They would have executed their purpose but for Reuben. He shrank from participating in the murder of his brother, and proposed that Joseph be cast alive into a pit, and left there to perish; secretly intending, however, to rescue him and return him to his father. Having persuaded all to consent to this plan, Reuben left the company, fearing that he might fail to control his feelings, and that his real intentions would be discovered.

De ville have gennemført deres hensigt, hvis ikke Ruben havde grebet ind. Han veg tilbage for at tage del i mordet på sin broder og foreslog, at Josef skulle kastes levende i en cisterne og overlades til at omkomme der. I sit stille sind havde han imidlertid besluttet at redde ham og sende ham hjem til faderen. Da han havde overtalt dem alle sammen til at gå ind på hans plan, forlod han dem, fordi han var bange for, at han ikke ville kunne styre sine følelser, så at hans virkelige hensigt blev opdaget.