In this video Dr Woodhead discusses how all Joseph’s brothers were guilty in the collusion to harm him. His brothers had decided to follow They planned to kill him in their envy. Rueben the oldest convinced them not to kill him. Reuben’s requested they keep him in dry well (cistern) instead of killing him outright. However since Reuben was not telling them that his personal hidden agenda was to rescue Joseph afterward they saw an opportunity to market Joseph as a slave to the Ishmaelites. They were a semi-nomadic group of traders from the Transjordan. Judah took the opportunity to propose to his brethren to sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites. “What profit is it,” he said, “if we slay our brother and conceal his blood? Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites; and let not our hand be upon him (in other words to kill him), for he is our brother, our flesh.” Judah may have had a slight change of heart and did not want to kill him as Reuben was also so minded. The others saw this a good opportunity too.
They were so insensitive to Joseph that while he was in the cistern as he cried out for mercy as they were making merry and enjoying a meal. In fact they admitted to this at a later time. Their hatred for him was so strong that they had hardened their hearts toward his torment as he cried to them to be released.
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