Genesis 37:18–20 reveals their initial plot:
“Now when they saw him afar off, even before he came near them, they conspired against him to kill him. Then they said to one another, ‘Look, this dreamer is coming! Come therefore, let us now kill him and cast him into some pit; and we shall say, “Some wild beast has devoured him.” We shall see what will become of his dreams!’”
The root of their hatred was jealousy and resentment. Joseph was their father’s favored son, symbolized by the special coat (Genesis 37:3–4). In addition, Joseph shared dreams that implied he would one day rule over his family (Genesis 37:6–9). These dreams, though prophetic, stirred anger and pride in his brothers.
Initially, they planned to kill him, but Reuben intervened, persuading them to throw Joseph into a pit instead, intending to rescue him later (Genesis 37:21–22). While Reuben was away, Judah proposed another plan in Genesis 37:26–27:
“So Judah said to his brothers, ‘What profit is there if we kill our brother and conceal his blood? Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, and let not our hand be upon him, for he is our brother and our flesh.’ And his brothers listened.”
They sold Joseph for twenty shekels of silver to Midianite traders, who took him to Egypt (Genesis 37:28). Their greed, envy, and anger led to a betrayal that would change history.
This account demons/”>demonstrates the destructive power of jealousy and unchecked sin. However, it also displays God’s ability to use human evil for good. Joseph himself declared in Genesis 50:20:
“But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”
Through this betrayal, God positioned Joseph to preserve His covenant people during famine, reminding us that His plans cannot be thwarted by human sin.
