39:1The date of Joseph’s arrival in Egypt is debatable. Many believe he arrived during the period of the Hyksos rulers, foreigners who came from the region of Canaan. They invaded Egypt and controlled the land for almost 150 years. If Joseph arrived during ware, and the rooms were lighted with gold lampstands. Servants, like Joseph, worked on the first floor, while the family occupied the upper stories.
Life Application Study BibleGenesisChapter 39
Genesis 39
New Living Translation · Life Application Study Bible · Original pages: 74, 75, 76
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39Genesis 39
Joseph in Potiphar’s House
13 When Joseph was taken to Egypt by the Ishmaelite traders, he was purchased by Potiphar, an Egyptian officer. Potiphar was captain of the guard for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. 2The LORD was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the
their rule, it is easy to see why he was rapidly promoted up theroyal ladder. Because the Hyksos were foreigners themselves,they would not hold this brilliant young foreigner’s ancestryagainst him.
home of his Egyptian master. 3Potiphar noticed this and realized that the LORD was with Joseph, giving him success in everything he did. 4This pleased Potiphar, so he soon made Joseph his personal attendant. He put him in charge of his entire household and everything he owned. 5From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the LORD began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph’s sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished. 6So Potiphar gave Joseph complete administrative responsibility over everything he owned. With Joseph there, he didn’t worry about a thing—except what kind of food to eat! Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man, ’and Potiphar’s wife soon began to look at him lustfully. “Come and sleep with me,” she demanded. 8But Joseph refused. “Look,” he told her, “my master trusts me with everything in his entire household. 9No one here has more authority than I do. He has held back nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How could do sucha wicked thing? It would be a great sin against God.” 10She kept putting pressure on Joseph day after day, but he refused to sleep with her, and he kept out of her way as much as possible. 11One day, however, no one else was around when he went in to do his work. 12She came and grabbed him by his cloak, demanding, “Come on, sleep with me!” Joseph tore himself away, but he left his cloak in her hand as he ran from the house. 13When she saw that she was holding his cloak and he had fled, 14she called out to her servants. Soon all the men came running. “Look!” she said. “My husband has brought this Hebrew slave here to make fools of us! He came into my room to rape me, but I screamed. 15When he heard me scream, he ran outside and got away, but he left his cloak behind with me.” t6She kept the cloak with her until her husband came home. *7Then she told him her story. “That Hebrew slave you've brought into our house tried to come in and fool around with me,” she said. 18“But when I screamed, he ran outside, leaving his cloak with me!”
Joseph Put in Prison
1919Potiphar was furious when he heard his wife’s story about how Joseph had treated her. 20S he took Joseph and threw him into the prison where the king's prisoners were held, and there he remained. 21But the LORD was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love. And the LORD made Joseph a favorite with the prison warden. 22Before long, the warden put Joseph in charge of all the other prisoners and over everything that happened in the prison. 23The warden had no more worries, because Joseph took care of everything. The LORD was with him and caused everything he did to succeed.
Textual footnotes
- Ht was a title like “king” or “president” used to address the coun-
- try's teader. The pharaoh who placed Joseph in charge of Egypt
- was a different person from the pharaoh who turned against the
- Hebrews in the book of Exodus.
- either rich beyond measure or poverty stricken. There wasn’t
- much middle ground. Joseph found himself serving Potiphar,
- an extremely rich officer in Pharaoh's service. Rich families like
- Potiphar’s had elaborate homes two or three stories tall with beau-
- tiful gardens and balconies. They enjoyed live entertainment at
- home as they chose delicious fruit from expensive bowls. They
- surrounded themselves with alabaster vases, paintings, beautiful
- rugs, and hand-carved chairs. Dinner was served on golden table-
- 39:1 Pharaoh was the general name for all the kings of Egypt.
- 39:1 Ancient Egypt was a land of great contrasts. People were
Life Application Notes 5 notes
39:9Potiphar’s wife failed to seduce Joseph, who resisted this temptation by saying it would be a sin against God. Joseph didn’t say, “I'd be hurting you,” or “I'd be sinning against Potiphar,” or “I'd be sinning against myself.” Under pressure, such excuses are easily rationalized away. Remember that sexual sin is not just between two consenting adults. It is an act of disobedience against God.
39:10-15Joseph avoided Potiphar’s wife as much as possible. He refused her advances and finally ran from her. Sometimes merely trying to avoid temptation is not enough. We must turn and run from them, especially when the temptations seem very strong, as is often the case in sexual temptations.
39:20Prisons were grim places with vile conditions. They were used to house forced laborers or, like Joseph, the accused who were awaiting trial. Prisoners were guilty until proven innocent, and there was no right to a speedy trial. Many prisoners never made it to court because trials were held at the whim of the ruler. Joseph was in prison a long time before he appeared before Pharaoh, and then he was called out to interpret a dream, not to stand trial.
39:21-23As a prisoner and slave, Joseph could have seen his situation as hopeless. Instead, he did his best with each small task given him. His diligence and positive attitude were soon noticed by the warden, who promoted him to prison administrator. Are you facing a seemingly hopeless predicament? At work, at home, or at school, follow Joseph’s example by taking each small task and doing your best. Remember how God turned Joseph's situation around. He will see your efforts and can reverse even overwhelming odds.
Charts, profiles & sidebars from the printed pages
Personality profile · page 75
Potiphar, the captain of Pharaoh’s royal guard, had a large household and a wife with too much time on her hands. One day he purchased Joseph from some Midianite slave traders and put him to work in his home. This was the best decision Potiphar ever made. Not only was Joseph talented, but God was also with him. Because of Joseph, Potiphar began to prosper greatly. While Potiphar was benefiting from Joseph's good work ethic, Potiphar’s wife was noticing Joseph's good looks. Soon she moved from looking to seducing, but Joseph continually resisted her advances. Denied the thrill of chasing and capturing her prey, of feeling a few moments of illicit pleasure, Potiphar’s wife became angry and hurt. One day, after she had been scorned again, she accused Joseph of attempted rape. Since she couldn't have Joseph, she decided to punish him. Potiphar had Joseph thrown into prison. We don’t know if Potiphar ever realized what was going on in his house, but he sided with his wife. Because he listened to a faithless woman, Potiphar jailed an innocent man and got rid of the best household overseer in all of Egypt. Had Potiphar been more observant, he would have seen that Joseph was not merely an administrative windfall, he was also a young man of integrity. Perhaps he did see Joseph’s character but didn't have enough himself to face the truth. In any case, Potiphar and his wife deserved each other. Although Potiphar recognized talent when he saw it, he wasn’t quite as good a judge of character. Both qualities are important, but character matters far more in the long run. Selfishness, faithlessness, and deceit have no place in a person who wants to develop character. Potiphar and his wife show us that anyone can be a judge of talent, but it takes insight and courage to be a judge of character.
Strengths and accomplishments
© Potiphar reached a high rank in Pharaoh's court
• Both enjoyed the temporary blessing of having Joseph, God’s servant, as their slave
• Potiphar was a good judge of talent
Weaknesses and mistakes
• Neither recognized the amazing person who lived in their house
• Both failed in judging character—Potiphar toward his wife and Joseph, his wife toward Joseph
• Falsely accused and imprisoned Joseph, their faithful servant
Lessons from their lives
• A lasting marriage requires faithfulness and hard work © God can accomplish his purposes through other's mistakes and sins
• God biesses many people who clearly don’t deserve his grace and help
• One person with character stands out among those who possess little of it
Vital statistics
@ Where: Egypt • Occupation: Potiphar: Palace official. Potiphar’s wife: wife
Key verse
“From the day Joseph was put in charge of his master’s household and property, the LORD began to bless Potiphar’s household for Joseph's sake. All his household affairs ran smoothly, and his crops and livestock flourished” (Genesis 39:5).
The story of Potiphar and his wife is told in Genesis 37:36 and Genesis 39.
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