[Avodah] Joseph's Brothers: What went Wrong?

[Harvey Benton]

What exactly did Josef’s Brothers do wrong?  And what exactly did he have to forgive them for, in order for the AHMalchut not to have taken place?

BEIT DIN: 
We are told that the brothers convened a Beit Din to try Joseph for either: A. Being Mored BMalchut (either against Yaakov - the Gadol Hador, or Yehuda - the rightful heir to the Kingship).  Or B.  For being a rodef, indirectly attempting to kill them, by moisering to Yaakov; their fear being they would be cursed by Yaakov, and them dying (early), like what had happened to Rochel Imenu.

Mored BMalchut – Bet Din valid:
If the Beit Din was VALID, then what did the brothers do wrong?  Were they supposed to show mercy in the judgment Proceedings, or afterwards during the Sentencing?  
Procedings: We are told that a Sanhedrin who killed someone every 7 (or 70) years is considered a murderous court.  The Sanhedrin thus tried ways to find people not guilty of the death penalty.  Should the brothers have found a way to exempt Joseph from the death penalty?  Was this their crime?
Sentencing:  We are told, that the Brothers heard Joseph’s screams from the pit, and showed him no mercy, which would have been after the trial, and during execution of any (valid) sentence.  But since when is a Court supposed to listen to cries from a convicted defendant?  (If a convicted thief or murderer begs for mercy, should we listen?)

Mored BMalchut – Bet Din not valid:
If the Bet Din was not valid, perhaps because the brothers were Krovim, then why are we not told that their forming such a Bet Din and passing (a thus invalid judgment)  was what they did wrong?  (The Krovim issue might be explained by the fact that before the Torah was given, Krovim were perhaps not exempt from being on a Beit Din.  I find this hard to follow however, because if the Brothers claimed that they were not-Jewish in relation to their Beit Din/Krovim status, then why would they claim to be Jewish when it came to the eating of Aver Min Hachai, (e.g. eating from the animal while the animal was still moving)?  = Not consistent?)

Joseph as a Rodef/Moiser:
If someone goes to the Gadol Hador and moisers on you, is that person guilty of the death penalty?  If we are forbidden to approach legitimate authorities of ongoing possible illegal activity (in this case Aver Min Hachai) because we might be found guilty of being a Rodef, then the entire Justice System could not operate.  No one would inform Police or a Beit Din if the crime being committed potentially entailed the death penalty.  (I.e. Murderers would go free….)

Asarah Harugei Malchut:
So the question is, what exactly was Joseph supposed to forgive them for, in order for the AHMalchut not to have happened?
Further, the Brothers were involved in the deception of Yaakov, their Father (if not directly then indirectly).  Did Yaakov ever forgive them for this??

HB 

If anyone has any thoughts, please post.  HB