18 Joseph’s brothers saw him coming from far away. Before he reached them, they made a plan to kill him.
19 They said to each other, “Here comes that dreamer.
20 Let’s kill him and throw his body into one of the wells. We can tell our father that a wild animal killed him. Then we will see what will become of his dreams.”
21 But Reuben heard their plan and saved Joseph, saying, “Let’s not kill him.
22 Don’t spill any blood. Throw him into this well here in the desert, but don’t hurt him!” Reuben planned to save Joseph later and send him back to his father.
23 So when Joseph came to his brothers, they pulled off his robe with long sleeves
24 and threw him into the well. It was empty, and there was no water in it.