And cast him into an old pit, where there was no water.

and they took him and cast him into the pit; now the pit was empty there was no water in it.

And they took him and put him in the hole: now the hole had no water in it.

and they took him, and cast him into the pit-and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.

and they cast him into an old cistern, which held no water.

Et tulerunt eum, et projecerunt eum in cisternam: et cisterna erat vacua, non erat in ea aqua.

And they took him, and cast (h) him into a pit: and the pit [was] empty, [there was] no water in it.
(h) Their hypocrisy appears in this that they feared man more than God: and thought it was not murder, if they did not shed his blood or had excuses to cover their fault.

And they took him, and cast him into a pit,.... Into the same that Reuben pointed to them, whose counsel they gladly took and readily executed, supposing he meant the same thing they did, starving him to death:
and the pit was empty, there was no water in it; only serpents and scorpions, as the Targum of Jonathan; and Jarchi adds, this remark, that there was no water in it, seems to be made either to furnish out a reason why Reuben directed to it, that he might be the more easily got out of it, and not be in danger of losing his life at once, or of being drowned in it; or else to show the uncomfortable situation he was in, having not so much as a drop of water to refresh him; see Zac 9:11. Dothan is said to remain to this day, and the inhabitants of it show the ancient ditch into which Joseph was cast (u).
(u) Bunting's Travels, p. 80.

They call him into a pit - To perish there with hunger and cold; so cruel were their tender mercies.