t12papocrypha
Testament of Zebulun 4
Zebulun witnesses the aftermath of Joseph's sale: Judah guards the pit fearing his brothers will kill Joseph outright; Zebulun himself fasts two days in grief; Reuben, returning too late, finds the merchants gone and mourns how he will face Jacob. Dan devises the deception of the blood-dipped coat, and Simeon — furious that Joseph still lived — must be collectively compelled to surrender it. Every element of the cover-up is a coalition of guilty men managing consequences, not repenting of the act. The master type is locked in: Joseph is sold, hidden, and the truth sealed under a false garment.
1
After these things they brought forth food; for I through two days and two nights tasted nothing, through pity for Joseph. And Judah ate not with them, but watched the pit; for he feared lest Simeon and Gad should run back and slay him. And when they saw that I also ate not, they set me to watch him until he was sold. And he remained in the pit three days and three nights, and so was sold famishing. And when Reuben heard that while he was away Joseph had been sold, he rent his clothes about him, and mourned, saying, How shall I look in the face of Jacob my father? And he took the money, and ran after the merchants, and found no one; for they had left the main road, and journeyed hastily through rugged byways. And Reuben ate no food on that day. Dan therefore came to him, and said, Weep not, neither grieve; for I have found what we can say to our father Jacob. Let us slay a kid of the goats, and dip in it the coat of Joseph; and we will say, Look, if this is the coat of thy son: for they stripped off from Joseph the coat of our father when they were about to sell him, and put upon him an old garment of a slave. Now Simeon had the coat, and would not give it up, wishing to rend it with his sword; for he was angry that Joseph lived, and that he had not slain him. Then we all rose up together against him, and said, If thou give it not up, we will say that thou alone didst this wickedness in Israel; and so he gave it up, and they did even as Dan had said.
