Bible Strands
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.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator recounts the brothers' immediate action following their agreement to sell Joseph. The moment occurs as Midianite traders pass by the pit where Joseph was left.
The words — The text highlights וַ/יִּמְשְׁכוּ֙ (va/i.yim.she.Khu), meaning "and they drew," alongside וַ/יַּֽעֲל֤וּ (va/i.ya.'a.Lu), meaning "and they brought up." These verbs describe the physical extraction of Joseph from the pit before the sale.
The thread — Acts 7:9 and Psalms 105:17 cite this transaction as the event that placed Joseph in Egypt. Genesis 25:2 supplies the genealogical link between the Midianite traders and Abraham’s son Midian.
Why it lands — The passage records a calculated betrayal executed through a commercial transaction. It requires the reader to track how human malice operates within the narrative before any theological interpretation is applied.
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
King James Version
Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.
Cross-references
- Acts 7:9 Because the patriarchs were jealous of Joseph, they sold him as a slave into Egypt. But God was with him
- Psalms 105:17 He sent a man before them—Joseph, sold as a slave.
- Genesis 25:2 and she bore him Zimran, Jokshan, Medan, Midian, Ishbak, and Shuah.
- Genesis 45:4 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near me.” And they did so. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt!
- 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.
- Genesis 37:36 Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard.
- Judges 6:1 Again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD; so He delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years,
- Matthew 26:15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand Him over to you?” And they set out for him thirty pieces of silver.
- Exodus 2:16 Now the priest of Midian had seven daughters, and they came to draw water and fill the troughs to water their father’s flock.
- Numbers 25:15 And the name of the slain Midianite woman was Cozbi, the daughter of Zur, a tribal chief of a Midianite family.