Genesis 37:36
Context37:36 Now 1 in Egypt the Midianites 2 sold Joseph 3 to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard. 4
Genesis 47:20
Context47:20 So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh. Each 5 of the Egyptians sold his field, for the famine was severe. 6 So the land became Pharaoh’s.
Genesis 47:22
Context47:22 But he did not purchase the land of the priests because the priests had an allotment from Pharaoh and they ate from their allotment that Pharaoh gave them. That is why they did not sell their land.


[37:36] 1 tn The disjunctive clause formally signals closure for this episode of Joseph’s story, which will be resumed in Gen 39.
[37:36] 2 tc The MT spells the name of the merchants as מְדָנִים (mÿdanim, “Medanites”) rather than מִדְיָנִים (midyanim, “Midianites”) as in v. 28. It is likely that the MT is corrupt at this point, with the letter yod (י) being accidentally omitted. The LXX, Vulgate, Samaritan Pentateuch, and Syriac read “Midianites” here. Some prefer to read “Medanites” both here and in v. 28, but Judg 8:24, which identifies the Midianites and Ishmaelites, favors the reading “Midianites.”
[37:36] 3 tn Heb “him”; the referent (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity.
[37:36] 4 sn The expression captain of the guard might indicate that Potiphar was the chief executioner.
[47:20] 5 tn The Hebrew text connects this clause with the preceding one with a causal particle (כִּי, ki). The translation divides the clauses into two sentences for stylistic reasons.
[47:20] 6 tn The Hebrew text adds “upon them.” This has not been included in the translation for stylistic reasons.