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The Apparent Discrepancy in Genesis

The account of Joseph’s sale into slavery in Genesis presents what some critics claim is a contradiction. Genesis 37:25-28 and Genesis 37:36 mention both Ishmaelites and Midianites in ways that seem interchangeable.

“Then they sat down to eat a meal. And they raised their eyes and looked, and behold, a caravan of Ishmaelites was coming from Gilead, with their camels carrying labdanum gum, balsam, and resin, going to bring them down to Egypt. So Judah said to his brothers, ‘What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood? Come, and let’s sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh.’ And his brothers listened to him. Then some Midianite traders passed by, so they pulled Joseph out and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. So they brought Joseph into Egypt.” (Genesis 37:25-28)

Then in verse 36, we read:

“Meanwhile, the Midianites sold him in Egypt to Potiphar, Pharaoh’s officer, the captain of the bodyguard.” (Genesis 37:36)

This raises the question: Were the buyers Ishmaelites or Midianites? Furthermore, Genesis 39:1 states that the Ishmaelites sold Joseph to Potiphar.

“Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an Egyptian officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the bodyguard, bought him from the Ishmaelites, who had taken him down there.” (Genesis 39:1)

These verses seem to shift between Ishmaelites and Midianites, leading some to claim this is evidence of multiple sources being spliced together.

Understanding the Relationship Between the Ishmaelites and Midianites

To resolve this issue, it is necessary to understand the historical and genealogical connection between these two groups. Ishmael and Midian were half-brothers, both being sons of Abraham. Ishmael was born to Hagar, and Midian was a son of Keturah, whom Abraham took as a wife after Sarah’s death. (Genesis 16:15; 25:1-4) Their descendants, the Ishmaelites and Midianites, were nomadic traders, frequently intermarrying and traveling together.

The interchangeable use of these terms is further supported by later biblical passages. In the days of Gideon, the Midianites are referred to in a way that suggests they were closely associated with the Ishmaelites:

“And Gideon said to them, ‘I will make a request of you: Give me each a ring from his plunder.’ (For they had gold rings, because they were Ishmaelites.)” (Judges 8:24)

This verse identifies Midianite raiders as Ishmaelites, confirming that the two groups were considered related or even functionally identical in some contexts.

Did the Midianites Sell Joseph to the Ishmaelites?

A likely explanation is that the Midianites acted as middlemen in the transaction. The Midianite traders may have first removed Joseph from the pit and then sold him to the Ishmaelite caravan that was heading toward Egypt. The final transaction was completed when the Ishmaelites sold Joseph to Potiphar.

This is similar to modern business transactions where goods pass through multiple parties before reaching their final destination. If a product is manufactured in one country, distributed by an international supplier, and then sold by a local retailer, different sources may describe the same sale differently.

In Genesis 37:28, we see that Joseph’s brothers sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver, but it was Midianite traders who physically pulled him from the pit. The passage does not say whether the Midianites were working for the Ishmaelites or if they negotiated separately. The most reasonable conclusion is that both groups were involved in the sale process, with the Ishmaelites ultimately taking Joseph to Egypt.

Why the Emphasis on Ishmaelites in Genesis 39:1?

Genesis 39:1 specifies that it was the Ishmaelites who delivered Joseph to Potiphar in Egypt. This makes sense because the Ishmaelites were more widely known as long-distance traders and caravan merchants. While the Midianites were active in trade, they were often more localized. Since Joseph ended up in Egypt, the text emphasizes the Ishmaelites as the ones who completed the final sale.

Was This an Example of the Documentary Hypothesis?

Some critics argue that the use of both “Midianites” and “Ishmaelites” suggests multiple authors compiling conflicting accounts. This is a common argument from those who support the Documentary Hypothesis, which claims that Genesis was compiled from different sources (J, E, P, and D). Scholars such as E.A. Speiser argue that one source referred to the Ishmaelites while another referred to the Midianites, leading to an editorial inconsistency.

However, this argument fails to consider the evidence of biblical and historical usage. As noted, the Midianites and Ishmaelites were closely related, and even later biblical passages show interchangeable terminology (Judges 8:24). If different authors had conflicting traditions about Joseph’s sale, we would expect clearer distinctions rather than such a natural blending of the terms.

Furthermore, the structure of Genesis does not indicate separate sources spliced together, but rather a cohesive account written with careful literary design. The repetition of details is common in Hebrew narrative style, which often revisits events with additional clarifications rather than strictly linear storytelling.

Conclusion

The supposed contradiction between Ishmaelites and Midianites is resolved when we recognize the interchangeable use of these terms in biblical history. The Midianites and Ishmaelites were closely related, often intermarried, and engaged in trade together. The most likely scenario is that the Midianites first removed Joseph from the pit and then sold him to the Ishmaelite caravan, which transported him to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar.

This explanation aligns with the linguistic patterns of the Old Testament and negates the need for speculative theories about multiple sources. The account remains historically consistent and accurately reflects the realities of trade and tribal relations in the ancient Near East.

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About the author

EDWARD D. ANDREWS (AS in Criminal Justice, BS in Religion, MA in Biblical Studies, and MDiv in Theology) is CEO and President of Christian Publishing House. He has authored over 220+ books. In addition, Andrews is the Chief Translator of the Updated American Standard Version (UASV).