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Genesis 37:28 - Brothers sell Yosef to Egypt

Genesis 37:28 - בראשית 37:28

Hebrew Text

וַיַּעַבְרוּ אֲנָשִׁים מִדְיָנִים סֹחֲרִים וַיִּמְשְׁכוּ וַיַּעֲלוּ אֶת־יוֹסֵף מִן־הַבּוֹר וַיִּמְכְּרוּ אֶת־יוֹסֵף לַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִים בְּעֶשְׂרִים כָּסֶף וַיָּבִיאוּ אֶת־יוֹסֵף מִצְרָיְמָה׃

English Translation

And his brothers hearkened to him. Then there passed by Midyanim, merchants; and they drew and lifted up Yosef out of the pit, and sold Yosef to the Yishme᾽elim for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Yosef into Miżrayim.

Transliteration

Va'ya'avru anashim Midyanim socharim va'yimsh'chu va'ya'alu et-Yosef min-habor va'yimk'ru et-Yosef laYishm'elim b'esrim kasef va'yavi'u et-Yosef Mitzrayma.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיַּֽעַבְרוּ֩ אֲנָשִׁ֨ים מִדְיָנִ֜ים סֹֽחֲרִ֗ים וַֽיִּמְשְׁכוּ֙ וַיַּֽעֲל֤וּ אֶת־יוֹסֵף֙ מִן־הַבּ֔וֹר וַיִּמְכְּר֧וּ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֛ף לַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִ֖ים בְּעֶשְׂרִ֣ים כָּ֑סֶף וַיָּבִ֥יאוּ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֖ף מִצְרָֽיְמָה׃
וַיַּֽעַבְרוּ֩ אֲנָשִׁ֨ים מִדְיָנִ֜ים סֹֽחֲרִ֗ים וַֽיִּמְשְׁכוּ֙ וַיַּֽעֲל֤וּ אֶת־יוֹסֵף֙ מִן־הַבּ֔וֹר וַיִּמְכְּר֧וּ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֛ף לַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִ֖ים בְּעֶשְׂרִ֣ים כָּ֑סֶף וַיָּבִ֥יאוּ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֖ף מִצְרָֽיְמָה׃

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Parasha Commentary

The Sale of Yosef: A Closer Look at the Verse

The verse describes the pivotal moment when Yosef is sold to the Yishmaelim, setting in motion the chain of events that would lead to the Jewish people's descent into Mitzrayim. The Torah's wording here is precise and laden with meaning, as expounded by our Sages.

Who Were the Midyanim Merchants?

Rashi (Bereshit 37:28) explains that the Midyanim and Yishmaelim were two distinct groups who passed by at the same time. The Midyanim were merchants dealing in spices (as per their later description in Bereshit 37:25), while the Yishmaelim were carrying other goods. This explains why the verse first mentions the Midyanim drawing Yosef from the pit, but then states he was sold to the Yishmaelim.

The Price of Twenty Pieces of Silver

The amount of twenty silver pieces (kesef) carries significance. The Ramban (Bereshit 37:28) notes that this was the standard price for a young male slave, as later codified in the Torah (Vayikra 27:5). This demonstrates that Yosef was treated as mere merchandise, fulfilling his earlier dreams of superiority in a most humbling way.

Divine Providence in the Sale

The Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 84:17) highlights how this event was part of Hashem's plan:

  • The brothers initially planned to kill Yosef, but Reuven intervened to save him
  • They then decided to leave him in the pit, where he might perish naturally
  • The appearance of merchants at that exact moment allowed for Yosef's survival while still removing him from the family

The Role of the Pit

The Malbim emphasizes that being drawn from the pit represents Yosef's first salvation - from certain death to the possibility of life, albeit as a slave. This would begin his journey toward eventual greatness in Mitzrayim, demonstrating how Hashem's plans often unfold through seemingly negative events.

Lessons in Brotherly Relationships

The Kli Yakar (Bereshit 37:28) derives from this episode that even when brothers disagree, the bonds of family must never be broken to this extent. The sale of Yosef led to generations of suffering in Mitzrayim, teaching us the grave consequences of sinat chinam (baseless hatred) among brothers.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

The verse is referenced in the context of discussing the sale of Joseph by his brothers and the role of the Midianite merchants in bringing Joseph to Egypt.
📖 Sanhedrin 106a
The verse is cited in a discussion about the consequences of the brothers' actions and the eventual descent of the Israelites into Egypt.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Who were the Midyanim merchants mentioned in Genesis 37:28?
A: The Midyanim were descendants of Midyan, a son of Avraham and Keturah (Genesis 25:2). They were traveling merchants who passed by the pit where Yosef was thrown. According to Rashi, these were actually the brothers themselves who acted through the Midyanim merchants to distance themselves from directly selling Yosef.
Q: Why was Yosef sold for twenty pieces of silver?
A: The Torah specifies twenty pieces of silver because this was the standard price for a young male slave at that time, as referenced later in the Torah (Vayikra 27:5). The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 84:20) notes the significance of this amount as it parallels the twenty years Yosef would later be separated from his father.
Q: What is the significance of Yosef being brought to Egypt (Mitzrayim)?
A: Yosef being brought to Egypt sets in motion the events that would lead to the Jewish people's eventual descent and slavery there, fulfilling the prophecy given to Avraham (Bereishit 15:13). According to Ramban, this was part of Hashem's divine plan to prepare the way for the Jewish nation's formation and redemption.
Q: How could the brothers sell Yosef if it was forbidden?
A: The brothers rationalized their actions based on their mistaken belief that Yosef was a 'rodef' (pursuer) who threatened the future of the family (see Rashi on 37:18). However, the Talmud (Sanhedrin 6b) teaches that one must be extremely careful before judging someone as a rodef, as the brothers were later shown to be wrong in their assessment.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Yosef being sold?
A: This episode teaches that even difficult events are part of Hashem's plan, as Yosef later tells his brothers 'You meant evil against me, but G-d meant it for good' (Bereishit 50:20). The Midrash teaches that every detail - the pit, the merchants, the price - was orchestrated to fulfill a greater purpose in Jewish history.