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NASB | Genesis 37:28 Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled him up and lifted Joseph out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. Thus they brought Joseph into Egypt. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Genesis 37:28 Then as the Midianite [and Ishmaelite] traders were passing by, the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and they sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And so they took Joseph [as a captive] into Egypt. |
Bible Question: Why are the Ishmaelites and the Midianites be taken as the same people? Both were sons of Abraham but by two different women. Ishmael by Hagar and Midian by Keturah. They are two different tribes. |
Bible Answer: Another possible explanation is that the term "Ishmaelites" referred only to descendants of Ishmael (who were apparently wandering traders); I don't believe there is a "land of Ishmael" mentioned anywhere in Scripture. In contrast, the term "Midianites" appears to have a broader meaning referring to people living in the land of the descendants of Midian -- just as the "Canaanites" lived in the land of Canaan. This seems supported by the fact that Moses father-in-law Jethro-Reuel was "Midianite" yet not offensive to God (Numbers 10:29). Moses married his daughter Zipporah (Exodus 2:21), and invited his son Hobab to come with the Israelites (Numbers 10:29). Yet an Israelite was later slain for having relations with a Midianite and the Midianites were considered enemies of Israel (Numbers 25:6-18). There were clearly 2 working definitions for "Midianite". Since there's no indication of sufficient relationship between Joseph's brothers and the traders to indicate actual knowledge of their ancestry, it appears that they were dressed and-or spoke like Ishmaelites and were coming from Midian and-or spoke like Midianites. The exact identity of the traders does not appear to be of particular importance. Rather it is their function-vocation as traders traveling to Egypt who would be willing to purchase and sell slaves. |
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Questions and/or Subjects for Gen 37:28 | Author | ||
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joemamma | ||
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kalos | ||
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Brent Douglass | ||
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Hellboy666 | ||
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Hana | ||
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restate | ||
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chrisie |