Genesis 37:25

And as they sat down to eat a meal, they looked up and saw a caravan of Ishmaelites coming from Gilead. Their camels were carrying spices, balm, and myrrh on their way down to Egypt.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The brothers, having just cast Joseph into an empty pit, pause to eat when they notice a merchant group approaching from Gilead.

The words — וַ/יִּשְׂאוּ עֵֽינֵי/הֶם (va/i.yis.'U 'ei.nei./Hem) literally means "and they lifted up their eyes," describing a physical shift of gaze. אֹרְחַת (o.re.Chat) specifically identifies the caravan or trade route they observe.

The thread — The listed cargo of balm, spices, and myrrh traveling to Egypt reappears in Genesis 43:11 as commanded provisions and in Jeremiah 8:22 as a geographic marker for healing.

Why it lands — The text records a specific commercial observation before any human decision follows, requiring a reader to track how ordinary trade details set the stage for the brothers' next calculated proposal.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וַיֵּשְׁבוּ֮va/i.ye.she.Vuand/ they sat down לֶֽאֱכָל־le./'e.khol-to/ eat לֶחֶם֒le.Chembread וַיִּשְׂא֤וּva/i.yis.'Uand/ they lifted up עֵֽינֵיהֶם֙'ei.nei./Hemeyes/ their וַיִּרְא֔וּva/i.yir.'Uand/ they saw וְהִנֵּה֙ve./hi.Nehand/ there!אֹרְחַ֣ת'o.re.Chata caravan of יִשְׁמְעֵאלִ֔יםyish.me.'e.LimIshmaelites בָּאָ֖הba.'Ah[was] coming מִגִּלְעָ֑דmi./gil.'Adfrom/ Gilead וּגְמַלֵּיהֶ֣םu./ge.ma.lei./Hemand/ camels/ their נֹֽשְׂאִ֗יםno.se.'Im[were] carrying נְכֹאת֙ne.khoTspice וּצְרִ֣יu./tze.Riand/ balm וָלֹ֔טva./Lotand/ myrrh הוֹלְכִ֖יםhol.Khimtraveling לְהוֹרִ֥ידle./ho.Ridto/ take [them] down מִצְרָֽיְמָה׃mitz.Ra.ye.ma/hEgypt/ towards

King James Version

And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh, going to carry it down to Egypt.

Cross-references

Genesis 37:28 So when the Midianite traders passed by, his brothers pulled Joseph out of the pit and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt.
Genesis 43:11 Then their father Israel said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Put some of the best products of the land in your packs and carry them down as a gift for the man—a little balm and a little honey, spices and myrrh, pistachios and almonds.
Jeremiah 8:22 Is there no balm in Gilead? Is no physician there? Why then has the health of the daughter of my people not been restored?
Genesis 16:11 The angel of the LORD proceeded: “Behold, you have conceived and will bear a son. And you shall name him Ishmael, for the LORD has heard your cry of affliction.
Jeremiah 46:11 Go up to Gilead for balm, O Virgin Daughter of Egypt! In vain you try many remedies, but for you there is no healing.
Genesis 25:1 Now Abraham had taken another wife, named Keturah,
Genesis 25:16 These were the sons of Ishmael, and these were their names by their villages and encampments—twelve princes of their tribes.
Genesis 31:23 So he took his relatives with him, pursued Jacob for seven days, and overtook him in the hill country of Gilead.
Genesis 37:36 Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.
Genesis 39:1 Meanwhile, Joseph had been taken down to Egypt, where an Egyptian named Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.