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For more commentary on this week's readings, see the Reflections on the Lectionary page. For full-text access to all articles, subscribe to the Century.
Reuben is the only one among Joseph’s many brothers who thinks twice about killing him. He says, “let us not take his life,” and then again, as if for emphasis, “shed no blood,” and a third time, “lay no hand on him.” While Reuben does not reveal to his brothers his plan to rescue Joseph, he does make his fundamental wish clear: Don’t kill him.
