The casting of a brother into the depths of the earth marks a dark threshold, transforming a plotted conspiracy into an act of physical violence. In this moment, Joseph is stripped of his humanity. The brothers treat him with profound callousness, ignoring his desperate pleas and handling him as though he were a mere inanimate object [נתינה לגר, ביאור יש״ר]. However, the physical execution of this act is not shared equally among all the brothers. The primary aggressor who physically seizes Joseph is Simeon [קיצור בעל הטורים, רד״ק, רבנו בחיי, צאינה וראינה], with Levi stepping in to assist him [מנחת שי]. As Joseph is cast into the depths, Simeon goes so far as to hurl stones down at him [הדר זקנים].
The physical condition of the pit is a critical detail, revealing both the immediate intentions of the brothers and the hidden dangers awaiting Joseph. The primary approach among commentators is that the brothers deliberately ensure the pit contains no water. Their goal is to uphold their mutual agreement not to commit direct murder; if Joseph were to drown, his blood would be on their hands [רשב״ם, רד״ק, העמק דבר, חזקוני, בכור שור]. Furthermore, the space is completely clear of large stones, ensuring his head will not be crushed upon impact [העמק דבר]. Since this event likely takes place during the heat of summer, their calculated hope is that he will simply succumb to thirst [קונטרס חיבה יתירה, ביאור שטיינזלץ].
Yet, while the pit is devoid of water, it is far from harmless. The depths are infested with venomous snakes and scorpions [רש״י, מזרחי, ריב״א, רא״ש, דעת זקנים]. The space is considered barren only because these creatures are not permanent fixtures, but transient predators crawling in and out of the subterranean cracks [שפתי חכמים, גור אריה, הדר זקנים]. The echoing sounds of their movement can even be heard from within the cavernous walls [שפתי כהן]. The presence of snakes carries a profound element of measure for measure. Just as the primordial snake sinned through malicious speech, Joseph, who had brought negative reports about his brothers to their father, is now cast into a den of serpents [כלי יקר, פרדס יוסף].
This deadly environment raises significant questions regarding the brothers' awareness. How could Reuben, whose secret intention is to save Joseph, allow him to be thrown into a pit of vipers? Furthermore, if the brothers later see Joseph survive such an ordeal, why do they not recognize it as an overt miracle proving his righteousness? The commentators explain that the brothers, including Reuben, are completely unaware of the venomous threat. The snakes and scorpions remain hidden within the rocky crevices of the pit's walls [רמב״ן, הכתב והקבלה, דברי דוד, צאינה וראינה]. Additionally, the pit is exceptionally deep, rendering its bottom entirely invisible to those standing above [תורה תמימה, פרדס יוסף]. Therefore, Joseph's survival is a deeply hidden miracle, a quiet testament to his merit that remains entirely unnoticed by his family [משכיל לדוד, חומש קה״ת].
On a conceptual level, the barren state of the pit serves as a striking allegory for the spiritual condition of the brothers themselves at that exact moment. The emptiness reflects their own internal void, devoid of the moral teachings of the Torah, which are traditionally compared to water. Had the life-giving waters of Torah been present within them, they would have recognized the profound severity of kidnapping and selling their own brother, and they would have recoiled from committing such a grievous sin [רבנו בחיי, שפתי כהן, חתם סופר, חומש קה״ת].