Bereshis 39:11

11 And it came to pass about this time, that Yosef went into the bais to do his melachah (work); and there was none of the anshei habayit there within.

Bereshis 39:11 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 39:11

And it came to pass about this time
About a week, or a month, or rather a year, as Aben Ezra thinks, after she first began her solicitations to him. According to Josephus ^F18, it was a public festival, at which women used to attend; but she excused herself, pretending illness; and so Jarchi takes it to be some noted day at the idol's temple, to which all used to go; but she pretended she was sick, and could not go, knowing that Joseph would not be there, but at home, and therefore judged this a fit opportunity to attack him once more: and so it was, that [Joseph] went into the house to do his business:
to inspect the accounts, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan paraphrase it, and settle them: and [there was] none of the men of the house there within;
being all gone to the public festival, or however there were none in that part of the house where Joseph was.

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FOOTNOTES:

F18 Antiqu. l. 2. c. 4. sect. 3.

Bereshis 39:11 In-Context

9 There is none gadol in this bais than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me except thee only, because thou art his isha; how then can I do hara’ah hagedolah hazot, and commit chattat against Elohim?

10 And it came to pass, as she spoke to Yosef yom yom, that he unto her lo shama (did not pay heed), to lie with her, or to be with her.

11 And it came to pass about this time, that Yosef went into the bais to do his melachah (work); and there was none of the anshei habayit there within.

12 And she caught him by his beged, saying, Lie with me; and he left his beged in her yad, and fled, and ran outside.

13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his beged in her yad, and had fled outside,