Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 39

2 And the LORD was with Joseph , and he was a prosperous man, and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.

With his gracious presence and blessing, as this phrase is taken here ver. 21. and Gen. 21. 22. and 26. 24.

He doth not endeavour to make an escape to his Father, but demeaned himself patiently and faithfully in the station into which Gods Providence had brought him.

Marginal references: 1 Sam. 16. 18. and 18. 28. A[illegible: 1+ letters]t. 7. 9.

3 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 glorifie him as God, but worshipped the Creature with and more than the creator, Rom. 1. 25.

(i. e.) Under his ministery as this phrase is used Exod. 4. 13. Levit. 8. 36. Prov. 26. 6. and oft elsewhere.

4 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 .

Not now as a slave, but in an higher degree.

(i. e.) Committed to his care and management, as Gen. 16. 6. Object. How could this be, when Ioseph understood not the Egyptian Tongue? Answ. Ioseph 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 Ioseph was thus highly advanced in an instant but by degrees, step by step, and after some considerable time.

6 And he left all that he had, in Josephs 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 Ioseph, except his bread, which he would not have provided by an Hebrew hand, because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews, Gen. 43. 32. But that was no impediment, for neither did Ioseph 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.

7 And it came to pass after these things, that his masters wife cast her eyes upon Joseph , and she said, lie with me.

In a lascivious and unchast manner. See Io[illegible: 1+ letters] 31. 1. Mat. 5. 28. 2 Pet. 2. 14.

10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkned not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her .

He avoided her company and familiar conversation, as evil in it self, the present circumstances considered, and as an occasion of further evil. See Prov. 1. 15. and 5. 8. 1 Cor. 15. 33. 1 Thess. 5. 22. 1 Tim. 5. 14.

11 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 .

Or, Vpon a certain day, which she thought convenient for the reason following.

That which belonged to his charge; to cast up his accounts, as the Chaldee renders it, which requiring privacy gave her this opportunity.

To wit, in that part of the house where Ioseph was.

12 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.

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.

14 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 cryed with a loud voice.

To such as were in other parts of the house, whom she called in as witnesses for her husbands satisfaction.

(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 Luk. 14. 24. and 19. 27. Iohn 7. 11. and 8. 10.

So she calls him to render him hateful and contemptible to the Egyptians.

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 onely an indignity to her, but an injury to all the Family, which therefore they were obliged to revenge.

Marginal references: Heb. great.

17 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.

18 And it came to pass, as I lift up my voice, and cryed, 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 forborn violence to the recovery of his garment, which he very well knew might he made a pretence against him.

20 And Josephs master took him, and put him into the prison , a place where the Kings 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. 1. It is probable, he was a little moderated by Iosephs 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 Ioseph in a peculiar manner.

Traitours or great offenders against the King, whose Prison doubtless was none of the easiest, and therefore it is called a Dungeon, Gen. 40. 15. and 41. 14. and he indured great hardship in it. See Psal. 105. 18.

21 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 prison.

Marginal references: Heb. extended kindness u[illegible: 1+ letters]to him.; Exod. 3. 21. and 11. 3. and 12. 36. Psal. 106. 46. Prov. 16. 7. Dan. 1. 9.

22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Josephs 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 Iosephs command or permission.