With a joyful heart, Joseph parted from his father, neither the aged man nor the youth dreaming of what would happen before they should meet again. When, after his long and solitary journey, Joseph arrived at Shechem, his brothers and their flocks were not to be found. Upon inquiring for them, he was directed to Dothan. He had already traveled more than fifty miles, and now an additional distance of fifteen lay before him, but he hastened on, forgetting his weariness in the thought of relieving the anxiety of his father, and meeting the brothers, whom, despite their unkindness, he still loved.

Med glad hjerte skiltes Josef fra sin fader, og hverken den gamle mand eller ynglingen drømte om, hvad der skulle ske, inden de sås igen. Da Josef efter sin lange, ensomme rejse nåede Sikem, kunne han ikke finde sine brødre og deres hjorde. Da han spurgte efter dem, blev han rådet til at gå til Dotan. Han havde allerede rejst over firs kilometer, og nu havde han en tur på fem og tyve kilometer foran sig; men han skyndte sig videre og glemte sin træthed ved tanken om, at han skulle berolige sin fader og mødes med sine brødre, som han stadig elskede trods deres uvenlighed imod ham.