are harlots.â
âWhatâs a harlot?â
âA bad woman that makes men do bad things.â
âOh, I know what that means. Like Elspeth did when she was gotten with child with Lomenie of Lomar?â
âYes. Like that.â
Joseph watched, seemingly riveted to the scene. He saw the women dancing in their scanty costumes, and then he saw that Levi and Simeon were drinking heavily. âThey need to get away from those women,â he said. âTheyâre bad for them.â
Benjamin was struck silent by the scene and did not answer.
Finally the two boys watched two of the women grab Simeon and Levi and pull them to their feet. They took them to two separate tents, and Joseph said abruptly, âCome along, Benjamin, we need to get away from here.â
âAll right, Joseph. This is a bad thing.â
As they made their way back, Joseph was silent, and Benjamin looked up and asked, âAre you going to tell Father?â
Joseph was lost in thought. âI think Iâd better. He needs to know such things.â
âTheyâll get mad if we tell.â
âYouâre not going to tell. I am,â Joseph said. âItâs for their own good!â
****
Leah was giving her sons Simeon and Levi a tongue-lashing that had all the bite of a scorpion. She was a woman with a sharp tongue anyway, and now as her sons stood before her, both married heads of households, they stood humbled like two boys caught stealing sugared dates.
âYou defile yourself with those harlots!â Leah screamed, her voice carrying over the entire camp. âHave you no shame! Both of you have good wives, and you defile yourselves. Iâm the mother of fools!â Their mother struck them both and sent them out of her tent.
Simeon turned to Levi and said, âIt was that talebearer Joseph. Heâs the one who brought the report to Father.â
âWe were fools,â Levi said heavily.
âMaybe we were. Iâve learned one thing, though. If youâre going to sin, donât do it in public.â
****
The public shame of the two men was painful, and they blamed Joseph for telling on them. All ten of the brothers were absolutely furious at Joseph.
Even Reuben could make no defense for Joseph. After all, he had also carried the evil report to Jacob of Reubenâs misbehavior with Bilhah, which was much worse. But still he kept silent as his brothers raved and shouted, angry to the core. He knew that the Sons of the Maids were just as angry, and he whispered to Judah, âTry to quiet them down. Theyâre crazy.â
âDonât they have reason?â Judah said bitterly. âDoes that pampered brother of ours have the right to carry tales?â
âSimeon and Levi were wrong.â
âIt makes no difference. Talebearing is wrong, especially against your own brothers! That is a sin against God himself! Family is important, Reuben.â
Reuben could not argue, for he felt the same. He thought of going to Joseph and trying to talk him into apologizing, but he knew he did not have the words or the skill to speak to his quick-tongued younger brother. He sighed heavily and shook his head. He had no one to share his burden with except Judah, and even Judah was fed up with Josephâs behavior.
****
Two days after Jacob had received Josephâs reports of Simeon and Leviâs behavior with the Canaanite harlots, Levi came to him, saying bitterly, âWeâre going over to Shechem. Not only the six of us but also the four Sons of the Maids.â
âAll ten of you?â
âYes,â Levi said defiantly. He waited for his father to protest, but Jacob seemed crushed.
âWhy donât you wait awhile, my son?â he pleaded.
âWeâre not waiting for anything.â Levi had never spoken to his father like this.
Jacob knew well of the anger that burned in the hearts of his ten sons. âAll right,â he soberly
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