Genesis 39

Ge 39:1-23.

JOSEPH IN

POTIPHAR'S

HOUSE.

1. Potiphar--This name, Potiphar, signifies one "devoted to the

sun," the local deity of On or Heliopolis, a circumstance which fixes

the place of his residence in the Delta, the district of Egypt

bordering on Canaan.

officer--literally, "prince of the Pharoah"--that is, in the

service of government.

captain of the guard--The import of the original term has been

variously interpreted, some considering it means "chief cook," others,

"chief inspector of plantations"; but that which seems best founded is

"chief of the executioners," the same as the captain of the watch, the

zabut of modern Egypt [WILKINSON].

bought him . . . of the Ishmaelites--The age,

appearance, and intelligence of the Hebrew slave would soon cause him

to be picked up in the market. But the unseen, unfelt influence of the

great Disposer drew the attention of Potiphar towards him, in order

that in the house of one so closely connected with the court, he might

receive that previous training which was necessary for the high office

he was destined to fill, and in the school of adversity learn the

lessons of practical wisdom that were to be of greatest utility and

importance in his future career. Thus it is that when God has any

important work to be done, He always prepares fitting agents to

accomplish it.

2. he was in the house of his master--Those slaves who had been

war captives were generally sent to labor in the field and subjected to

hard treatment under the "stick" of taskmasters. But those who were

bought with money were employed in domestic purposes, were kindly

treated, and enjoyed as much liberty as the same class does in modern

Egypt.

3. his master saw that the Lord was with him--Though changed in

condition, Joseph was not changed in spirit; though stripped of the

gaudy coat that had adorned his person, he had not lost the moral

graces that distinguished his character; though separated from his

father on earth, he still lived in communion with his Father in heaven;

though in the house of an idolater, he continued a worshipper of the

true God.

5. the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake,

&c.--It might be--it probably was--that a special, a miraculous

blessing was poured out on a youth who so faithfully and zealously

served God amid all the disadvantages of his place. But it may be

useful to remark that such a blessing usually follows in the ordinary

course of things; and the most worldly, unprincipled masters always

admire and respect religion in a servant when they see that profession

supported by conscientious principle and a consistent life.

made him overseer in his house--We do not know in what capacity

Joseph entered into the service of Potiphar; but the observant eye of

his master soon discovered his superior qualities and made him his

chief, his confidential servant (compare

Eph 6:7;

Col 3:23).

The advancement of domestic slaves is not uncommon, and it is

considered a great disgrace not to raise one who has been a year or two

in the family. But this extraordinary advancement of Joseph was the

doing of the Lord, though on the part of Potiphar it was the

consequence of observing the astonishing prosperity that attended him

in all that he did.

7. 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 much freedom both at home and

abroad. 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 them, as

the monuments too plainly attest [WILKINSON].

Potiphar's wife was probably not worse than many of the same rank, and

her infamous advances made to Joseph arose from her superiority of

station.

9. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against

God?--This remonstrance, when all inferior arguments had failed,

embodied the true principle of moral purity--a principle always

sufficient where it exists, and alone sufficient.

14. Then she called unto the men of her house--Disappointed and

affronted, she vowed revenge and accused Joseph, first to the servants

of the house, and on his return to her lord.

See, he hath brought in an Hebrew . . . to mock us--an

affected and blind aspersion of her husband for keeping in his house an

Hebrew, the very abomination of Egyptians.

20. Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison--the

roundhouse, from the form of its construction, usually attached to the

dwelling of such an officer as Potiphar. It was partly a subterranean

dungeon

(Ge 41:14),

though the brick-built walls rose considerably above the surface of the

ground, and were surmounted by a vaulted roof somewhat in the form of

an inverted bowl. Into such a dungeon Potiphar, in the first ebullition

of rage, threw Joseph and ordered him to be subjected further to as

great harshness of treatment

(Ps 105:18)

as he dared; for the power of masters over their slaves was very

properly restrained by law, and the murder of a slave was a capital

crime.

a place where the king's prisoners were bound--Though prisons

seem to have been an inseparable appendage of the palaces, this was not

a common jail--it was the receptacle of state criminals; and,

therefore, it may be presumed that more than ordinary strictness and

vigilance were exercised over the prisoners. In general, however, the

Egyptian, like other Oriental prisons, were used solely for the

purposes of detention. Accused persons were cast into them until the

charges against them could be investigated; and though the jailer was

responsible for the appearance of those placed under his custody, yet,

provided they were produced when called, he was never interrogated as

to the way in which he had kept them.

21-23. The Lord . . . gave him favour in the sight of the

keeper of the prison, &c.--It is highly probable, from the

situation of this prison

(Ge 40:3),

that the keeper might have been previously acquainted with Joseph and

have had access to know his innocence of the crime laid to his charge,

as well as with all the high integrity of his character. That may

partly account for his showing so much kindness and confidence to his

prisoner. But there was a higher influence at work; for "the Lord was

with Joseph, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper."