To avoid hearing Joseph's weeping and cries of distress,
his brethren passed on from the pit, and stood at a bow-
shot's distance.[44] The only one among them that manifested
pity was Zebulon. For two days and two nights no food
passed his lips on account of his grief over the fate of
Joseph, who had to spend three days and three nights in the
pit before he was sold. During this period Zebulon was
charged by his brethren to keep watch at the pit. He was
chosen to stand guard because he took no part in the meals.
Part of the time Judah also refrained from eating with
the rest, and took turns at watching, because he feared
Simon and Gad might jump down into the pit and put an
end to Joseph's life.[45]

While Joseph was languishing thus, his brethren determined
to kill him. They would finish their meal first, they
said, and then they would fetch him forth and slay him.
When they had done eating, they attempted to say grace, but
Judah remonstrated with them: "We are about to take the
life of a human being, and yet would bless God? That is
not a blessing, that is contemning the Lord.[46] What profit
is it if we slay our brother? Rather will the punishment of
God descend upon us. I have good counsel to give you.
Yonder passeth by a travelling company of Ishmaelites on
their way to Egypt. Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites,
and let not our hand be upon him. The Ishmaelites
will take him with them upon their journeyings, and he
will be lost among the peoples of the earth.[47] Let us follow
the custom of former days, for Canaan, too, the son of Ham,