cries of distress, his brethren
passed on from the pit, and stood at a bow- shot's distance.[44] The
only one among them that manifested pity was Zebulon. For two days
and two nights no food passed his lips on account of his grief over the
fate of Joseph, who had to spend three days and three nights in the pit
before he was sold. During this period Zebulon was charged by his
brethren to keep watch at the pit. He was chosen to stand guard because
he took no part in the meals. Part of the time Judah also refrained from

eating with the rest, and took turns at watching, because he feared
Simon and Gad might jump down into the pit and put an end to
Joseph's life.[45]
While Joseph was languishing thus, his brethren determined to kill him.
They would finish their meal first, they said, and then they would fetch
him forth and slay him. When they had done eating, they attempted to
say grace, but Judah remonstrated with them: "We are about to take the
life of a human being, and yet would bless God? That is not a blessing,
that is contemning the Lord.[46] What profit is it if we slay our brother?
Rather will the punishment of God descend upon us. I have good
counsel to give you. Yonder passeth by a travelling company of
Ishmaelites on their way to Egypt. Come and let us sell him to the
Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him. The Ishmaelites will
take him with them upon their journeyings, and he will be lost among
the peoples of the earth.[47] Let us follow the custom of former days,
for Canaan, too, the son of Ham, was made a slave for his evil deeds,
and so will we do with our brother Joseph."[48]
THE SALE
While the brethren of Joseph were deliberating upon his fate, seven
Midianitish merchantmen passed near the pit in which he lay. They
noticed that many birds were circling above it, whence they assumed
that there must be water therein, and, being thirsty, they made a halt in
order to refresh themselves. When they came close, they heard Joseph
screaming and wailing, and they looked down into the pit and saw a
youth of beautiful figure and comely appearance. They called to him,
saying: "Who art thou? Who brought thee hither, and who cast thee into
this pit in the wilderness?" They all joined together and dragged him up,
and took him along with them when they continued on their journey.
They had to pass his brethren, who called out to the Midianites: "Why
have you done such a thing, to steal our slave and carry him away with
you? We threw the lad into the pit, because he was disobedient. Now,
then, return our slave to us." The Midianites replied: "What, this lad,
you say, is your slave, your servant? More likely is it that you all are
slaves unto him, for in beauty of form, in pleasant looks, and fair
appearance, he excelleth you all. Why, then, will you speak lies unto us?
We will not give ear unto your words, nor believe you, for we found
the lad in the