patriarchs and prophets-第52章
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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。
His brothers saw him approaching； but no thought of the long journey he had
made to meet them； of his weariness and hunger； of his claims upon their
hospitality and brotherly love；
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softened the bitterness of their hatred。 The sight of the coat； the token of
their father's love； filled them with frenzy。 〃Behold； this dreamer cometh；〃
they cried in mockery。 Envy and revenge； long secretly cherished； now
controlled them。 〃Let us slay him；〃 they said； 〃and cast him into some pit；
and we will say； Some evil beast hath devoured him； and we shall see what
will become of his dreams。〃
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。
Joseph came on； unsuspicious of danger； and glad that the object of his long
search was accomplished； but instead of the expected greeting； he was
terrified by the angry and revengeful glances which he met。 He was seized
and his coat stripped from him。 Taunts and threats revealed a deadly
purpose。 His entreaties were unheeded。 He was wholly in the power of those
maddened men。 Rudely dragging him to a deep pit； they thrust him in； and
having made sure that there was no possibility of his escape； they left him
there to perish from hunger； while they 〃sat down to eat bread。〃
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。
As he saw the merchants the dreadful truth flashed upon him。 To become a
slave was a fate more to be feared than death。 In an agony of terror he
appealed to one and another of his brothers； but in vain。 Some were moved
with pity； but fear of derision kept them silent； all felt that they had now
gone too far to retreat。 If Joseph were spared； he would doubtless report
them to the father；
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who would not overlook their cruelty toward his favorite son。 Steeling their
hearts against his entreaties； they delivered him into the hands of the
heathen traders。 The caravan moved on； and was soon lost to view。
Reuben returned to the pit； but Joseph was not there。 In alarm and
self…reproach he rent his garments； and sought his brothers； exclaiming；
〃The child is not； and I； whither shall I go？〃 Upon learning the fate of
Joseph； and that it would now be impossible to recover him； Reuben was
induced to unite with the rest in the attempt to conceal their guilt。 Having
killed a kid； they dipped Joseph's coat in its blood； and took it to their
father； telling him that they had found it in the fields； and that they
feared it was their brother's。 〃Know now；〃 they said； 〃whether it be thy
son's coat or no。〃 They had looked forward to this scene with dread； but
they were not prepared for the heart…rending anguish； the utter abandonment
of grief； which they were compelled to witness。 〃It is my son's coat；〃 said
Jacob； 〃an evil beast hath devoured him。 Joseph is without doubt rent in
pieces。〃 Vainly his sons and daughters attempted to comfort him。 He 〃rent
his clothes； and put sackcloth upon his loins； and mourned for his son many
days。〃 Time seemed to bring no alleviation of his grief。 〃I will go down
into the grave unto my son mourning；〃 was his despairing cry。 The young men；
terrified at what they had done； yet dreading their father's reproaches；
still hid in their own hearts the knowledge of their guilt； which even to
themselves seemed very great。
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Chapter 20
Joseph in Egypt
Meanwhile； Joseph with his captors was on the way to Egypt。 As the caravan
journeyed southward toward the borders of Canaan； the boy could discern in
the distance the hills among which lay his father's tents。 Bitterly he wept
at thought of that loving father in his loneliness and affliction。 Again the
scene at Dothan came up before him。 He saw his angry brothers and felt their
fierce glances bent upon him。 The stinging； insulting words that had met his
agonized entreaties were ringing in his ears。 With a trembling heart he
looked forward to the future。 What a change in situationfrom the tenderly
cherished son to the despised and helpless slave！ Alone and friendless； what
would be his lot in the strange land to which he was going？ For a time
Joseph gave himself up to uncontrolled grief and terror。
But； in the providence of God； even this experience was to be a blessing to
him。 He had learned in a few hours that which years might not otherwise have
taught him。 His father； strong and tender as his love had been； had done him
wrong by his partiality and indulgence。 This unwise preference had angered
his brothers and provoked them to the cruel deed that had separated him from
his home。 Its effects were manifest also in his own character。 Faults had
been encouraged that were now to be corrected。 He was becoming
self…sufficient and exacting。 Accustomed to the tenderness of his father's
care； he felt that he was unprepared to cope with the difficulties before
him； in the bitter； uncared…for life of a stranger and a slave。
Then his thoughts turned to his father's God。 In his childhood he had been
taught to love and fear Him。 Often in his father's tent he had listened to
the story of the vision that Jacob saw as he fled from his home an exile and
a fugitive。 He had been told of the Lord's promises to Jacob； and how they
had been fulfilledhow； in the hour of need； the angels of God had come
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to instruct； comfort； and protect him。 And he had learned of the love of God
in providing for men a Redeemer。 Now all these precious lessons came vividly
before him。 Joseph believed that the God of his fathers would be his God。 He
then and there gave himself fully to the Lord； and he prayed that the Keeper
of Israel would be with him in the land of his exile。
His soul thrilled with the high resolve to prove himself true to Godunder
all circumstances to act as became a subject of the King of heaven。 He would
serve the Lord with undivided heart； he would meet the trials of his lot
with fortitude and perform every duty with fidelity。 One day's experience
had been the turning point in Joseph's life。 Its terrible calamity had
transformed him from a petted child to a man； thoughtful； courageous； and
self…possessed。
Arriving in Egypt； Joseph was sold to Potiphar； captain of the king's guard；
in whose service he remained for ten years。 He was here exposed to
temptations of no ordinary character。 He was in the midst of idolatry。 The
worship of false gods was surrounded by all the pomp of royalty； supported
by the wealth and culture of the most highly civilized nation then in
existence。 Yet Joseph preserved his simplicity and his fidelity to God。 The
sights and sounds of vice were all abo
