When his master heard the story his wife told him, saying,
“This is how your slave treated me,” he burned with anger.
-Genesis 39:19
So we’re told that Potiphar’s wife fell in lust with Joseph.
Again and again, she made advances towards him and again and again Joseph rebuffed her.
Finally, one day when there were no other men in the house, Potiphar’s wife attempted to seize Joseph.
Not sparing an instant, Joseph fled leaving his garment in her hands.
Now there are a couple of interesting points I want to explore surrounding this situation.
First, notice in Verse 14, Potiphar’s wife says “this Hebrew has been brought to us to make sport of us!“
I believe this derogatory statement is another piece of evidence that the Egyptians at this time were under subjugation by Semitics, even if this particular group of Semite people were not Hebrews.
Second, in verse 19 where it says, Potiphar “burned with anger“.
I don’t believe this anger was directed at Joseph.
I believe it was directed at his wife.
In other words, I think he knew that Joseph was innocent and that his wife was making a false accusation.
There are a few reasons why I think this is true.
First, it was obvious that Potiphar trusted Joseph completely.
Think about it.
The Scripture says that Joseph was put in charge of all of Potiphar’s whole household and was entrusted to take care of everything he owned.
The result was that “the blessing of the Lord was on everything Potiphar had, both in the house and in the field“.
Second, if Potiphar had really believed that his wife’s accusation was true, I don’t think he would have thrown Joseph into prison.
The humiliation and anger would have been so great, I think he would have had him killed!
Third, I wonder just how good Potiphar’s relationship with his wife was in the first place.
I mean if we have a situation where a married woman has the audacity to continually beg another man to sleep with her day and night, it must have been a pretty dissatisfying marriage.
So I think deep down inside Potiphar knew his wife was full of it but in order to save face and maintain order in his household, he did what he had to do under the circumstances, which was to throw Joseph into prison.
Finally, notice the cloak that Joseph left in Potiphar’s wife’s hands when he fled from her.
Potiphar’s wife deceitfully sets this garment out as the evidence by which she will frame Joseph.
I find it interesting that this is the second time that Joseph has been stripped of his garment and the second time the garment is used as evidence for a lie.
I never thought along those lines about Joseph’s ‘innocence’ be blessed for sharing.
Hi Morara, I’m happy you found this edifying. Be blessed and SHALOM!
I agree I also think further evidence is that Joseph was port in the prison of the captain of the guard Which was Potiphar
He was also put in charge of everything in the prison just like Joseph was put in charge of everything just like in Potiphars house
Excerpt from Patriarchs And Prophets by E G White page 218
Joseph suffered for his integrity, for his tempter revenged herself by accusing himof a foul crime, and causing him to be thrust into prison. Had Potiphar believedhis wife’s charge against Joseph, the young Hebrew would have lost his life; but themodesty and uprightness that had uniformly characterized his conduct were proof ofhis innocence; and yet, to save the reputation of his master’s house, he was abandonedto disgrace and bondage.
Thanks for sharing.
It’s even more than that – Potiphar was in charge of prisons so, in effect, he merely transferred Joseph from one part of his organization to another. Almost like keeping a valued employee who has a personnel problem by moving them. Thanks for your insight!
Potiphar was captain and chief executioner, so he was used to court and evidence. He had to have noticed how Josephs clothing was torn, and that she did not have her own torn garments to show him. Potiphar also had connections to have him sent to the place where state prisoners were sent. Note that is how he later met Pharaoh’s baker and butler. I never thought about that Joseph was stripped of his garments twice.
I read somewhere that he put Joseph in prison to shame his wife. Letting Joseph live meant he didn’t believe her. Putting him in prison was a public act that put the dirty laundry in the public eye.
Hi Becky,
Plausible interpretation I’d say.
Thanks for reading.
Be blessed!