Genèse 39

1 Or, Joseph fut emmené en Égypte, et Potiphar, officier de Pharaon, chef des gardes, homme égyptien, l'acheta des Ismaélites, qui l'y avaient amené.

2 Et l'Éternel fut avec Joseph; et il prospérait. Et il était dans la maison de son maître l'Égyptien.

3 Et son maître vit que l'Éternel était avec lui, et que l'Éternel faisait prospérer entre ses mains tout ce qu'il faisait.

4 Joseph trouva donc grâce à ses yeux, et il le servait; et son maître l'établit sur sa maison, et remit entre ses mains tout ce qu'il avait.

5 Or, depuis qu'il l'eut établi dans sa maison et sur tout ce qu'il avait, l'Éternel bénit la maison de l'Égyptien, à cause de Joseph. Et la bénédiction de l'Éternel fut sur tout ce qu'il avait, dans la maison et aux champs.

6 Et il laissa entre les mains de Joseph tout ce qui était à lui, et il ne prenait connaissance de rien avec lui, si ce n'est du pain qu'il mangeait. Or, Joseph était beau de taille, et beau de visage.

7 Et il arriva, après ces choses, que la femme de son maître jeta les yeux sur Joseph, et dit: Couche avec moi.

8 Mais il refusa, et il dit à la femme de son maître: Voici, mon maître ne prend connaissance avec moi de rien dans la maison, et il a remis entre mes mains tout ce qui lui appartient.

9 Nul n'est plus grand dans cette maison que moi, et il ne m'a rien interdit que toi, parce que tu es sa femme. Comment ferais-je un si grand mal, et pécherais-je contre Dieu?

10 Et bien qu'elle en parlât tous les jours à Joseph, il ne voulut point l'écouter pour coucher auprès d'elle, ni pour être avec elle.

11 Mais il arriva, un jour, qu'il vint à la maison pour faire son ouvrage, et il n'y avait là aucun des gens de la maison;

12 Et elle le prit par son vêtement, en disant: Couche avec moi; mais il laissa son vêtement entre ses mains, et s'enfuit et sortit dehors.

13 Et dès qu'elle vit qu'il avait laissé son vêtement entre ses mains, et qu'il s'était enfui dehors,

14 Elle appela les gens de sa maison, et leur parla, en disant: Voyez, on nous a amené un homme hébreu pour se jouer de nous; il est venu vers moi pour coucher avec moi; mais j'ai crié à haute voix.

15 Et dès qu'il a entendu que j'élevais la voix et que je criais, il a laissé son vêtement près de moi, et s'est enfui, et est sorti dehors.

16 Et elle mit le vêtement de Joseph auprès d'elle, jusqu'à ce que son maître vînt à la maison.

17 Alors elle lui parla dans les mêmes termes, en disant: L'esclave hébreu, que tu nous as amené, est venu vers moi, pour se jouer de moi.

18 Mais comme j'ai élevé la voix, et que j'ai crié, il a laissé son vêtement près de moi, et s'est enfui dehors.

19 Et dès que le maître de Joseph eut entendu les paroles de sa femme, qui lui disait: Voilà ce que m'a fait ton esclave, sa colère s'enflamma.

20 Et le maître de Joseph le prit, et le mit dans la forteresse, lieu où les prisonniers du roi étaient enfermés. Il fut donc là dans la forteresse.

21 Mais l'Éternel fut avec Joseph, et il étendit sa bonté sur lui, et lui fit trouver grâce aux yeux du commandant de la forteresse.

22 Et le commandant de la forteresse remit entre les mains de Joseph tous les prisonniers qui étaient dans la forteresse; et tout ce qui s'y faisait, c'était lui qui le faisait.

23 Le commandant de la forteresse ne revoyait rien de tout ce que Joseph avait entre les mains, parce que l'Éternel était avec lui, et que l'Éternel faisait prospérer ce qu'il faisait.

Genèse 39 Commentary

Chapter 39

Joseph preferred by Potiphar. (1-6) Joseph resists temptation. (7-12) Joseph is falsely accused by his mistress. (13-18) He is cast into prison, God is with him there. (19-23)

Verses 1-6 Our enemies may strip us of outward distinctions and ornaments; but wisdom and grace cannot be taken from us. They may separate us from friends, relatives, and country; but they cannot take from us the presence of the Lord. They may shut us from outward blessings, rob us of liberty, and confine us in dungeons; but they cannot shut us out from communion with God, from the throne of grace, or take from us the blessings of salvation. Joseph was blessed, wonderfully blessed, even in the house where he was a slave. God's presence with us, makes all we do prosperous. Good men are the blessings of the place where they live; good servants may be so, though mean and lightly esteemed. The prosperity of the wicked is, one way or other, for the sake of the godly. Here was a wicked family blessed for the sake of one good servant in it.

Verses 7-12 Beauty either in men or women, often proves a snare both to themselves and others. This forbids pride in it, and requires constant watchfulness against the temptation that attends it. We have great need to make a covenant with our eyes, lest the eyes infect the heart. When lust has got power, decency, and reputation, and conscience, are all sacrificed. Potiphar's wife showed that her heart was fully set to do evil. Satan, when he found he could not overcome Joseph with the troubles and the frowns of the world, for in them he still held fast his principle, assaulted him with pleasures, which have ruined more than the former. But Joseph, by the grace of God, was enabled to resist and overcome this temptation; and his escape was as great an instance of the Divine power, as the deliverance of the three children out of the fiery furnace. This sin was one which might most easily beset him. The tempter was his mistress, one whose favour would help him forward; and it was at his utmost peril if he slighted her, and made her his enemy. The time and place favoured the temptation. To all this was added frequent, constant urging. The almighty grace of God enabled Joseph to overcome this assault of the enemy. He urges what he owed both to God and his master. We are bound in honour, as well as justice and gratitude, not in any thing to wrong those who place trust in us, how secretly soever it may be done. He would not offend his God. Three arguments Joseph urges upon himself. 1. He considers who he was that was tempted. One in covenant with God, who professed religion and relation to him. 2. What the sin was to which he was tempted. Others might look upon it as a small matter; but Joseph did not so think of it. Call sin by its own name, and never lessen it. Let sins of this nature always be looked upon as great wickedness, as exceedingly sinful. 3. Against whom he was tempted to sin, against God. Sin is against God, against his nature and his dominion, against his love and his design. Those that love God, for this reason hate sin. The grace of God enabled Joseph to overcome the temptation, by avoiding the temper. He would not stay to parley with the temptation, but fled from it, as escaping for his life. If we mean not to do iniquity, let us flee as a bird from the snare, and as a roe from the hunter.

Verses 13-18 Joseph's mistress, having tried in vain to make him a guilty man, endeavoured to be avenged on him. Those that have broken the bonds of modesty, will never be held by the bonds of truth. It is no new thing for the best of men to be falsely accused of the worst of crimes, by those who themselves are the worst of criminals. It is well there is a day of discovery coming, in which all shall appear in their true characters.

Verses 19-23 Joseph's master believed the accusation. Potiphar, it is likely, chose that prison, because it was the worst; but God designed to open the way to Joseph's honour. Joseph was owned and righted by his God. He was away from all his friends and relations; he had none to help or comfort him; but the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy. Those that have a good conscience in a prison, have a good God there. God gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison; he trusted him to manage the affairs of the prison. A good man will do good wherever he is, and will be a blessing even in bonds and banishment. Let us not forget, through Joseph, to look unto Jesus, who suffered being tempted, yet without sin; who was slandered, and persecuted, and imprisoned, but without cause; who by the cross ascended to the throne. May we be enabled to follow the same path in submitting and in suffering, to the same place of glory.

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 39

In this chapter the history returns to Joseph again, who being brought down to Egypt was sold to Potiphar, with whom he found favour, and who set him over his house, the Lord prospering everything in his hands, Ge 39:1-6; and being a young man of a comely aspect, his mistress lusted after him, and tempted him to lie with her from time to time, but he as constantly refused it, as being both ingratitude to his master, and a sin against God, Ge 39:7-10; at a certain time they being alone in the house, she renewed her solicitations, and laid hold on his garment, which he left in her hand and fled, Ge 39:11,12; upon which she called to her servants without, and accused Joseph of an ill design upon her, and reported the same to her husband when he came home, Ge 39:13-19; upon which his master put him into prison, but he found favour also with the keeper of it, who committed the prisoners and all things relative to them into his hands, Ge 39:20-23.