Bereshis 39:6

6 And he left all that he had in the yad Yosef; and he knew not ought he had, save the lechem which he did eat. And Yosef was yafeh to’ar (well built) and yafeh mareh (good looking).

Bereshis 39:6 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 39:6

And he left all he had in Joseph's hand;
&c.] His master took no care of anything, but committed all to him, trusted him with his money and with his accounts, and with the management of all his affairs; such confidence did he put in him; and he knew not aught he had, save the bread which he did eat;
some understand this of Joseph, that though he had all his master's substance in his hands, yet he made no use of it for himself, enjoyed nothing of it but the bread he ate; and it is the observation of a Jewish writer ^F16, that he ate nothing but dry bread, and yet, like Daniel and his companions, was well favoured and of a goodly countenance, as in the next clause: but it is better to interpret it of Joseph's master, who was so satisfied with Joseph's good management and fidelity, that he never concerned himself about his affairs, how they stood or what money he had in his house, or what effects he was possessed of; all that he regarded was his food, and perhaps he knew not what that would be till it came to his table; though some take the expression in this light, that he gave himself unto a luxurious life, regarding nothing but eating and drinking, and taking his pleasure, having so good and faithful a servant: but according to Aben Ezra the sense is, that Joseph had all committed to his care, excepting the bread, or making provision of that for him and his family, which he might not touch being an Hebrew, and had all things common with him but that, see ( Genesis 43:32 ) ; which is a much better sense than what the Targum of Jonathan and Jarchi give, who interpret bread of his wife, whom only he reserved for himself of all things in his house; and Joseph was [a] goodly [person], and well favoured;
being like his mother, as Aben Ezra observes, see ( Genesis 29:17 ) ; this is remarked for the sake of what follows, and as leading on to that.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 R. Abraham Sepharadi apud Munster. in loc.

Bereshis 39:6 In-Context

4 And Yosef found chen in his eyes, and he ministered to him; and he made him mefake’ach (overseer) over his bais, and all that he had he entrusted into his yad.

5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him mefake’ach (overseer) in his bais, and over all that he had, that Hashem put a brocha on the bais haMitzri on account of Yosef; and the birkat Hashem was upon all that he had in the bais, and in the sadeh.

6 And he left all that he had in the yad Yosef; and he knew not ought he had, save the lechem which he did eat. And Yosef was yafeh to’ar (well built) and yafeh mareh (good looking).

7 And it came to pass after these things, that eshet adonav cast her eyes upon Yosef; and she said, Lie with me.

8 But he refused, and said unto eshet adonav, Look, with me [here], adoni knows not what is in the bais, and he hath entrusted all that he hath to my yad;