Genesis 39:11

11 Now it happened on a certain day, that Joseph went into the house, and was doing some business, without any man with him:

Genesis 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.


FOOTNOTES:

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

Genesis 39:11 In-Context

9 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?
10 With such words as these day by day, both the woman was importunate with the young man, and he refused the adultery.
11 Now it happened on a certain day, that Joseph went into the house, and was doing some business, without any man with him:
12 And she catching the skirt of his garment, said: Lie with me. But he leaving the garment in her hand, fled, and went out.
13 And when the woman saw the garment in her hands, and herself disregarded,
The Douay-Rheims Bible is in the public domain.