John Gill Commentary Genesis 39:1

"And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh`s, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hand of the Ishmaelites, that had brought him down thither." — Genesis 39:1 (ASV)

And Joseph was brought down to Egypt
By the Ishmaelites, (Genesis 37:28) ; as in a following clause: and Potiphar an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian ;
as his name also shows, which signifies the fruit of Pot or Phut, that is, the son or grandson of one of that name ^F13 ; which might be common in Egypt, since it was the name of a son of Ham, (Genesis 10:6) , from whom the land of Egypt is called the land of Ham, (Psalms 105:23Psalms 105:27) (106:22) ; of this man and his offices, (See Gill on Genesis 37:36); he bought him :
that is, "Joseph", of the hands of the Ishmaelites, who had brought him down there ;
what they gave for him we know, but what they sold him for to Potiphar is not said; no doubt they got a good price for him, and his master had a good bargain too, as appears by what follows.

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FOOTNOTES:

• F13: Onomastic. Sacr. p. 671, 672.