UGenesise 37:12-36

Abafowabo baya ukwalusa umhlambi kayise eShekemi. U-Israyeli wathi kuJosefa: “Abafowenu abawalusi umhlambi eShekemi na? Woza, ngiyakukuthuma kubo.” Wathi kuye: “Ngilapha.” Wayesethi kuye: “Hamba-ke, ubone ukuthi basahlezi kahle yini abafowenu nomhlambi, uze ungibuyisele izwi.” Wamthuma esuka esigodini saseHebroni, waze wafika eShekemi. Umuntu othile wamfumana ezulazula endle; lo muntu wambuza wathi: “Ufunani na?” Wathi: “Ngifuna abafowethu; ake ungitshele ukuthi baluselaphi.” Wathi lowo muntu: “Basukile lapha, ngokuba ngabezwa bethi: ‘Asiye eDotayini.’ ” UJosefa walandela abafowabo, wabafumana eDotayini. Bambona esekude; engakasondeli kubo, bamenzela ugobe lokumbulala. Bakhulumisana omunye nomunye, bathi: “Bhekani, inyanga yamaphupho iyeza. Ngalokho wozani, siyibulale, siyiphonse komunye wemigodi, bese sithi: ‘Isilwane esibi siyidlile,’ sibone ukuthi azakuba yini amaphupho ayo.” URubeni wakuzwa, wamophula esandleni sabo ngokuthi: “Asingambulali.” URubeni wathi kubo: “Ningachithi gazi; mphonseni kulo mgodi osehlane, ningabeki isandla kuye,” ukuba amophule esandleni sabo, ambuyisele kuyise. Kwathi uJosefa esefike kubafowabo, bamkhumula ingubo yakhe, leyo ngubo enemikhono emide ayeyigqokile. Bamthatha, bamphonsa emgodini; umgodi wawungenalutho, kungekho manzi kuwo. Bahlala phansi ukuba badle isinkwa; baphakamisa amehlo abo, babona; bheka, kwafika ihele labakwa-Ishmayeli livela kwaGileyadi, linamakamela alo ethwele inhlaka nebhalisamu* nemure,* likwewusela eGibithe. Wayesethi uJuda kubafowabo: “Kuyakusizani, uma simbulala umfowethu, sifihle igazi lakhe, na? Wozani sithengise ngaye kwabakwa-Ishmayeli, isandla senu singabi phezu kwakhe, ngokuba ungumfowethu, uyinyama yethu.” Abafowabo bamlalela. Kwase kudlula abathengi bakwaMidiyani; bamdonsa uJosefa, bamkhuphula emgodini, bathengisa ngoJosefa kwabakwa-Ishmayeli ngezinhlamvu ezingamashumi amabili zesiliva. Labo-ke bamusa uJosefa eGibithe. URubeni wabuyela emgodini; bheka, uJosefa wayengasekho emgodini; waklebhula izingubo zakhe. Wayesebuyela kubafowabo, ethi: “Akasekho umntwana; mina-ke ngizakushonaphi na?” Base bethatha ingubo kaJosefa, bahlaba impongo, bacwilisa ingubo egazini. Bathumela leyo ngubo enemikhono emide, bayiyisa kuyise, bathi: “Siyitholile lena; ake ubone, uma le ngubo ingeyendodana yakho yini, noma akusiyo na?” Wayibona, wathi: “Yiyo ingubo yendodana yami; isilwane esibi simdlile; yebo, uJosefa udatshuliwe nokudatshulwa.” UJakobe wayeseklebhula izingubo zakhe, wafaka indwangu yamasaka okhalweni lwakhe, walilela indodana yakhe izinsuku eziningi. Onke amadodana akhe nawo onke amadodakazi akhe asuka ukuyomduduza, kepha wala ukududuzwa, wathi: “Ngiyakwehla, ngiye endodaneni yami endaweni yabafileyo ngilila.” Uyise wamlilela-ke. AbakwaMidiyani bathengisa ngaye eGibithe kuPotifari, inceku kaFaro, induna yabalindi bakhe.