There is something shocking about the way the brothers of Joseph, having cast him into a pit, sit down and eat bread. The everyday-ness of it all is in such contrast to the violence they intend against their brother. No guilt or consideration of Joseph in the pit, just carrying on as if nothing has happened, as if they have not done anything wrong. Such is the way of hate. It blocks the heart and mind from any other thought and blocks any conscience.

In fact, only Reuben has a different heart and thought: Judah still intends to kill Joseph, "What gain when we slay our brother and conceal his blood?" but the Ishmaelite traders approaching on their way to Egypt gives him the notion to make money from getting rid of Joseph by selling him and thus gain from getting rid of him. Selling Joseph is a transaction just as betraying Jesus was a tra ...