and yielded to repentance and amendment； but in case they
proceeded to do the fact； all sorts of punishments would overtake
them from God for this murder of their brother； since they
polluted his providence； which was every where present； and which
did not overlook what was done； either in deserts or in cities；
for wheresoever a man is； there ought he to suppose that God is
also。 He told them further； that their consciences would be their
enemies； if they attempted to go through so wicked an enterprise；
which they can never avoid； whether it be a good conscience； or
whether it be such a one as they will have within them when once
they have killed their brother。 He also added this besides to
what he had before said； that it was not a righteous thing to
kill a brother； though he had injured them； that it is a good
thing to forget the actions of such near friends； even in things
wherein they might seem to have offended； but that they were
going to kill Joseph； who had been guilty of nothing that was ill
towards them； in whose case the infirmity of his small age should
rather procure him mercy； and move them to unite together in the
care of his preservation。 That the cause of killing him made the
act itself much worse； while they determined to take him off out
of envy at his future prosperity； an equal share of which they
would naturally partake while he enjoyed it； since they were to
him not strangers； but the nearest relations； for they might
reckon upon what God bestowed upon Joseph as their own； and that
it was fit for them to believe； that the anger of God would for
this cause be more severe upon them； if they slew him who was
judged by God to be worthy of that prosperity which was to be
hoped for； and while； by murdering him； they made it impossible
for God to bestow it upon him。
2。 Reubel said these and many other things； and used entreaties
to them； and thereby endeavored to divert them from the murder of
their brother。 But when he saw that his discourse had not
mollified them at all； and that they made haste to do the fact；
he advised them to alleviate the wickedness they were going
about； in the manner of taking Joseph off； for as he had exhorted
them first； when they were going to revenge themselves； to be
dissuaded from doing it； so； since the sentence for killing their
brother had prevailed； he said that they would not； however； be
so grossly guilty； if they would be persuaded to follow his
present advice； which would include what they were so eager
about； but was not so very bad； but； in the distress they were
in； of a lighter nature。 He begged of them； therefore； not to
kill their brother with their own hands； but to cast him into the
pit that was hard by； and so to let him die； by which they would
gain so much； that they would not defile their own hands with his
blood。 To this the young men readily agreed； so Reubel took the
lad and tied him to a cord； and let him down gently into the pit；
for it had no water at all in it； who； when he had done this；
went his way to seek for such pasturage as was fit for feeding
his flocks。
3。 But Judas； being one of Jacob's sons also； seeing some
Arabians； of the posterity of Ismael； carrying spices and Syrian
wares out of the land of Gilead to the Egyptians； after Rubel was
gone； advised his brethren to draw Joseph out of the pit； and
sell him to the Arabians； for if he should die among strangers a
great way off； they should be freed from this barbarous action。
This； therefore； was resolved on； so they drew Joseph up out of
the pit； and sold him to the merchants for twenty pounds （2） He
was now seventeen years old。 But Reubel； coming in the night…time
to the pit； resolved to save Joseph； without the privity of his
brethren； and when； upon his calling to him； he made no answer；
he was afraid that they had destroyed him after he was gone； of
which he complained to his brethren； but when they had told him
what they had done； Reubel left off his mourning。
4。 When Joseph's brethren had done thus to him； they considered
what they should do to escape the suspicions of their father。 Now
they had taken away from Joseph the coat which he had on when he
came to them at the time they let him down into the pit； so they
thought proper to tear that coat to pieces； and to dip it into
goats' blood； and then to carry it and show it to their father；
that he might believe he was destroyed by wild beasts。 And when
they had so done； they came to the old man； but this not till
what had happened to his son had already come to his knowledge。
Then they said that they had not seen Joseph； nor knew what
mishap had befallen him； but that they had found his coat bloody
and torn to pieces； whence they had a suspicion that he had
fallen among wild beasts； and so perished； if that was the coat
he had on when he came from home。 Now Jacob had before some
better hopes that his son was only made a captive； but now he
laid aside that notion； and supposed that this coat was an
evident argument that he was dead； for he well remembered that
this was the coat he had on when he sent him to his brethren； so
he hereafter lamented the lad as now dead； and as if he had been
the father of no more than one； without taking any comfort in the
rest； and so he was also affected with his misfortune before he
met with Joseph's brethren； when he also conjectured that Joseph
was destroyed by wild beasts。 He sat down also clothed in
sackcloth and in heavy affliction； insomuch that he found no ease
when his sons comforted him； neither did his pains remit by
length of time。
CHAPTER 4。
Concerning The Signal Chastity Of Joseph。
1。 Now Potiphar； an Egyptian； who was chief cook to king Pharaoh；
bought Joseph of the merchants； who sold him to him。 He had him
in the greatest honor； and taught him the learning that became a
free man； and gave him leave to make use of a diet better than
was allotted to slaves。 He intrusted also the care of his house
to him。 So he enjoyed these advantages； yet did not he leave that
virtue which he had before； upon such a change of his condition；
but he demonstrated that wisdom was able to govern the uneasy
passions of life； in such as have it in reality； and do not only
put it on for a show； under a present state of prosperity。
2。 For when his master's wife was fallen in love with him； both
on account of his beauty of body； and his dexterous management of
affairs； and supposed； that if she should make it known to him；
she could easily persuade him to come and lie with her； and that
he would look upon it as a piece of happy fortune that his
mistress should entreat him； as regarding that state of slavery
he was in； and not his moral character； which continued after his
condition was changed。 So she made known her naughty
inclinations； and spake to him about lying with her。 However； he
rejected her entreaties； not thinking it agreeable to religion to
yield so far to her； as to do what would tend to the affront and
injury of him that purchased him； and had vouchsafed him so great
honors。 He； on the contrary； exhorted her to govern that passion；
and laid before her the impossibility of her obtaining her
desires； which he thought might be conquered； if she had no hope
of succeeding； and he said； that as to himself； he would endure
any thing whatever before he would be persuaded to it； for
although it was fit for a slave； as he was； to do nothing
contrary to his mistress； he might well be excused in a case
where the contradiction was to such sort of commands only。 But
this opposition of Joseph； when she did not expect it； made her
still more violent in her love to him； and as she was sorely
beset with this naughty passion； so she resolved to compass her
design by a second attempt。
3。 When； therefore； there was a public festival coming on； in
which it was the custom for women to come to the public
solemnity； she pretended to her husband that she was sick； as
contriving an opportunity for solitude and leisure； that she
might entreat Joseph again。 Which opportunity being obtained； she
used more kind words to him than before； and said that it had
been good for him to have yielded to her first solicitation； and
to have given her no repulse； both because of the reverence he
ought to bear to her dignity who solicited him； and because of
the vehemence of her passion； by which she was forced though she
were his mistress to condescend beneath her dignity； but that he
may now； by taking more prudent advice； wipe off the imputation
of his former folly； for whether it were that he expected the
repetition of her solicitations she had now made； and that with
greater earnestness than before； for that she had pretended
sickness on this very account； and had preferred his conversation
before the festival and its solemnity； or whether he opposed her
former discourses； as not believing she could be in earnest； she
now gave him sufficient security； by thus repeating her
application； that she meant not in the least by fraud to impose
upon him； and assured him； that if he complied with her
affections； he might expect the enjoyment of the advantages he
already had； and if he were submissive to her； he should have
still greater advantages； but that he must look for revenge and
hatred from her； in case he rejected her desires； and preferred
the reputation of chastity before his mistress； for that he would
gain nothing by such procedure； because she would then become his
accuser； and would falsely pretend to her husband； that he had
attempted her chastity； and that Potiphar would hearken to her
words rather than to his； let his be ever so agreeable to the
truth。
4。 When the woman had said thus； and even with tears in her eyes；
neither did pity dissuade Joseph from his chastity； nor did fear
compel him to a compliance with her； but he opposed her
solicitations； and did not yield to her threatenings； and was
afraid to do an ill thing； and chose to undergo the sharpest
punishment rather than to enjoy his present advantages； by doing
what his own conscience knew would justly deserve that he should
die for it。 He also put her in mind that she was a married woman；
and that she ought to coh