Topical Bible: Midianites: Buy Joseph and Sell Him to Potiphar

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The Midianites, descendants of Midian, a son of Abraham by his concubine Keturah (Genesis 25:1-2), play a significant role in the biblical narrative of Joseph, one of the twelve sons of Jacob. The Midianites were a nomadic people, often associated with trade and commerce, traversing the regions of the Arabian Peninsula and the Sinai.

In the account of Joseph, the Midianites are instrumental in the unfolding of God's providential plan for the nation of Israel. Joseph, favored by his father Jacob, incurs the jealousy and hatred of his brothers, who conspire against him. Initially, they plot to kill him, but Reuben, the eldest, persuades them to throw Joseph into a pit instead, intending to rescue him later (Genesis 37:21-22).

While Joseph is in the pit, a caravan of Ishmaelites, often identified interchangeably with the Midianites due to their close association and similar nomadic lifestyle, approaches. The brothers see an opportunity to rid themselves of Joseph without shedding blood. Judah suggests selling Joseph to the traders, saying, "Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay a hand on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh" (Genesis 37:27). The brothers agree, and Joseph is sold for twenty shekels of silver (Genesis 37:28).

The Midianites, acting as intermediaries in this transaction, take Joseph to Egypt. There, they sell him to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard (Genesis 37:36). This act of selling Joseph into slavery sets the stage for his eventual rise to power in Egypt, where he becomes a key figure in God's plan to preserve the Israelites during a severe famine.

The involvement of the Midianites in Joseph's account highlights the complex interplay of human actions and divine sovereignty. While the brothers' intentions were malicious, God used their actions to bring about His purposes, as Joseph later acknowledges to his brothers: "As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives" (Genesis 50:20).

The Midianites' role in this narrative underscores their historical presence as traders and their impact on the unfolding of biblical history. Their interaction with Joseph serves as a reminder of the broader networks of trade and cultural exchange in the ancient Near East, as well as the mysterious ways in which God orchestrates events to fulfill His promises.

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Genesis 37:28,36
Then there passed by Midianites merchants; 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.
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Here Beginneth the History of Joseph and his Brethren
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