Why was Joseph sold for only 20 pieces of silver?

Answer 1

The Scripture plainly states that Joseph was sold to Midianites for 20 shekels of silver (Genesis 37:28). But the question is why and the Scripture does not directly say. However, the reader may infer that 20 shekels was the going rate at that time but that does not reconcile with later Israelite law for 30 shekels found in Exodus 21:32. The reader may consider the Midianites (term used interchangeably with Ishmaelites as both were sons of Abraham and wandering Arab traders) coming upon this scene sensed foul play and bargained for the lesser price for their silence. Conjecture but plausible with the ways of men, even today.

In any event, the reader can see how commentaries and the above explaination are only the views of someone and not direct from Scripture which is silent on this topic - yet provides enough information for these differing viewpoints.

Answer 2

Joseph was sold for 20 pieces of silver because his brothers' initial plan was to kill him, but instead they decided to sell him to a passing caravan of traders for that amount of money. The brothers saw an opportunity to get rid of Joseph without shedding blood and make a profit at the same time.

Answer 3

Many commentators have noted that it is not absolutely clear from the text who exactly did what to Joseph. Genesis 37:27 says the brothers planned to take Joseph out of the pit and sell him to the Ishmaelites. Genesis 37:28 suggests the Midianites took Joseph out of the pit and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty pieces of silver, and the Ishmaelites sold him into Egypt. Genesis 37:36 says that the Midianites themselves sold him into Egypt, without disclosing the price received. Genesis 39:1 seems to agree that the Ishmaelites were the ones who took Joseph into Egypt. Either there were two separate traditions that became conflated in this account, or it became garbled in the writing.

Robert Sacks cogently examines the three leading interpretative alternatives:

1. The brothers took Joseph out of the pit and sold him to the Midianites, who in turn sold him to the Ishmaelites (the traditional reading).
2. There were originally two textual versions, now intermixed: in one, the Midianites sold Joseph, and in the other, the Ishmaelites did it (the modern scholarly reading).
3. The Midianites drew Joseph out of the pit and sold him into Egypt via the intermediacy of the Ishmaelites, but without the knowledge or participation of the brothers. In other words, the Midianites had the same idea that Judah had had, but beat him to it.

Answer 4

Leviticus chapter 27:1-8

Redeeming What is the Lord's