29. Later Reuben returned to the cistern to find that Joseph was not in it! He tore his clothes,
30. returned to his brothers, and said, “The boy isn’t there! And I, where can I go?”
31. So they took Joseph’s tunic, killed a young goat, and dipped the tunic in the blood.
32. Then they brought the special tunic to their father and said, “We found this. Determine now whether it is your son’s tunic or not.”
33. He recognized it and exclaimed, “It is my son’s tunic! A wild animal has eaten him! Joseph has surely been torn to pieces!”
34. Then Jacob tore his clothes, put on sackcloth, and mourned for his son many days.
35. All his sons and daughters stood by him to console him, but he refused to be consoled. “No,” he said, “I will go to the grave mourning my son.” So Joseph’s father wept for him.
36. Now in Egypt the Midianites sold Joseph to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.