24 Bamthatha, bamphonsa emgodini; umgodi wawungenalutho, kungekho manzi kuwo.
25 Bahlala phansi ukuba badle isinkwa; baphakamisa amehlo abo, babona; bheka, kwafika ihele labakwa-Ishmayeli livela kwaGileyadi, linamakamela alo ethwele inhlaka nebhalisamu* nemure,* likwewusela eGibithe.
26 Wayesethi uJuda kubafowabo: “Kuyakusizani, uma simbulala umfowethu, sifihle igazi lakhe, na?
27 Wozani sithengise ngaye kwabakwa-Ishmayeli, isandla senu singabi phezu kwakhe, ngokuba ungumfowethu, uyinyama yethu.” Abafowabo bamlalela.
28 Kwase kudlula abathengi bakwaMidiyani; bamdonsa uJosefa, bamkhuphula emgodini, bathengisa ngoJosefa kwabakwa-Ishmayeli ngezinhlamvu ezingamashumi amabili zesiliva. Labo-ke bamusa uJosefa eGibithe.
29 URubeni wabuyela emgodini; bheka, uJosefa wayengasekho emgodini; waklebhula izingubo zakhe.
30 Wayesebuyela kubafowabo, ethi: “Akasekho umntwana; mina-ke ngizakushonaphi na?”