Genesis 39

AND Joseph was brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hand of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down thither.

And the LORD was with Joseph With his gracious presence and blessing, as this phrase is taken here ver. 21. and Gen. 21. 22. and 26. 24., and he was a prosperous man, and he was in the house He does not endeavour to make an escape to his Father, but demeaned himself patiently and faithfully in the station into which Gods Providence had brought him. of his master the Egyptian.

And his master saw that the LORD was with him The Heathens owned a supreme God and his overruling Providence in affairs, though they did not glorifie him as God, but worshipped the Creature with and more than the creator, Rom. 1. 25., and that the LORD made all that he did, to prosper in his hand (i. e.) Under his ministery as this phrase is used Exod. 4. 13. Levit. 8. 36. Prov. 26. 6. and oft elsewhere..

And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him Not now as a slave, but in an higher degree., and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand (i. e.) Committed to his care and management, as Gen. 16. 6. Object. How could this be, when Ioseph understood not the Egyptian Tongue? Answ. Ioseph doubtless when he came thither did, as much as possibly he could, endeavour to get the knowledge of that Language, and being a person of excellent parts would soon obtain it, especially because of the great affinity between that Language and his own. Nor must we think that Ioseph was thus highly advanced in an instant but by degrees, step by step, and after some considerable time..

And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptians house for Josephs sake: and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.

And he left all that he had, in Josephs hand: and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat He took care for nothing, but that he might eat and drink and fare deliciously. Nor did he indeed take any care for that, it being provided for him by other hands. Others thus, he took care for nothing, but committed all to Ioseph, except his bread, which he would not have provided by an Hebrew hand, because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews, Gen. 43. 32. But that was no impediment, for neither did Ioseph eat with his master, nor was he the cook to dress it for him. But he might provide food for him, as afterwards he did for all the Egyptians without any scruple on their side.: and Joseph was a goodly person, and well-favoured.

And it came to pass after these things, that his masters wife cast her eyes upon Joseph In a lascivious and unchast manner. See Io... 31. 1. Mat. 5. 28. 2 Pet. 2. 14., and she said, lie with me.

But he refused, and said unto his Masters wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand:

There is none greater in this house than I: neither has he kept back any thing from me, but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?

And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkned not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her He avoided her company and familiar conversation, as evil in it self, the present circumstances considered, and as an occasion of further evil. See Prov. 1. 15. and 5. 8. 1 Cor. 15. 33. 1 Thess. 5. 22. 1 Tim. 5. 14..

And it came to pass about this time Or, Vpon a certain day, which she thought convenient for the reason following., that Joseph went into the house to do his business That which belonged to his charge; to cast up his accounts, as the Chaldee renders it, which requiring privacy gave her this opportunity., and there was none of the men of the house there within To wit, in that part of the house where Ioseph was..

And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand Which he would not strive to get from her, partly for reverence to his mistress; partly in detestation of her wickedness whereby even his garment might seem to be infected; and partly to put himself and her out of the danger of further temptation., and fled, and got him out.

And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth;

That she called unto the men of her house To such as were in other parts of the house, whom she called in as witnesses for her husbands satisfaction., and spake unto them, saying, see, he (i. e.) My Husband, whom she would not name, as it were out of disdain and high displeasure for being the occasion of this horrid affront. Thus the pronouns he and they are oft used by way of contempt, as Luk. 14. 24. and 19. 27. Iohn 7. 11. and 8. 10. has brought in an Hebrew So she calls him to render him hateful and contemptible to the Egyptians. unto us, to mock To abuse me; or to vitiate and defile me: For that word is oft used in an obscene sense. us She insinuates, that this was not only an indignity to her, but an injury to all the Family, which therefore they were obliged to revenge.: he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cryed with a loud voice.

And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice, and cryed, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out.

And she laid up his garment by her, untill her Lord came home.

And she spake unto him according to these words, saying: The Hebrew servant which thou hast brought unto us So she makes her husband accessory to the crime, that she might provoke him to the sharper revenge., came in unto me to mock me.

And it came to pass, as I lift up my voice, and cryed, that he left his garment with me, and fled out An improbable story, and an evidence that the violence was on her side, otherwise if he had attempted violence upon her person, he would not have forborn violence to the recovery of his garment, which he very well knew might he made a pretence against him..

And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner, did thy servant to me, that his wrath was kindled.

And Josephs master took him, and put him into the prison Quest. Why did he not kill him, the crime being capital and he having so undoubted a power in his hand to do it? Answ. 1. It is probable, he was a little moderated by Iosephs Apology, which doubtless he made for himself, though it be not here recorded. 2. This is to be ascribed to the good Providence of God, which restrains the waves of the Sea, and the passions of men, and sets them their bounds which they shall not pass, which watched over Ioseph in a peculiar manner., a place where the Kings prisoners Traitours or great offenders against the King, whose Prison doubtless was none of the easiest, and therefore it is called a Dungeon, Gen. 40. 15. and 41. 14. and he indured great hardship in it. See Psal. 105. 18. were bound: and he was there in the prison.

But the LORD was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison The Gaoler, who under Potiphar was the Keeper of that particular prison..

And the keeper of the prison committed to Josephs hand all the prisoners that were in the prison, and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it They did nothing but by Iosephs command or permission..

The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand, because the LORD was with him: and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.