Genesis 37:27-29

Contemporary English Version

²⁷Let's sell him to the Ishmaelites and not harm him. After all, he is our brother.” And the others agreed.

²⁸^(A) When the Midianite merchants came by, Joseph's brothers took him out of the well, and for 20 pieces of silver they sold him to the Ishmaelites^[a] who took him to Egypt.

²⁹When Reuben returned to the well and did not find Joseph there, he tore his clothes in sorrow.

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Footnotes

37.28 Midianite … Ishmaelites: According to 25.1,2, 12 both the Midianites and the Ishmaelites were descendants of Abraham, and in Judges 8.22-24 the two names are used of the same people. It is possible that in this passage “Ishmaelite” has the meaning “nomadic traders,” while “Midianite” refers to their ethnic origin.