The brothers were obliged to move from place to place to secure pasturage for their flocks, and frequently they were absent from home for months together. After the circumstances just related, they went to the place which their father had bought at Shechem. Some time passed, bringing no tidings from them, and the father began to fear for their safety, on account of their former cruelty toward the Shechemites. He therefore sent Joseph to find them, and bring him words as to their welfare. Had Jacob known the real feeling of his sons toward Joseph, he would not have trusted him alone with them; but this they had carefully concealed.

Brødrene var nødt til at flytte fra sted til sted for at finde græsgange til deres hjorde, og de var ofte borte fra hjemmet flere måneder ad gangen. Efter de begivenheder, som netop er omtalt, drog de til det sted, deres fader havde købt i Sikem. Der gik nogen tid, uden at faderen hørte fra dem, og han begyndte at blive ængstelig for deres sikkerhed på grund af deres tidligere grusomhed over for Sikems indbyggere. Derfor sendte han Josef ud for at finde dem og bringe bud hjem om, hvordan det gik dem. Havde Jakob kendt sønnernes virkelige følelser over for Josef, ville han ikke have ladet ham være alene sammen med dem; men det havde de omhyggeligt skjult.