"brother, and proposed that Joseph be cast alive into a pit, and left there to perish; secretly intending, however, to rescue him and return him to his father. Having persuaded all to consent to this plan, Reuben left the company, fearing that he might fail to control his feelings, and that his real intentions would be discovered. PP 211.1"
"And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of their hands; and said, Let us not kill him."
The EGW passage directly refers to Reuben's plan to save Joseph, as described in Genesis 37:21.
"Joseph came on, unsuspicious of danger, and glad that the object of his long search was accomplished; but instead of the expected greeting, he was terrified by the angry and revengeful glances which he met. He was seized and his coat stripped from him. Taunts and threats revealed a deadly purpose. His entreaties were unheeded. He was wholly in the power of those maddened men. Rudely dragging him to a deep pit, they thrust him in, and having made sure that there was no possibility of his escape, they left him there to perish from hunger, while they “sat down to eat bread.” PP 211.2"
"And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it."
The EGW passage directly recounts the biblical narrative of Joseph being cast into the pit, mirroring the details provided in Genesis 37:24. The phrase 'sat down to eat bread' is a direct lift.
"And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him; And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it."
The EGW passage closely follows the narrative of Genesis 37:23-24, describing the stripping of Joseph's coat and his being thrown into the pit. The details are consistent and clearly allude to the biblical account.
"But some of them were ill at ease; they did not feel the satisfaction they had anticipated from their revenge. Soon a company of travelers was seen approaching. It was a caravan of Ishmaelites from beyond Jordan, on their way to Egypt with spices and other merchandise. Judah now proposed to sell their brother to these heathen traders instead of leaving him to die. While he would be effectually put out of their way, they would remain clear of his blood; “for,” he urged, “he is our brother and our flesh.” To this proposition all agreed, and Joseph was quickly drawn out of the pit. PP 211.3"
"And Judah said unto his brethren, What profit is it if we slay our brother, and conceal his blood? Come, and let us sell him to the Ishmeelites, and let not our hand be upon him; for he is our brother and our flesh. And his brethren were content."
The EGW passage directly recounts the events described in Genesis 37:26-27, including Judah's proposal to sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites and the reasoning behind it ('he is our brother and our flesh'). The language and narrative are closely aligned.
"As he saw the merchants the dreadful truth flashed upon him. To become a slave was a fate more to be feared than death. In an agony of terror he appealed to one and another of his brothers, but in vain. Some were moved with pity, but fear of derision kept them silent; all felt that they had now gone too far to retreat. If Joseph were spared, he would doubtless report them to the father, who would not overlook their cruelty toward his favorite son. Steeling their hearts against his entreaties, they delivered him into the hands of the heathen traders. The caravan moved on, and was soon lost to view. PP 211.4"
"Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt."
The EGW passage directly recounts and expands upon the events described in Genesis 37:28, including the selling of Joseph to merchants.