Matthew Poole's Commentary And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. God prospers Joseph in Potiphar’s service, Genesis 39:1,2. Potiphar observes it, and sets him over all his house, Genesis 39:3-6. He is a goodly person, and his mistress solicits him to lie with her, Genesis 39:7. He abhorring the ingratitude against his master, and sin against God, constantly refuses, Genesis 39:8-10. They being in the house alone, she seizes his coat, which he leaves with her, and fled, Genesis 39:11-13. She accuses him first to the servants, Genesis 39:14,15; then to his master, Genesis 39:16-18, who casts him into prison, Genesis 39:19,20. The Lord is with him there; he finds favour with the keeper; is set over the prisoners, and prospers, Genesis 39:21-23. 1729 The Lord was with Joseph, with his gracious presence and blessing, as this phrase is taken here, Genesis 39:21 21:22 26:24. He was in the house of his master: he doth not endeavour to make an escape to his father, but demeaned himself patiently and faithfully in the station into which God’s providence had brought him. And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. No text from Poole on this verse. The Lord was with Joseph, with his gracious presence and blessing, as this phrase is taken here, Genesis 39:21 21:22 26:24. He was in the house of his master: he doth not edeavour to make an escape to his father, but demeaned himself patiently and faithfully in the station into which God’s providence had brought him. And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand. The heathens owned a supreme God, and his overruling providence in affairs, though they did not glorify him as God, but worshipped the creature with and more than the Creator, Romans 1:25. In his hand, i.e. under his ministry, as this phrase is used, Exodus 4:13 Leviticus 8:36 Proverbs 26:6, and oft elsewhere. And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. He served him, not now as a slave, but in a higher degree. All that he had he put into his hand, i.e. committed to his care and management, as Genesis 16:6. Object. How could this be, when Joseph understood not the Egyptian tongue? Answ. Joseph 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 Joseph 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 Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. No text from Poole on this verse. And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favoured. 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 Joseph, except his bread, which he would not have provided by a Hebrew hand, because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews, Genesis 43:32. But that was no impediment, for neither did Joseph 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 it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. She cast her eyes upon Joseph, in a lascivious and unchaste manner. See Job 31:1 Matthew 5:28 2 Peter 2:14. But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; No text from Poole on this verse. There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath 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? No text from Poole on this verse. And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. He avoided her company and familiar conversation, as evil in itself, the present circumstances considered, and as an occasion of further evil. See Proverbs 1:15 5:8 1 Corinthians 15:33 1 Thessalonians 5:22 1 Timothy 5:14. And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. About this time, or, upon a certain day, which she thought convenient for the reason following. 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. There was none of the men within, to wit, in that part of the house where Joseph was. And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. 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 it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth, No text from Poole on this verse. That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice: Unto the men of her house; to such as were in other parts of the house, whom she called in as witnesses for her husband’s satisfaction. 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 Luke 4:24 19:27 John 7:11 8:10. An Hebrew; so she calls him, to render him hateful and contemptible to the Egyptians. To mock us; to abuse me; or to vitiate and defile me; for that word is oft used in an obscene sense. 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. And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out. No text from Poole on this verse. And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home. No text from Poole on this verse. And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me: So she makes her husband accessory to the crime, that she might provoke him to the sharper revenge. And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, 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 forborne violence to the recovery of his garment, which he very well knew might be 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. No text from Poole on this verse. And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in 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. It is probable he was a little moderated by Joseph’s 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 Joseph in a peculiar manner. The king’s prisoners; traitors, or great offenders against the king, whose prison doubtless was none of the easiest and therefore it is called a dungeon, Genesis 40:15 41:14; and he endured great hardship in it. See Psalm 105:18. But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed 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 person. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's 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 Joseph’s 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. No text from Poole on this verse. |
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