Genesis 39:7

_AND IT CAME TO PASS AFTER THESE THINGS, THAT HIS MASTER'S WIFE CAST HER EYES UPON JOSEPH; AND SHE SAID, LIE WITH ME._ His master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph. Egyptian women were not kept in the same secluded manner as females are in most Oriental countries now. They were treated in a manner more worthy of a civilized people-in fact, enjoyed as much freedom both at home and abroad as ladies do in Britain. Hence, Potiphar's wife had constant opportunity of meeting Joseph. But the ancient women of Egypt were very loose in their morals. Intrigues and intemperance were vices very prevalent among the sex, as the monuments too plainly attest. Wilkinson, 'Herodotus,' b. 2:, ch. 3; 'Cambridge Essays,' 1858, pp. 234, 235, give instances of the general dissoluteness of the women, and their unfaithfulness to the nuptial bond. Potiphar's wife was probably not worse than many of the same rank;...

7._Lie with me _(145) Moses only briefly touches upon the chief points, and the sum of the things he relates. For there is no doubt that this impure woman endeavored, by various arts, to allure the pious youth, and that she insinuated herself by indirect blandishments, before she broke forth to such a shameless kind of license. But Moses, omitting other things, shows that she had been pushed so far by base lust, as not to shrink from openly soliciting a connection with Joseph. Now as this filthiness is a signal proof that carnal lust acts from blind and furious impulses; so, in the person of Joseph, an admirable example of fidelity and continence is set before us. His fidelity and integrity appear in this, that he acknowledges himself to be the more strictly bound, the greater the power with which he is entrusted. Ingenuous and courageous men have this property, that the more is confided...

7-12 Beauty either in men or women, often proves a snare both to themselves and others. This forbids pride in it, and requires constant watchfulness against the temptation that attends it. We have great need to make a covenant with our eyes, lest the eyes infect the heart. When lust has got power, decency, and reputation, and conscience, are all sacrificed. Potiphar's wife showed that her heart was fully set to do evil. Satan, when he found he could not overcome Joseph with the troubles and the frowns of the world, for in them he still held fast his principle, assaulted him with pleasures, which have ruined more than the former. But Joseph, by the grace of God, was enabled to resist and overcome this temptation; and his escape was as great an instance of the Divine power, as the deliverance of the three children out of the fiery furnace. This sin was one which might most easily beset hi...

- 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 Joseph fares well with his first master. “Potiphar.” This is a racapitulation of the narrative in Genesis 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...

EXPOSITION GENESIS 39:7 AND IT CAME TO PASS AFTER THESE THINGS,—Joseph had by this time been nearly ten years in Potiphar's house (vide Genesis 41:46)—THAT HIS MASTER'S WIFE CAST HER EYES (lasciviously) UPON JOSEPH; AND SHE SAID, LIE WITH ME. According to monumental evidence and historical testimony (Herod; 2.111), Egyptian females, even though married, were distinguished for licentiousness and immorality, and were not condemned to live in seclusion (Bohlen), but were allowed freely to mix in promiscuous society, which facts perfectly account for Joseph's temptation by his mistress. GENESIS 39:8,...

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 frequently fed her eyes with amorous glances at him; AND at length being fired with lust, and having an opportunity, SHE SAID, to him, in a bold and impudent manner, in plain words, having given signs and hints, and dropped expressions tending thereto before, as it is probable: LIE WITH ME; now directly, there being both opportunity and convenience, perhaps her chamber was near: this was a very great temptation to a young man in single life and living well, from his mistress, who had it greatly in her power to make him should he consent, or ruin him should he deny....

CHAPTER 39 JOSEPH IN EGYPT _ 1. In Potiphar's house (Genesis 39:1)_ 2. Tempted by Potiphar's wife (Genesis 39:7) 3. Joseph in prison (Genesis 39:19) Potiphar, the master of Joseph, was an officer of Pharaoh. His name means “devoted to Ra,” a god of Egypt. Why is it stated a number of times that Potiphar was an Egyptian? Discoveries have shown that Egypt had come at that time under a new dynasty; therefore it is repeatedly stated that Potiphar, the Egyptian, was retained in his official position. Joseph in Egypt is the type of Christ among the Gentiles. Jehovah blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake. The temptation of Potiphar's wife brings out the marvelous character of Jos

GENESIS 39. JOSEPH REPELS HIS MASTER'S WIFE, AND IS IMPRISONED ON HER FALSE ACCUSATION. This section is from J with touches from E. It is generally agreed that Potiphar. guard is an insertion in Genesis 39:1. J represents Joseph as sold to an unnamed Egyptian; the governor of the prison is also unnamed. According to E, Joseph is sold to Potiphar the captain of the guard, and attends, not as himself a prisoner, but as Potiphar's slave (_cf. Genesis 41:12_), to the officers who are in custody in the house. Clearly, Joseph's mistress cannot have been the wife of Potiphar the captain of the guard, who entrusts him with the service of Pharaoh's officers (Genesis 40:4). The identification is made in Genesis 39 to harmonise the

2. _Joseph as Prisoner in Egypt_ (Genesis 39:1 to Genesis 41:45). 39 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. 2 And Jehovah was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that Jehovah was with him, and that Jehovah made all that he did to prosper in his hand. 4 And Joseph found favor in his sight, and he ministered unto him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. 5 And it came to pass from the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that Jehovah blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessi

39:7 cast (a-13) Lit. 'raised.'...