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.
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.
This verse describes the moment Joseph's brothers sold him into slavery to traveling merchants, who took him to Egypt.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative of Genesis, Joseph was the favored son of Jacob, which sparked jealousy among his brothers and led them to plot against him by throwing him into a pit. When Midianite traders, who were nomadic merchants in the ancient Near East, passed by, Joseph's brothers sold him to them for twenty pieces of silver as a way to get rid of him. This event propelled Joseph into slavery in Egypt, setting the foundation for his future rise to power and the preservation of his family during famine.
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