Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 37:28

28 Then there passed by Midianites Merchantmen, and they drew and lift up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt.

This story seems a little involved, and the persons to whom he was sold doubtful. Here seem to be two, if not three, sorts of Merchants mentioned, Ishmaelites, and Midianites here, and Medanites, as it is in the Hebrew ver. 36. which were a distinct people from the Midianites, as descending from Medan, when the Midianites descended from Midian, both Abrahams Sons, Gen. 25. 2. The business may be accommodated divers ways, either 1. the same persons or people are promiscuously called both Ishmaelites and Midianites, as they also are Iudg. 8. 1, 24, 28. either because they were mixed together in their dwellings, and by marriages: or because they were here joyned together and made one Caravan or company of merchants. And the Text may be read thus, And the Midianite merchant-men (either the same who are called Ishmaelites, ver. 27. or others being in the same company with them) passed by, and they (i. e. not the Merchant-men, but Iosephs brethren spoken of ver. 27. the relative being referred to the remoter antecedent, as it is frequently in the Scripture) li[illegible: 1+ letters]t up Ioseph and sold him to the Ishmaelites or Midianites, &c. or 2. the persons may be distinguished, and the story may very well be conceived thus, The Ishmaelites are going to Egypt, and are discerned at some distance by Iosephs brethren, while they were discoursing about their brother. In the time of their discourse the Midianites, who seem to be coming from Egypt, coming by the pit and hearing Iosephs cries there, pull him out of the pit, and sell him to the Ishmaelites, who carry him with them into Egypt. There they sell him to the Medanites, though that, as many other historical passages, be omitted in the sacred story. And the Medanites, or Midianites, if you please, onely supposing them to be other persons then those mentioned, ver. 28. which is but a fair and reasonable supposition, sell him to Potiphar.

Marginal references: Psal. 105. 17. Wisd. 10. 13. Act. 7. 9.; See Mat. 27. 9.