(10) “One of them said, ‘Do not kill Joseph, but cast him into the depths of the well; some passing travelers will pick him up, if you are intent on doing something.’”

That is, one of Joseph’s brothers who wanted to kill him or send him far away said: “Do not kill Joseph,” for killing him would be a far graver and more heinous sin. Your aim can be achieved by removing him from his father without killing him. Instead, bring about his removal by casting him “into the depths of the well” and threatening him not to disclose what you have done, but rather to claim that he is a runaway slave belonging to you. Then “some passing travelers” heading for a distant place will pick him up and keep him there.

This speaker showed the soundest judgment concerning Joseph and was the kindest and most God-fearing of them in this matter. Some evils are lesser than others, and a lesser harm may be used to ward off a greater one. Once they had agreed upon this plan