Testament of Zebulun 3

1And when Joseph saw me weeping with him, and the brothers coming on to kill him, he took refuge behind me, begging me for help on his behalf.

2And in the meantime Reuben arose and said, “Come, my brothers, let us not kill him, but let us throw him into one of these dry pits, which our fathers dug and found no water.”

3For this reason the Lord prevented water from springing up in them, so that provision might be made for Joseph, his brother.

4And they did so until they sold him to the Ishmaelites.

5For I had no share in his price, my children.

6saying, “We will not eat it, because it is the price of our brother’s blood; rather, let us trample it underfoot, because he said that he would reign over us, and then we shall see what his dreams are.”

7Therefore it is written in the book of the law of Moses: “The one who does not want to raise up seed for his brother—his sandal shall be removed, and they shall spit in his face.”

8And the brothers of Joseph were not willing to preserve the life of their brother, and the Lord took from them the sandal that they wore against Joseph their brother.

9For when they came into Egypt, they had their sandals removed by the attendants of Joseph outside the gate, and so they bowed down to Joseph in the manner before King Pharaoh.

10And not only did they bow down to him, but they also immediately fell before him and spat, and they were put to shame by the Egyptians.