18. Bambona esekude; engakasondeli kubo, bamenzela ugobe lokumbulala.
19. Bakhulumisana omunye nomunye, bathi: “Bhekani, inyanga yamaphupho iyeza.
20. Ngalokho wozani, siyibulale, siyiphonse komunye wemigodi, bese sithi: ‘Isilwane esibi siyidlile,’ sibone ukuthi azakuba yini amaphupho ayo.”
21. URubeni wakuzwa, wamophula esandleni sabo ngokuthi: “Asingambulali.”
22. URubeni wathi kubo: “Ningachithi gazi; mphonseni kulo mgodi osehlane, ningabeki isandla kuye,” ukuba amophule esandleni sabo, ambuyisele kuyise.
23. Kwathi uJosefa esefike kubafowabo, bamkhumula ingubo yakhe, leyo ngubo enemikhono emide ayeyigqokile.
24. Bamthatha, bamphonsa emgodini; umgodi wawungenalutho, kungekho manzi kuwo.
25. Bahlala phansi ukuba badle isinkwa; baphakamisa amehlo abo, babona; bheka, kwafika ihele labakwa-Ishmayeli livela kwaGileyadi, linamakamela alo ethwele inhlaka nebhalisamu* nemure,* likwewusela eGibithe.
26. Wayesethi uJuda kubafowabo: “Kuyakusizani, uma simbulala umfowethu, sifihle igazi lakhe, na?
27. Wozani sithengise ngaye kwabakwa-Ishmayeli, isandla senu singabi phezu kwakhe, ngokuba ungumfowethu, uyinyama yethu.” Abafowabo bamlalela.
28. Kwase kudlula abathengi bakwaMidiyani; bamdonsa uJosefa, bamkhuphula emgodini, bathengisa ngoJosefa kwabakwa-Ishmayeli ngezinhlamvu ezingamashumi amabili zesiliva. Labo-ke bamusa uJosefa eGibithe.
29. URubeni wabuyela emgodini; bheka, uJosefa wayengasekho emgodini; waklebhula izingubo zakhe.
30. Wayesebuyela kubafowabo, ethi: “Akasekho umntwana; mina-ke ngizakushonaphi na?”