Then they sat down to eat: translators may find this sentence fits best as concluding the episode of throwing of Joseph into the cistern. In that case it will be linked with verse 24, and a new paragraph will begin at verse 25b. Good News Translation begins a new paragraph with “While they were eating….” In some languages a transition is required between putting Joseph in the cistern and the brothers sitting down to eat. We may say, for example, at the beginning of verse 25, “After the brothers had put him into the cistern, they sat down to eat” or “After that was done, they sat down and began to eat.”
Looking up they saw is literally “They lifted their eyes and looked and behold,” where “behold” draws the attention of readers to what they saw. Good News Translation says “they suddenly saw.”
A caravan of Ishmaelites … Gilead: caravan in this context means a group or company of merchant traders traveling with camels across the country. The Hebrew is literally as in Revised Standard Version, which King James Version renders “a traveling company of Ishmaelites.” In its literal sense Ishmaelites refers to descendants of Ishmael, but it is their occupation as traders or merchants that is important here. Traders are people who transport merchandise to other areas to sell. If the term Ishmaelite is retained in translation, it is helpful to call these people “Ishmaelite traders”; but see comments below at verse 28. Gilead is the mountainous region east of the Jordan river in what is now modern Jordan. It lay on the main trade route from the Gulf of Aqaba to Damascus, and its inhabitants controlled access to that area.
Bearing gum, balm, and myrrh: gum and balm are two kinds of resin or sap taken from certain trees. Myrrh is also an aromatic or scented gum. It was used in incense (Exo 30.23) and as a perfume for clothing (Psa 45.8). See also Pro 7.17. It was particularly important in Egypt, where it was used in the embalming or preserving of dead human bodies. All three of these articles seem to have been in demand for sweet smelling incense and perfume. Good News Translation renders the whole expression “loaded with spices and resins.” If Good News Translation will not serve as a translation model, it is possible to say, for example, “loaded with things that give food special flavors and that give off pleasant smells.”
To carry it down to Egypt: this information may fit better immediately following the place of origin of the traders, Gilead. In that case we may say “coming from Gilead and going to Egypt.”
Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .