Annotations on the Pentateuch, Psalms, Song of Songs, Biblical commentary 1 · Chapter 39
CHAP. XXXIX.
1, Ioseph being sold into Egypt, is there advanced in Potiphars house. 5, The Lord blesseth the house for Iosephs sake. 7, His Mistresse tempteth him to lye with her, but he refuseth and shunneth her. 15, She complaineth of Ioseph to the men of her house: 17, and fasly accuseth him to her husband, 19, who in anger casteth him into prison. 33, but God is with him there.
ANd Ioseph, was brought-downe to Egypt: and Potiphar an Eunuch of Pharaoh, the Provost Marshall, an Egyptian man, bought him; of the hand of the Ismaelites, which had brought him down thither. And Iehovah was with Ioseph, and hee was a prosperous man: and hee was, in the house of his Lord, the Egyptian. And his lord saw, that Iehovah was with him; and all that he did, Iehovah made-it prosper in his hand. And Ioseph found grace, in his eyes, and ministred to him: and hee made him over-seer, over his house, and all that he had, hee gave into his hand. And it was, from the time that hee had made him over-seer, in his house, and over all that he had; that Iehovah blessed the house of the Egyptian, for Iosephs sake: and the blessing of Iehovah, was upon al that he had, in the house, and in the field. And he left all that he had, in Iosephs hand: and hee knew not ought (that was) with him, save the bread which he did eate: and Ioseph was faire in forme, and fair in countenance.
And it was, after these things; that his lords wife lifted up her eyes, unto Ioseph: and she said, lye wth me. And he refused, & said unto his lords wife; Behold, my lord knoweth not what is with me in the house: and all that he hath, he hath given into my hand. There is not he greater in this house, then I: and he hath not kept-backe from me, any thing; but thee, because thou art his wife: and how shall I doe this great evill, and sinne against God? And it was, as shee spake to Ioseph, day by day: that he hearkned not unto her, to lye by her, to be with her. And it was, on a certaine like day; that hee went into the house, to doe his worke: and there was no man, of the men of the house, there in the house. And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he lest his garment in her hand; and fled, and got him out. And it was, when she saw; that he had left his garment, in her hand: and was fled, out. Then called she to the men of her house, and sayd unto them, saying; See, he hath brought-in unto us an Hebrue man, to mocke us: hee came-in unto me, to lie with me; and I called with a great voyce. And it was, when hee heard, that I lifted up my voice, and called: that he left his garment by me; and fled, and got him out. And she laid-up his garment by her: untill his lord came, unto his house. And she spake unto him, according to these words, saying: the Hebrue servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came-in unto me, to mockė mee. And it was, when I lift-up my voyce, and called; then left he his garment by mee, and fled out. And it was, when his lord heard the words of his wife: which she spake unto him, saying; according to these words, did thy servant unto mee: then his anger was kindled. And Iosephs lord, tooke him; and committed him into the tower house, a place where the Kings prisoners were bound: and he was there in the tower house. And Iehovah was with Ioseph, and extended mercy unto him: and gave him grace in the eyes of the chiefe keeper of the tower house. And the chiefe keeper of the tower house, committed to Iosephs hand, all the prisoners, that were in the tower house: and all that they did there; he, was the doer of it. The chief-keeper of the tower house, looked not to any thing at all, in his hand; because Iehovah was with him: and that which he did, Iehovah made it to prosper.
Annotations.
EGypt] in Hebrew, Mizraim, meaning the land of Mizraim: see Gen. 12. 10. God sent Ioseph before his brethren, for their preservation, Gen. 45. 5. 7. Potiphar] in Greeke, Pentephres. Provost Marshall] or Prince of the slayers: see Gen. 37. 36. Ismaelites] the Chaldee calleth them Arabians. See Gen. 37. 25.
Vers. 2. with Ioseph] and delivered him out of all his afflictions, Act. 7. 9. 10. The Chaldee saith, the word of the Lord was his helpe: So after in vers. 3. and 21. The like promise God maketh to every faithfull man, I will be with him in trouble: Psal. 91. 15. was in the house] that is, remained there, patiently bearing his servitude: and ranne not away, to his father againe. For in his masters house, and in prison, he continued thirteene yeeres, Gen. 37. 2. and 41 46. In the Iewish records it is said, that he served twelve moneths in Potiphars house, and was 12. yeeres in prison: Seder Olam, chap. 2.
Vers. 4. ministred] or served: in Greeke pleased. Ministration is a free service differing from slavery. made him overseer] or visiter: in Greek constituted him; which word is used in this sense; in Luk. 12. 44.
Vers. 5. from the time] so the Chaldee expounds the Hebrew phrase from then: the Greeke translateth it after.
Vers. 6. save the bread] this may be meant either of his ease and security, who cared for nothing; but to eate and drinke, leaving all the trouble of his house upon Ioseph: or, it excepteth bread, that is, meat and drinke, for that the Egyptians would not eate with the Hebrewes; see Gen. 43. 32.
V. 7. lifted up] that is, cast her eyes, or looked with impure affections and lust, which Christ condemneth for adulterie; Matt. 5. 28. So the Apostle speaketh of eyes full of adulterie, 2 Pet. 2. 14. The contrary was in Iob, Iob 31. 1. I made covenant with mine eyes; &c. Lye with mee] this sheweth the impudency of her face, such as Solomon warneth of, Proverb. 7. 13 18. And the dangerous assault of Ioseph, whom Satan tempteth now with pleasure; when he could not before overcome him with afflictions.
V. 9. not he] This may be meant of all the houshold, not any; or of his lord himselfe, in a respect, not he himselfe.
Vers. 10. day by day] or daily: Hebrew, day day; which the Greeke explaineth day after day: the Hebrew sometime addeth day and day: Hest. 3. 4. so the Greeke, in 2 Cor. 4. 16. to bee with her] in her company, so avoyding the occasions of evil. according to Solomons counsell, Remove thy way far from her; and come not nigh the doore of her house, Prov. 5. 8. This chastity of Ioseph, is here opposed to the unchast cariage of Iudah, in Gen. 38.
Vers. 11. on a certaine like day] so the Greeke explaineth the Hebrew phrase as this day: meaning, a day wherein his mistresse lusted after, or intised him. Or day, being put for time, (as in 2 Cor. 6. 2) the meaning may be, About this time. his worke] in Greeke, workes; which the Chaldee explaineth to be the searching of the writings of his accounts.
Vers. 12. got him out] or, went forth out: so in v. 15. The woman, whose heart is snares and nets, her hands, bands, is more bitter then death: but, he that is good before God, escapeth from her: Eccles. 7. 26.
V. 14. Hebrew] so she nameth him in contempt: for the Hebrews were abhorred of the Egyptians, Gen. 43. 32. but it was indeed a name of honour; see Gen. 14. 13. to mocke] to abuse us, whereupon we shall be mocked and laughed to scorne, Or, to play with us. This word was used before, but in a better sense, Gen. 26. 8. And here the adulteresse hunteth for the pretious life, Prov. 6. 26.
Verse 20. tower-house] or round house, a prison built after a round forme. The Greeke calleth it afort, (or skonce:) the Chaldee, a house of prisoners, prisoners] bound. men, or restrained of their liberty. Among them, Ioseph was layd in yrons, they hurt his feet with fetters; untill the time that his word came, the word of the Lord tried him: Ps. 105. 18. 19. He suffered trouble as an evill doer, even unto bonds: but the word of God is not bound: 2 Tim. 2. 9. And in his sufferings he was a figure of Christ, who was taken from prison and from judgement: Esa. 53. 8. and in his humiliation, his judgement was taken away, Act. 8. 33.
Vers. 21. gave him grace] so the Greeke explaineth the Hebrew phrase, gave his grace: that is, made him to bee gracious, and favoured. For if when men doe well, they suffer for it, and take it patiently; this is acceptable with God, 1. Pet. 2. 20. chief-keeper] Hebrew Prince, or master; the Greek translateth it, Chiefe gaolor.
Vers. 22. the doer] that is, by his word and appointment it was done. So the Chaldee paraphrase, (in the Massorites Bible) explaineth it, adding, by his word. Thus Pilate is sayd to give the body of Christ unto Ioseph, Marke 15. 45. when he commanded it to be given: Matt. 27. 58. See also Exod. 7. 17.
Verse 23. looked not &c] or saw not any thing: the Greeke translateth, knew not any thing by him. The Chaldee saith, saw not any fault: understanding the Hebrew Meumah, as Meum in Dan. 1. 4. for a fault, or blemish. And thus, though many archers had shot at Ioseph, his bow abode in strength, and the armes of his hands were made firme, by the hands of the Mighty (God) of Iakob: Gen. 49. 23. 24.