Page:The Story of Joseph and His Brethren.djvu/24

Rh weary way, than they are inspired with the wicked purpose of taking away his life. What a warning is this against being "angry with a brother without a fault!" How guarded should we be against allowing any thing of hatred or envy to have a place in our thoughts, much less to take possession of our hearts, against a brother, or indeed against any human being! One of the strongest reasons against killing their gentle brother was the grief his loss would bring upon their aged father. They thought, indeed, of him, but it was only to think how they might deceive him, by accounting for the death of his beloved son, so as to conceal their own wickedness. The father was to be told that some evil beast had devoured him!

While this plan was agreed upon, one of the brothers appears to have been absent. This was Reuben, the eldest brother, who seems to have had some feelings of tenderness towards Joseph and his father. When Reuben heard what was the intention of his brethren, he said unto them—"Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and