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Genesis 39:1
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Joseph a Slave in Egypt

1 Now Joseph had been taken adown to Egypt. And bPotiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, cbought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there.  
2 aThe Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.  
3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord amade all he did to prosper in his hand.  
4 So Joseph afound favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him boverseer of his house, and all that he had he put1 under his authority.  
5 So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that athe Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field.  
6 Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s1 hand, and he did not know what he had except for the2 bread which he ate. Now Joseph awas handsome in form and appearance.  
7 And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife1 cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, a“Lie with me.”  
8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand.
9 There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. aHow then can I do this great wickedness, and bsin against God?”  
10 So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he adid not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.  
11 But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside,
12 that she acaught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside.  
13 And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside,
14 that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has brought in to us a aHebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice.  
15 And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside.”
16 So she kept his garment with her until his master came home.
17 Then she aspoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me;  
18 so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.”
19 So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his aanger was aroused.  
20 Then Joseph’s master took him and aput him into the bprison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison.  
21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He agave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.  
22 And the keeper of the prison acommitted to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing.  
Commentaries:
Barnes' Notes
<< Genesis 38:30   Genesis 39:2 >>


Genesis 39:1-23

Joseph in Potiphar' s House

According to our reckoning, Perez and Zerah were born when Judah was in his twenty-eighth year, and therefore, Joseph in his twenty-fourth. Here, then, we go back seven years to resume the story of Joseph.

Genesis 39:1-6

Joseph fares well with his first master. "Potiphar." This is a racapitulation of the narrative in Gen. 37: "The Lord;" the God of covenant is with Joseph. "In the house." Joseph was a domestic servant. "And his master saw." The prosperity that attended all Joseph' s doings was so striking as to show that the Lord was with him. "Set him over" - made him overseer of all that was in his house. "The Lord blessed the Mizrite' s house." He blesses those who bless his own Genesis 12:3. "Beautiful in form and look" Genesis 29:17. This prepares the way for the following occurrence.

Genesis 39:7-10

Joseph resists the daily solicitations of his master' s wife to lie with her. "None greater in this house than I." He pleads the unreserved trust his master had reposed in him. He is bound by the law of honor, the law of chastity (this great evil), and the law of piety (sin against God). Joseph uses the common name of God in addressing this Egyptian. He could employ no higher pleas than the above.

Genesis 39:11-18

"At this day," the day on which the occurrence now to be related took place. "To do his business." He does not come in her way except at the call of duty. He hath brought in. She either does not condescend, or does not need to name her husband. "A Hebrew to mock us." Her disappointment now provokes her to falsehood as the means of concealment and revenge. A Hebrew is still the only national designation proper to Joseph Genesis 14:13. Jacob' s descendants had not got beyond the family. The term Israelite was therefore, not yet in use. The national name is designedly used as a term of reproach among the Egyptians Genesis 43:32. "To mock us," - to take improper liberties, not only with me, but with any of the females in the house. "I cried with a loud voice." This is intended to be the proof of her innocence Deuteronomy 22:24, Deuteronomy 22:27. "Left his garments by me;" not in her hand, which would have been suspicious.

Genesis 39:19-23

Her husband believes her story and naturally resents the supposed unfaithfulness of his slave. His treatment of him is mild. He puts him in ward, probably to stand his trial for the offence. The Lord does not forsake the prisoner. He gives him favor with the governor of the jail. The same unlimited trust is placed in him by the governor as by his late master.


 
<< Genesis 38:30   Genesis 39:2 >>

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