۞ In the story of Joseph and his brothers are lessons for those who inquire. 7 They said: 'Joseph and his brother are dearer to our father than ourselves, even though we are many. Truly, our father is obviously wrong. 8 (One said): Kill Joseph or cast him to some (other) land, so that your father's favour may be all for you, and (that) ye may afterward be righteous folk. 9 One of them said: "If you must do so, then do not kill Joseph, but throw him into an unused well. Some passing caravan may rescue him." 10 They said, "O our father, why do you not entrust us with Joseph while indeed, we are to him sincere counselors? 11 "Send him with us tomorrow to enjoy himself and play, and verily, we will take care of him." 12 (Jacob) said: "Really it saddens me that ye should take him away: I fear lest the wolf should devour him while ye attend not to him." 13 They replied: "If a wolf should devour him when we are there, a well-knit band, we shall certainly be treacherous." 14 So, when they took him out they planned to throw him into an unused well. We revealed to Joseph: "You will tell them (one day) of this deed when they will not apprehend it." 15 At nightfall they came to their father weeping, 16 [and] said: "O our father! Behold, we went off racing with one another, and left Joseph behind with our things; and thereupon the wolf devoured him! But [we know that] thou wouldst not believe us even though we speak the truth" 17 And they brought his shirt with false blood upon it. He said: Nay, your souls have made the matter light for you, but patience is good and Allah is He Whose help is sought for against what you describe. 18 AND THERE CAME a caravan; and they sent forth their drawer of water, and he let down his bucket into the well - [and when he saw Joseph] he exclaimed: "Oh, what a lucky find, this boy!" And they hid him with a view to selling him: but God had full knowledge of all that they were doing. 19 And they sold him for a paltry price - a mere few silver coins: thus low did they value him. 20