The jealousy, the betrayal, the selling into slavery. But what about the moments in between? Were they all heartless?
Well, according to Legends of the Jews, not entirely.
Imagine the scene. The brothers, having just tossed young Joseph into that dark, empty pit, are trying to distance themselves from the sound of his cries. They move a "bow-shot's distance" away, attempting to escape the guilt. But one brother, Zebulon, can't quite manage it.
Ginzberg's retelling, drawing from various Midrashic sources, paints Zebulon as the only one who showed any real pity. For two long days and nights, he refused to eat. Can you picture that? The others feasting, perhaps trying to celebrate their twisted victory, while Zebulon is consumed by grief.
And get this – he was even charged with keeping watch over the pit! His brothers chose him because he wasn't eating with them anyway. Think about the irony. The one brother who felt the most remorse was also the one tasked with ensuring Joseph stayed trapped. What a burden!
But Zebulon wasn't alone in his concern. Judah, too, felt a flicker of responsibility. He worried that Simon and Gad, perhaps the most hot-headed of the brothers, might take things even further and kill Joseph outright. So, Judah also took turns keeping watch, fearing the worst.
It's a fascinating glimpse into the complexities of human nature, isn't it? Even in the midst of such a terrible act, there were glimmers of conscience, of regret. It reminds us that even in the darkest stories, there are often shades of gray. And that sometimes, the smallest acts of compassion can make all the difference.