INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 39 In this chapter the history returns to Joseph again, who being brought down to Egypt was sold to Potiphar, with whom he found favour, and who set him over his house, the Lord prospering everything in his hands, Genesis 39:1; and being a young man of a comely aspect, his... [ Continue Reading ]
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 m; which... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH,.... Blessing him with his gracious presence, with discoveries of his love, and communion with himself, though destitute of the means of grace and ordinances of worship he enjoyed in his father's house; favouring him with bodily health, and protecting him from all evils... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS MASTER SAW THAT THE LORD [WAS] WITH HIM,.... He knew nothing of the spiritual and gracious presence of God that was with him, he was no judge of that; but he perceived by the ingenuity of his mind, by his ready and speedy learning the Egyptian language, by his dexterity in business, and by t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JOSEPH FOUND GRACE IN HIS SIGHT,.... In the sight of his master, as he did in the sight of God, he had favour both with God and man; his master had a high esteem of him, and a great value for him, and showed him much kindness and respect: AND HE SERVED HIM; readily, willingly, cheerfully, and f... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS FROM THE TIME THAT HE HAD MADE HIM OVERSEER IN HIS HOUSE, AND OVER ALL THAT HE HAD,.... How long he was in this office is not certain; there must be some time for the following observation; and during all the time he was in it, it was easily discerned, THAT THE LORD BLESSED THE... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE LEFT ALL HE HAD IN JOSEPH'S HAND;.... His master took no care of anything, but committed all to him, trusted him with his money and with his accounts, and with the management of all his affairs; such confidence did he put in him; AND HE KNEW NOT AUGHT HE HAD, SAVE THE BREAD WHICH HE DID EAT;... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS AFTER THESE THINGS,.... After he was the overseer of his house; in which office, after he had been some time, so it was THAT HIS MASTER'S WIFE CAST HER EYES UPON JOSEPH; he being a handsome young man, caught her eye, and that her heart, and led her on to lust after him, and freq... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE REFUSED, AND SAID UNTO HIS MASTER'S WIFE,.... Reasoning with her about the evil nature of the crime she tempted him to, which to commit would be ingratitude, as well as injury to his master, and a sin against God; by which it appears that Joseph was a partaker of the grace of God, and that th... [ Continue Reading ]
[THERE IS] NONE GREATER IN THIS HOUSE THAN I,.... Not any of the servants of the house, he was the chief of them, who had all the rest under him; or rather, "he himself is not greater q in this house than I"; that is, his master was not greater than he: he had a greater propriety in the house and th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT AS SHE SPAKE TO JOSEPH DAY BY DAY,.... Continually, incessantly, hoping in time to prevail upon him to comply with her desires; so that the temptation, as it was strong, and very ensnaring, it was urgent, and frequent, and pressed with great importunity; which required the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS ABOUT THIS TIME,.... About a week, or a month, or rather a year, as Aben Ezra thinks, after she first began her solicitations to him. According to Josephus r, it was a public festival, at which women used to attend; but she excused herself, pretending illness; and so Jarchi takes... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE CAUGHT HIM BY HIS GARMENT, SAYING, LIE WITH ME,.... It is very probable that before this time, as soon as ever she began to speak to him, he got away as fast as he could, and would not hear her; wherefore she now laid hold on his garment, in order to detain him, that she might have time to p... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN SHE SAW THAT HE HAD LEFT HIS GARMENT IN HER HAND,.... And so all hopes of succeeding in her addresses to him were over: AND [HE] WAS FLED FORTH; into the streets, or into some out house, where business was carried on by servants under him.... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT SHE CALLED UNTO THE MEN OF HER HOUSE,.... Of that part of the house which belonged to her; her eunuchs that waited upon her, or that were in another part of the home, at some distance: AND SPAKE UNTO THEM; when they came to her: SAYING, SEE, HE HATH BROUGHT IN AN HEBREW UNTO US TO MOCK US: sh... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN HE HEARD THAT I LIFTED UP MY VOICE AND CRIED,.... He attempting to ravish her, as she would have it understood, but afraid, lest upon her outcry those that were in the house should come in to her assistance, and seize on him: THAT HE LEFT HIS GARMENT WITH ME, AND FLED, AND... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE LAID UP HIS GARMENT BY HER,.... As a proof of what she laid to his charge, and as a testimony against him: UNTIL HER LORD CAME HOME; or until his lord came home, for the pronoun refers to Joseph, and so Jarchi interprets it; who either was gone a journey, or gone to court that day, being an... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SHE SPAKE UNTO HIM ACCORDING TO THESE WORDS,.... When her husband came home she related to him the above affair, according to the purport of the above words, and in much the same manner, and to the same import as she had to the men of her house: SAYING, THE HEBREW SERVANT WHICH THOU HAST BROUGH... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS, AS I LIFTED UP MY VOICE AND CRIED,.... For help from the servants, and frightened at his insolent attempt: THAT HE LEFT HIS GARMENT WITH ME, AND FLED OUT; and then she brought it forth, and showed him it.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS, WHEN HIS MASTER HEARD THE WORDS OF HIS WIFE,.... The story she related concerning Joseph, which was her own invention, and a lie: WHICH SHE SPAKE UNTO HIM, SAYING, AFTER THIS MANNER DID THY SERVANT TO ME; attempting to violate her chastity, as she pretended: THAT HIS WRATH WAS... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JOSEPH'S MASTER TOOK HIM, AND PUT HIM INTO THE PRISON,.... Which was in or adjoining to his house, Genesis 40:3; of himself he had power to do this, as the captain of the guard; and as he was the chief of the executioners, as some take his office to be, it is much he did not in his passion deliv... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD WAS WITH JOSEPH,.... Comforting him with his presence under his afflictions; supporting him with his right hand; sanctifying all his troubles to him, and so causing him to bear them patiently and cheerfully: AND SHOWED HIM MERCY, AND GAVE HIM FAVOUR IN THE SIGHT OF THE KEEPER OF THE PR... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE KEEPER OF THE PRISON COMMITTED TO JOSEPH'S HAND ALL THE PRISONERS THAT [WERE] IN THE PRISONS,.... Who, as they were state prisoners, were a considerable charge; and this gave Joseph great honour, credit, and influence in the prison: AND WHATSOEVER THEY DID THERE, HE WAS THE DOER [OF IT]; no... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KEEPER OF THE PRISON LOOKED NOT TO ANYTHING [THAT WAS] UNDER HIS HAND,.... Under the hand of Joseph; he did not inquire into and examine his conduct and management of things; he took no account of what was in his hands, nor required any of him; so satisfied was he with what he did, and had such... [ Continue Reading ]