Overview
The Ishmaelites were the descendants of Ishmael, Abraham's son born to Hagar (Genesis 16). They became a prominent trading people in the ancient Near East, known for their merchant activities along major trade routes. In Genesis 37, the Ishmaelites play a crucial role when Joseph's brothers, initially planning to kill him, instead sell him to these merchants for twenty pieces of silver.
Key Scriptures
"Then Midianite merchants passed by. So the brothers pulled Joseph up out of the cistern and sold him for twenty shekels of silver to the Ishmaelites, who took him to Egypt" (Genesis 37:28, NIV).
"When Reuben returned to the cistern and saw that Joseph was not there, he tore his clothes" (Genesis 37:29, ESV).
"Then they got Joseph's robe, slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood" (Genesis 37:31, NIV).
Application
Recognize that God sovereignly uses even sinful human choices and unlikely circumstances to accomplish His redemptive purposes and faithfully guide His people toward their destiny.