12. Joseph's brothers had gone to take care of their father's flocks near Shechem.
13. Israel said to Joseph, "As you know, your brothers are taking care of the flocks near Shechem. Come. I'm going to send you to them." "All right," Joseph replied.
14. So Israel said to him, "Go to your brothers. See how they are doing. Also see how the flocks are doing. Then come back and tell me." So he sent him away from the Hebron Valley. Joseph arrived at Shechem.
15. A man found him wandering around in the fields. He asked Joseph, "What are you looking for?"
16. He replied, "I'm looking for my brothers. Can you tell me where they are taking care of their flocks?"
17. "They've moved on from here," the man answered. "I heard them say, 'Let's go to Dothan.' " So Joseph went to look for his brothers. He found them near Dothan.
18. But they saw him a long way off. Before he reached them, they made plans to kill him.
19. "Here comes that dreamer!" they said to one another.