*H And Joseph was brought into Egypt, and Putiphar, an eunuch of Pharao, chief captain of the army, an Egyptian, bought him of the Ismaelites, by whom he was brought.
Ver. 1. Ismaelites. They are called Madianites. C. xxxvii. 36. H.
*H Neither knew he any other thing, but the bread which he ate. And Joseph was of a beautiful countenance, and comely to behold.
Ver. 6. Bread. A proverbial expression, to shew how entirely he reposed in Joseph's fidelity and prudence. M. — He was so rich, that he knew not the extent of his wealth. So Petronius says, Nescit quid habeat, adeo Zaplutus est. It may also be understood as a commendation of Joseph's disinterestedness.
*H And after many days, his mistress cast her eyes on Joseph, and said: Lie with me.
Ver. 7. Many days. About 10 years; as Joseph was 30, three years after this. C.
*H Neither is there any thing which is not in my power, or that he hath not delivered to me, but thee, who art his wife; how then can I do this wicked thing, and sin against my God?
Ver. 9. His wife, and such things as could not be touched without sin; such as his daughter, if the woman, whom Joseph afterwards married, was the daughter of this man. C. xli. 45. — My God, Elohim; which might also be understood of his lord and master. The sin against the latter would be resented by God, who is offended by every transgression. H.
*H With such words as these day by day, both the woman was importunate with the young man, and he refused the adultery.
Ver. 10. Both the woman was importunate, &c. Heb. does not express this so fully. D.
*H And she catching the skirt of his garment, said: Lie with me. But he leaving the garment in her hand, fled, and went out.
Ver. 12. Out. He could easily have wrested it from her. But he would not do any thing that might seem disrespectful, nor claim what her impure hands had touched. M.
*H For a proof therefore of her fidelity, she kept the garment, and shewed it to her husband when he returned home:
Ver. 16. A proof of her fidelity, or an argument to gain credit, argumentum fidei. Ch. — Love neglected, turns to fury. She wishes to take away Joseph's life, according to the laws of Egypt against adulterers. Diodorus says Sesostris burnt some women taken in the crime; and we must attribute it to divine Providence, that the enraged husband did not inflict instant death upon his slave. Perhaps he did not altogether believe him guilty. H.
*H And said: The Hebrew servant, whom thou hast brought, came to me to abuse me.
Ver. 17. Thou hast, &c. As if her husband were guilty of an indiscretion. M.
*H His master hearing these things, and giving too much credit to his wife's words, was very angry,
Ver. 19. Too much. The proof was of an ambiguous nature. But Putiphar perhaps thought it unbecoming to distrust his wife, or to interrogate his slave. H.
* Footnote * Psalms 104 : 18
They humbled his feet in fetters: the iron pierced his soul,*H But the Lord was with Joseph, and having mercy upon him gave him favour in the sight of the chief keeper of the prison:
Ver. 21. Keeper. Pererius thinks this was the same Putiphar, who, recognizing the innocence of Joseph, allows him every indulgence in prison; but does not liberate him, for fear of the dishonour and resentment of his wife. C. — He had before put him in irons. Ps. civ. 18. Wis. x. 13. Joseph here exercises at once the four cardinal virtues. Prudence, in keeping out of the company of his mistress, as the Heb. express it, v. 10. "He yielded not to lie with her, or to be in her company." H. — Justice, in regard to his master. Fortitude, in bearing with all sorts of hardships, loss of character, &c. And Temperance, by refusing to gratify the most violent of all passions, at an age when it is the most insidious and ungovernable. This makes the fathers exclaim, We wonder more at the conduct of Joseph, than at the delivery of the three children from the Babylonian furnace. For, like them, Joseph continues unhurt, and more shining, in the midst of the flames. S. Chrys. T. — The stories of Hippolitus, Bellerophon, &c. seem to be copied from this. C.