@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 the 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."