It is better that he be sold to the Ismaelites, and that our hands be not defiled: for he is our brother and our flesh. His brethren agreed to his words.
לְכ֞וּ וְנִמְכְּרֶ֣נּוּ לַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִ֗ים וְיָדֵ֙נוּ֙ אַל־תְּהִי־ב֔וֹ כִּֽי־אָחִ֥ינוּ בְשָׂרֵ֖נוּ ה֑וּא וַֽיִּשְׁמְע֖וּ אֶחָֽיו׃
7 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Observe how Reuben averted a more significant wrongdoing through a lesser one, while Judah advises selling their brother to spare him from death. This unfolded to ensure that, even involuntarily, the divine prophecies would come to fruition, and that Joseph's siblings would fulfill God's providential plan.
Just as Reuben stopped his brothers from taking Joseph's life, Judah struggled to accept their wicked intent. Reuben, being the firstborn, represented the priority of birth; however, Judah belonged to the lineage destined for leadership. Similarly, those who identify with the firstborn, even from among the Jewish people, along with those called to God's kingdom through the message of Christ, face immense challenges against the derisive assaults aimed at Him. During that period, truly, both in Jerusalem and throughout the regions inhabited by Jews, there were many who mourned the humiliation inflicted upon Christ and were filled with compassion for His suffering.
The brothers spoke among themselves, asserting that it would be preferable to hand Joseph over to the foreign traders; they resolved that he might perish in a foreign land, and they would not be responsible for their sibling's fate. They retrieved him from the pit as one would from the jaws of a beast, and in exchange for a price, they sold him to the merchants, disregarding the anguish and heartache it would bring to their father.
To understand the profound symbolism present in the account of the people and the Lord Jesus, we find the statement, "Come, let us go and sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites." The name Joseph signifies "divine grace" and "the revelation of the Most High God" (cf. Gen. 30:24). Thus, the one sold is He who, as the likeness of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be grasped, but instead humbled Himself, taking the nature of a servant (Phil. 2:6-7). We would not have come to possess Him had not our own chosen to betray Him. It is grievous enough that they betrayed Him; it is even more lamentable that they sought to purchase Him. They sold Him to merchants who acquired from traitors the aroma of sweetness (Eph. 5:2; cf. Gen. 37:25).
Judah initiated the sale, while the Ishmaelites completed the purchase (cf. Gen. 37:27-28; cf. Matt. 26:14-15), a transaction described in our language as "having animosity towards their God" (cf. Gen. 16:11). In various accounts, Joseph was sold for twenty, twenty-five, or even thirty pieces of gold, highlighting that Christ’s worth is not perceived equally by all. For some, He holds lesser importance, while to others, He is of greater significance; the value attributed to Him is determined by the faith of the buyer. To the more pious, God is more precious; to the sinner, the Redeemer is of greater worth; and to those enriched with His gifts, He holds even greater value. Furthermore, He becomes more invaluable to those who have received much since "to whom much is forgiven, he loves more," as the Lord Himself affirmed in the Gospel regarding the woman who anointed His feet, washed them with her tears, dried them with her hair, and caressed them with her kisses (Luke 7:37-48). He said to Simon, "Her many sins are forgiven, for she loved much, but he who is forgiven little loves little" (Luke 7:47).
In recognizing the foreshadowing of the Lord's suffering, the patriarch Judah also conveys, "Let us sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites, but let not our hands be upon him.” Reuben wisely adds, "But let not our hands be upon him." Likewise, during the Lord's Passion, the Jewish leaders stated, "We are not permitted to put any man to death" (John 18:31-32), fulfilling the prophecy regarding the manner in which Jesus was destined to die.
Yet you, Judah, driven by earthly desires, betray Joseph.
What value is there in taking our brother's life and concealing his blood? It would be wiser to sell him to these Ishmaelites and allow them to carry him away. Joseph will perish in a land that is not his own, and we shall not bear the guilt of our brother's death. The rest of the brothers concurred with Judah. They went and lifted Joseph from the pit. The passing Ishmaelites offered thirty pieces of silver for Joseph. At the moment of this transaction, Reuben was absent, having gone off to another place.
At a chaotic feast, a voice was raised saying, "What benefit do we gain by killing our brother and concealing his blood? Let us trade him to these Ishmaelites! We should not lay a hand on him, for he is our brother and our flesh!" This was the voice of Judah, the fourth son of Jacob, who suggested selling his just brother. Many centuries later, another Judas would emerge, proclaiming concerning another Righteous One, the God-Man Himself: "What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?" (Matthew 26:15).
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS