Observations Upon the Old Testament, Genesis · Chapter 39
CHAP. XXXIX.
Verse. 1. TO Egypt] For their preservation, chap. 45. 5, 7.
V. 2. And the Lord was with Joseph] V. 3, 21. Acts 7. 9, 10 Psal. 91. 15.
in the house of his Master] Gods blessing went along with him. His Master employed him at home in the house, and not in more servile businesses abroad. No doubt he soon got skill in the Egyptian language, to enable him to it.
V. 3. His Master saw] By the effects. Thus the Heathen acknowledge a divine Providence, ch. 30. 27.
V. 4. Found grace in his sight] V. 21. though none in his brethren, Nehem. 2. 4, 5.
Overseer] Steward, Prov. 27. 18. 14. 35. 17. 2.
all that he had] So fully trusted him, his worth and fidelity.
V. 5. For Josephs sake] The benefit of a religious servant, Psal. 1. 3.
V. 6. Save the bread which he did eate] A proverbial speech, noting his ease and security, and his trust reposed in …oseph, v. 23. ch. 43. 32. the Egyptians might not eate bread with the Hebrewes, as being shepherds.
a goodly person] Here beauty and grace do meet. So in David, 1 Sam. 16. 12.
V. 7. Cast her eyes] Beauty a dangerous object to a wanton eye, eyes full of adultery, 2 Pet. 2. 14. lustful looks condemned, Mat. 5. 28. Job makes a Covenant with his eyes, Job 31. 1.
lie with me] Impudency, though haply she spake not so broad at first, Prov. 7. 13, 18. 6. 26.
V. 9. How then can I] The godly cannot consent to sin, 1 John 3. 9. the wicked cannot cease from sin, 2 Pet. 2. 14.
great wickednesse] Adultery a great wickednesse. The suspition of it raiseth jealousie and rage, Prov 6. 34, 35. It is a kinde of sacriledge in a godly person, 1 Cor. 6. 19.
against God] It had been great ungratefulnes to his kinde Master. Yet the feare of God was the chiefest reason to withhold him.
V. 10. Day by day] Importunity joyned with impudency.
he hearkened not] Perseverance in the resistance of sinne.
or to he with her] Appearances and occasions of sin are to be shunned, 1 Thes. 5. 22. 1 Tim. 5. 14. Prov. 1. 15. 5. 8.
V. 12. Caught him by the garment] So un…uly a thing is lawlesse lust: makes such a woman impudently offer to commit a rape upon a man.
he left his garment] Stayes not to parley with her. got him out] v. 15 Eccl 7. …6.
V. 14. The men of her house] V. 11. Those few that were about the house.
See] Shewing the garment.
an Hebrew] She so names him in contempt, chap. 43. 32.
to mock us] To cause us to be mocked; by his dishonest attempt to cause us to be disgraced. Or she will seem to speak modestly in a pretended attempt of ravishment. And thus raging lust turnes to raging hatred, yea, though satisfied, as in Amnon, 2 Sam. 13. 15.
to lie with me] A loud lie. Thus sin is seconded with sin, and the guilty charge the innocent. Thus the blasphemous Jewes charge Christ with blasphemy. Papists call us Hereticks, 1 Kings 18. 17.
V. 16. Her Lord] The soveraignty of husbands, and subjection of wives.
V. 17. Which thou hast brought] She layeth the fault upon him, that to quit himself to her, he may lay more rigour upon Joseph.
V. 20. Into prison] Dungeon, ch. 40. 15. 41. 14. Psal. 105. 18, 19. without examining the matter, or hearing Joseph, or at least not believing him, and his true pleading for himself, and not willing to have the blame and shame lie upon his wife, and so upon him.
V. 21. And gave him favour] After a time, Psal. 105. 18, 19.
of the Keeper of the prison] Chief Goaler, perhaps under Potiphar, ch. 40. 4. Captain of the Guard. Likely Joseph might declare the matter, and cleare his innocency to him, which he might not be suffered to do to his Master. And Potiphar by his officers relation, might begin to be better perswaded of Joseph, and to shew him favour.
V. 22. He was the doer of it] Not as a drudge to do every ones work, but as a Ruler, that all things there were done by him, or his direction. Thus, though many Archers had shot at Joseph, yet his bowe abode in strength, and the armes of his hands were made firme, by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob, ch. 49. 23, 24.