Baptists/who sold joseph?

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Expert: - 12/10/2006


Question
its  not clear to me who pulled joseph out of the pit nor who sold joseph to potiphar.as witnessed by the follwing chapters and verses.genesis chapter 37:27,37:28,37:36 and 39:1

Answer
Hi Robert,
   The answer is found in Genesis 37:28,  "Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmaelite for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt." (Genesis 37:28)
   It seems the merchants were a mixed company, made up of Ishmaelite, descendants of Ishmael, and Midianites, descendants of Midian who was Moses' son by his concubine, Keturah.    

   Some think that Moses interchanged the names,  because Ishmealites and Midianites lived together in their villages and intermarried.  Here in Genesis 37 they are shown together working as merchants.   So it may have been that they were called by either name Ishmealite or Midianite.

  Some think that they were two groups in the caravan and that the Midianites took Jospeh out of the pit, but it was the Ishmealites who actually purchased him.   That seems to be the most likely answer.   A principle of biblical hermeneutics (interpretation) is to accept the simpliest explanation.
  The answer is though...we just do not know.   A good student of the Bible when he comes upon such a passage, just gives the different theories and is not dogmatic.
  Hope this helps... If you have further questions or comments please write.
Cooper Abrams
http://bible-truth.org

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Cooper P. Abrams III

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Independent Fundamental Baptist missionary and pastor, ThB, MBS. I began pastoring in 1981, and have taught in churches, a Bible college, and a Bible Institute. I have written numerous articles on various subjects from a biblical perspective and many are posted on my web site Bible Truth ( http://www.bible-truth.org ). Bible Truth receives over sixty thousand visits per month. Since 1998 I have answered Bible related questions via e-mail. My answers are straight forward and biblical. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE -----DO NOT ASK A QUESTION AND THEN NOT READ THE ANSWER! ABOUT FOUR IN TEN QUESTIONS ASKED ARE NEVER READ. I FREELY GIVE MY TIME TO GIVE HELPFUL ANSWERS. OFTEN THE ANSWER WILL REQUIRE AS MUCH AS A HOUR OR MORE TO RESEARCH AND THEN TO FORMULATE THE REPLY. IF YOU SEND A QUESTION PLEASE BE THOUGHTFUL ENOUGH TAKE THE TIME TO READ IT. MOST PEOPLE DO...BUT ALL SHOULD. THANKS

Experience

I have been a pastor since 1981 and a Independent Baptist missionary church planter since 1986. I have seen the Lord establish four Bible believing churches in Utah. My web site Bible Truth ( http:\\bible-truth.org ) continues to grow presently over 60,000 visits per month. The materials on the web site are mostly written by myself and contain sermons, Bible commentaries, articles on various biblical subjects.

Publications
- Appeared on Grizzly Adams DVD documentary "End Times: How Close Are We?" (http://www.grizzlyadams.com/Public/ChristianDVDs/index.cfm?productID=49). - Article "Are Mormons Christians" "O Timothy Magazine" Way of Life Literature (http://www.wayoflife.org/files/9959c77e05b303248173195e72476459-60.html)

Education/Credentials
ThB and MBS from Piedmont Baptist College, Winston-Salem, NC

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