John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:29
And Reuben returned unto the pit ,.... It is very probable he had pretended to go somewhere on business, with an intention to take a circuit, and come to the pit and deliver his brother, and go home with him to his father. The Jews say F2 Pirke Eliezer, ut supra. (c. 38.) he departed from his brethren, and sat down on a certain mountain, that he might descend in the night and take Joseph out of the pit, and accordingly he came down in the night, and found him not. So Josephus F3 ... read more
John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 37:28
Then there passed by Midianites, merchantmen ,.... The same with the Ishmaelites before mentioned, as appears from the latter part of this verse; for as these were near neighbours, so they might join together in merchandise, and travel in company for greater safety, and are sometimes called the one, and sometimes the other, as well as they might mix together in their habitations and marriages; and are hence called Arabians by the Targums, as before observed, and so by Josephus, which... read more