Knowing The Word in Genesis 39:1-10, Joseph and Potiphar's Wife

1 Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. 2 The Lord was with Joseph [as he was with Abraham and Jacob; in spite of all his setbacks, God is still with him and leading him], and he became a successful man, and he was in the house [doing indoor work rather than outdoor work like his brothers] of his Egyptian master. 3 His master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. [This is a continuation of the promise made to Abraham that nations would see God’s hand at work and recognize it. Joseph’s success is God’s success.] 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. 5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had, in house and field. 6 So he left all that he had in Joseph's charge, and because of him he had no concern about anything but the food he ate [an idiom for his private affairs—perhaps including his wife]. [Joseph brings great blessing to Potiphar, so he can leave all under his care except for those things that only Potiphar can take care of.]

Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. [Joseph and Rachel are the only two figures in the OT given this double accolade of figure and face. What follows seems to cover a prolonged period between Joseph and Potiphar’s wife:] 7 And after a time his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” [What chutzpah!] 8 But he refused and said to his master's wife, “Behold, because of me my master has no concern about anything in the house, and he has put everything that he has in my charge. 9 He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” [Joseph sees adultery as a sin against God. Why? God created a world in which Potiphar and his wife are married. For Joseph to barge into their relationship means his displeasure with what God has created, so he sins first against God before sinning against Potiphar if he were to indulge this offer of adultery. Note that being in Egypt, he says “God” rather than “the Lord,” which is a unique Hebrew name for God.] 10 And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her. [She seems to moderate her demand to entice him to make a “lesser” moral slip.]