But some of them were ill at ease; they did not feel the satisfaction they had anticipated from their revenge. Soon a company of travelers was seen approaching. It was a caravan of Ishmaelites from beyond Jordan, on their way to Egypt with spices and other merchandise. Judah now proposed to sell their brother to these heathen traders instead of leaving him to die. While he would be effectually put out of their way, they would remain clear of his blood; "for," he urged, "he is our brother and our flesh." To this proposition all agreed, and Joseph was quickly drawn out of the pit.

Men nogle af dem var ilde til mode. De følte ikke den tilfredsstillelse, de havde ventet af deres hævn. Kort efter nærmede der sig nogle rejsende. Det var en karavane af ismaelitter fra den anden side af Jordan. De var på vej til Ægypten med krydderier og andre handelsvarer. Juda foreslog nu, at de skulle sælge deres broder til disse hedenske handelsmænd i stedet for at lade ham dø. På den måde ville han blive skaffet af vejen, uden at de var skyld i hans død; for, sagde Juda, "han er jo dog vor broder, vort kød og blod!" Alle gik ind på dette forslag, og Josef blev hurtigt trukket op af cisternen.