KJV ORIGINAL
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.
Close to the original. Clear modern English.
✦ MADE SIMPLE
When some Midianite traders came by, Joseph's brothers pulled him up out of the pit and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver. The traders then took Joseph to Egypt.
⚡ THE BOTTOM LINE
This verse describes the moment Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery to traveling merchants, who took him to Egypt.
📚 Historical Context
This event occurred around 1900-1700 BC when Joseph was about 17 years old. The Midianites and Ishmaelites were nomadic trading peoples who traveled established trade routes between Canaan and Egypt, dealing in spices, goods, and slaves. Twenty pieces of silver was the standard price for a young male slave at that time.
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