Page:The Story of Joseph and His Brethren.djvu/25

22 lay no hand upon him;" and Reuben's object was "that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again." The brethren consented to this proposal, seemingly without having altogether given up the idea of afterwards carrying out their first bloody purpose. All this was discussed and settled while Joseph was approaching them. When the unsuspecting youth came to his brethren, instead of meeting with a kind reception, he was seized, and they stript him of his coat of many colours, and cast him into a pit. The heartlessness of his cruel brethren is strongly indicated, for it is related that as soon as they had committed this wicked act they sat down to eat bread. While engaged, with unconcern, perhaps with joy, at their unblest meal, "they lifted up their eyes and looked, and behold a company of Ishmaelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery, and balm, and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt." It was now that a new and more humane mode of disposing of Joseph was suggested to the brethren by Judah. He said—"What profit is it if we slay our brother