 | VaYeshev |  |
|
| | 37:28 |
The strangers, who turned out to be Midianite traders approached, and [the brothers] pulled Joseph out of the well. They sold him to the Arabs for twenty pieces of silver. [These Midianite Arabs] were to bring Joseph to Egypt.
Vaya'avru anashim Midyanim socharim vayimshechu vaya'alu et-Yosef min-habor vayimkeru et-Yosef la-Yishme'elim be'esrim kasef vayavi'u et-Yosef Mitsraymah. |
| 37:29 |
When Reuben returned to the well, Joseph was no longer there. [Reuben] tore his clothes in grief.
Vayashav Re'uven el-habor vehineh eyn-Yosef babor vayikra et-begadav. |
|
Commentary:
Midianite traders
These were the Arabs mentioned in Genesis 37:28. When they approached, they were recognizable as Midianites (Ibn Ezra; Radak; cf. Josephus 2:3:3; Yov'loth 34:11). We thus see that the Midianites are called 'Arabs' (Ishmaelites; Judges 8:24). This might have been because Ishmael was identified with all his brothers (Genesis 25:18). Others say that the Ishmaelites and Midianites were two different groups, see other note on Genesis 37:28, 'the brothers'.
| the brothers
(Rashi). There is a tradition that they bought shoes with the money that they got for Joseph (Tanchuma 2; cf. Tzava'ath Zebulun 3:2). Some say that the brothers sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites, and the Ishmaelites to the Midianites (Rashi). According to others, it was the Midianites who took Joseph from the pit (Sefer HaYashar; Rashbam; Bachya). There is a tradition that Joseph was sold on Yom Kippur (Yov'loth 34:13).
|
|
Navigating the Bible
