Commentary on Genesis, Chapter 39
CHAP. XXXIX.
Ver. 1. AND Joſeph.] Having ended this Story of Judah, he returns to that of Joſeph, which he had begun before in the XXXVII Chapter; repeating, where he left off, how he was ſold to Potiphar.
Brought down.] It is a deſcent from Judea to Egypt: Which lies very low.
Ver. 2. And the LORD was with Joſeph.] To guide him in his Deportment, and in the management of all Affairs committed to him: So that, as it follows, he was a proſperous Man.
He was in the Houſe of his Maſter.] One of his Domeſtick Servants.
Ver. 3. His Maſter ſaw that the LORD was with him, &c.] Found by Obſervation and Experience, that he was an extraordinary Perſon. It is not likely that Potiphar knew God, by the Name of Jehovah: But the meaning is, he obſerved the happy Fruits of Joſeph's Service; which Moſes, not he, aſcribes to the LORD's peculiar Bleſſing.
Ver. 4. And he ſerved him.] Found ſuch Favour with his Maſter, that he took him to wait upon his Perſon.
And he made him Overſeer over his Houſe.] In time he advanced him to a higher Station, to be (as they now ſpeak) his Major Domo; to whom all the Servants in the Family were to be Obedient.
And put all he had into his Hand.] Committed all his Eſtate, both within Doors and without (as appears by the next Verſe) to his Care and Management.
Ver. 6. He left all he had in Joſeph's Hand.] Did not call him to a daily Account, nor concerned himſelf about any Buſineſs: But truſted intirely to his Prudence and Fidelity.
And he knew not ought he had, ſave the Bread which he did eat.] This is the higheſt Expreſſion of Confidence; ſignifying that he was utterly careleſs about any thing that concerned his Eſtate: Not minding what his Expence or Receipts were; but, taking his Eaſe, left all to Joſeph's Honeſty. In ſhort, he thought of nothing, but only to enjoy what he had, without any Care or Trouble.
And Joſeph was a goodly Perſon, &c.] Being the Son of a beautiful Mother.
Ver. 7. Caſt her Eyes upon Joſeph.] Lookt upon him Amorouſly, or rather Laſciviouſly: He being young as well as handſom.
Ver. 9. How can I do this great Wickedneſs? &c.] Here are three He Hajedia's, as the Hebrews call them; pointing us to ſo many remarkable things. How ſhall I commit ſuch a Wickedneſs as Adultery? Such a great Wickedneſs? Againſt ſo kind a Maſter, who ſo intirely truſts in my Integrity? Eſpecially, ſince it cannot be committed without the higheſt Offence to God?
Ver. 10. Day by day.] Took all occaſions to ſolicite him.
Or to be with her.] He avoided, as much as was poſſible, to entertain any Diſcourſe with her, ſhunning her Company, &c.
Ver. 11. About this time.] The Phraſe in the Hebrew (where there are again two He's, of the ſame kind with the former) ſignifies ſome remarkable Day. R. Solomon and Joſephus think it was ſome Feſtival, when the Maſter and the reſt of the Family were gone to the Temples; and ſhe ſtaid at home, feigning her ſelf not well. But the Vulgar tranſlates it ſimply, upon a certain Day. Or, it may ſignifie, having the like opportunity, as formerly, and Joſeph being about his buſineſs in the Houſe, ſhe caught him, &c.
To do his buſineſs.] To caſt up his Accounts; ſaith the Chaldee Interpreters.
None of the Men of the Houſe were within.] In that part of the Houſe, where he was.
Ver. 12. Left the Garment in her Hand.] If he had ſtruggled to get the Garment away from her; the Accuſation might have been more ſpecious, that he went about to raviſh her. Epiphanius hath made a good Reflection upon this Example. foreign, &c. vid. Haereſ. LXXIX. n. 9. He left his Garment, that he might not loſe his Body. And ſhunn'd the Place, that he might not fall into the Snare. And indeed it was dangerous, to adventure himſelf in her Company; much more to touch her, leſt he ſhould fall into temptation.
Ver. 14. She called unto the Men of her Houſe.] Cried to them, who were in her Apartment, to come and help her.
He hath brought in.] In her Rage, ſhe reflects upon her Husband, as acceſſory to her danger, that ſhe might the more incenſe him againſt Joſeph. There is ſomething like this in Apuleius his Story (L. X. Metamorph.) of the Step-Mother's Love to her Son-in-law; which was turned into hatred, and made her contrive juſt ſuch a Lye as this, when he would not yield to her.
To mock us.] To abuſe our Family.
I cried with a loud Voice.] An improbable Story, (for no Body heard it) but was eaſily believed againſt a Servant; whom they all, perhaps, envied. If ſhe pretended it was done in Joſeph's Apartment, the Queſtion might have been askt her; What ſhe did there?
Ver. 17. Came in unto me to mock me.] To offer Violence to me (as the Hebrew Phraſe ſignifies) and rob me of my Chaſtity.
Ver. 18. He left his Garment with me.] Philo obſerves, that this was an Argument rather, that ſhe laid Hands on him: For he could have eaſily taken his Garment from her, if he had not fled haſtily from her Importunity. But her Husband's Jealouſie made him credulous.
Ver. 20. Joſeph's Maſter took him, &c.] Cauſed him to be apprehended, and carried to Priſon. During his Anger, he would not hearken to the Apology, which we cannot but think he offered to make for himſelf. Unleſs we ſuppoſe (which is not unlikely) that his Maſter would not ſo much as ſee him; but ordered him immediately to be hurried to the Gaol.
A place where the King's Priſoners were bound.] Where the King himſelf cauſed thoſe, who had offended him, to be committed. This ſhows Potiphar was a great Man, (ſee XL. 3.) and that he lookt upon the Crime as very great: For this Priſon, we muſt think, was moſt ſtrictly guarded, that they who were thrown into it, might not eſcape Puniſhment. And it appears by what the Pſalmiſt ſays, CV. 18. that the Priſoners were hardly uſed: And that Joſeph (XL. 15.) was thruſt into the loweſt part of the Priſon: Which was the moſt diſmal; as well as of greateſt difficulty to make an eſcape out of it.
And he was there in the Priſon.] His Maſter proceeded no further againſt him: But there he left him. Perhaps, Joſeph found means to let him know the truth; which made him not form any Proceſs to take away his Life, or inflict any other Puniſhment on him: And yet, to ſave his Wife's Credit, he let him lie in the Priſon.
Ver. 21. The LORD was with Joſeph.] The ſame Wiſdom, and Vertue appeared in him, now he was in Priſon: That his Maſter diſcerned, when he came firſt into his Houſe, verſe 2.
Gave him favour.] So that he had more Liberty than the reſt, after ſome ſhort Confinement.
Keeper of the Priſon.] The Under-Keeper, it appears from XL. 4.
Ver. 22. Committed to Joſeph's Hand, &c.] His Favour increaſed ſo much (as it had done in his Maſter's Houſe, verſe 4.) that he, in effect, was the Keeper of the Priſon; not a Priſoner.