At this point the story becomes confusing for the following reasons:
(1) Verses 25-27 have referred only to Ishmaelites; but here in verse 28 the Midianites appear to be the ones who pull Joseph out of the cistern and sell him to the Ishmaelites.
(2) Here in verse 28 the Ishmaelites take Joseph to Egypt; however, in verse 36 it is the Midianites who sell Joseph to the Egyptian, Potiphar.
Some interpreters understand that verses 18-30 consist of text that has been taken from two sources which were originally separate, and which have been combined into the story as we have it in Genesis. This combining of two parallel versions of how Joseph was taken to Egypt has given rise to the confusion between the two groups, who were called Ishmaelites in one source and Midianites in the other. Bible dictionaries suggest that both names were probably used in a general sense for a group of related tribes, and so they may have had practically the same meaning for those who first heard and used Genesis. (Thus, for instance, the entry k Midianitesk* in Harper’s Bible Dictionary, page 634.) This is supported by the way the two names are used to refer to the one group of people in Judges 8.22-24.
If we accept this view, there was only one group of traders involved, not two; and translators are advised to make sure that their readers understand this. One way of doing this is to use a general descriptive term such as “traders” in place of both names, “Ishmaelites” and “Midianites.” (And a footnote may explain this translation, if appropriate.) Another way is to use just one of the names throughout the story, either “Midianites” or “Ishmaelites” (again with a footnote, if appropriate). It is also possible, but less satisfactory, to keep both names in the text but rely on a footnote to explain that the two different names really refer to the same group of people. Some translations say “Ishmaelites who were Midianites.”
Then Midianite traders passed by: Then represents the usual Hebrew connective, which here serves to shift the focus of the story from the brothers to another group who came on the scene at that time. Anchor Bible and Revised English Bible render it as “Meanwhile…,” and New Jerusalem Bible “Now some Midianite merchants were passing.” A fuller link is made in the translation that says “While the brothers were talking, some Midianite businessmen came and saw Joseph in the hole.” Midianites literally means people from the area called Midian, which is east of the Gulf of Aqaba in Arabia; but see comments above about a more general sense.
And they drew Joseph up … out of the pit: they represents the Hebrew text. Note, however, that Good News Translation and some other versions say “the brothers pulled Joseph out.” If we accept that there was only one group of traders, they must refer to the brothers of Joseph, since to make it refer to the traders would result in the nonsense that they sold Joseph to themselves, unless other changes are made in the text. Accordingly translators are advised to translate so that they refers to Joseph’s brothers.
Sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver: for a discussion of the translation of shekel, see 23.15. According to Lev 27.5 twenty shekels is the standard value for setting free from a vow a young male of Joseph’s age. It is also possible to say in a footnote “This is the amount of money used to pay for a young male slave.”
They [the Ishmaelites] took Joseph to Egypt: in verse 36 the group that took Joseph to Egypt are called Midianites; however, see comments above about the two names.
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 .