---
title: "Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible -  Genesis 39"
description: "CHAPTER 39   :-. JOSEPH IN
POTIPHAR"
image: "/images/missing.jpg"
url: "https://realbiblebelievers.com/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible/genesis/39"
---

![Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible](/images/commentaries/commentary-critical-and-explanatory-on-the-whole-bible.jpg)

 The Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
 
Include 66 books
 
Denomination: calvinism
 
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CHAPTER 39

. JOSEPH IN
POTIPHAR'S HOUSE.

**1. Potiphar**—This name,
Potiphar, signifies one "devoted to the sun," the local
deity of On or Heliopolis, a circumstance which fixes the place of
his residence in the Delta, the district of Egypt bordering on
Canaan.
**officer**—literally,
"prince of the Pharoah"—that is, in the service of
government.
**captain of the guard**—The
import of the original term has been variously interpreted, some
considering it means "chief cook," others, "chief
inspector of plantations"; but that which seems best founded is
"chief of the executioners," the same as the captain of the
watch, the *zabut* of modern Egypt [WILKINSON].
**bought him . . . of the
Ishmaelites**—The age, appearance, and intelligence of the Hebrew
slave would soon cause him to be picked up in the market. But the
unseen, unfelt influence of the great Disposer drew the attention of
Potiphar towards him, in order that in the house of one so closely
connected with the court, he might receive that previous training
which was necessary for the high office he was destined to fill, and
in the school of adversity learn the lessons of practical wisdom that
were to be of greatest utility and importance in his future career.
Thus it is that when God has any important work to be done, He always
prepares fitting agents to accomplish it.

**2. he was in the house of his
master**—Those slaves who had been war captives were generally
sent to labor in the field and subjected to hard treatment under the
"stick" of taskmasters. But those who were bought with
money were employed in domestic purposes, were kindly treated, and
enjoyed as much liberty as the same class does in modern Egypt.

**3. his master saw that the Lord was
with him**—Though changed in condition, Joseph was not changed in
spirit; though stripped of the gaudy coat that had adorned his
person, he had not lost the moral graces that distinguished his
character; though separated from his father on earth, he still lived
in communion with his Father in heaven; though in the house of an
idolater, he continued a worshipper of the true God.

**5. the Lord blessed the Egyptian's
house for Joseph's sake,** c.—It might be—it probably was—that
a special, a miraculous blessing was poured out on a youth who so
faithfully and zealously served God amid all the disadvantages of his
place. But it may be useful to remark that such a blessing usually
follows in the ordinary course of things and the most worldly,
unprincipled masters always admire and respect religion in a servant
when they see that profession supported by conscientious principle
and a consistent life.
**made him overseer in his
house**—We do not know in what capacity Joseph entered into the
service of Potiphar; but the observant eye of his master soon
discovered his superior qualities and made him his chief, his
confidential servant (compare [Ephesians 6:7](../../../kjv/ephesians/6/7);
[Colossians 3:23](../../../kjv/colossians/3/23)). The advancement of
domestic slaves is not uncommon, and it is considered a great
disgrace not to raise one who has been a year or two in the family.
But this extraordinary advancement of Joseph was the doing of the
Lord, though on the part of Potiphar it was the consequence of
observing the astonishing prosperity that attended him in all that he
did.

**7. his master's wife cast her eyes
upon Joseph**—Egyptian women were not kept in the same secluded
manner as females are in most Oriental countries now. They were
treated in a manner more worthy of a civilized people—in fact,
enjoyed much freedom both at home and abroad. Hence Potiphar's wife
had constant opportunity of meeting Joseph. But the ancient women of
Egypt were very loose in their morals. Intrigues and intemperance
were vices very prevalent among them, as the monuments too plainly
attest [WILKINSON].
Potiphar's wife was probably not worse than many of the same rank,
and her infamous advances made to Joseph arose from her superiority
of station.

**9. How then can I do this great
wickedness, and sin against God?**—This remonstrance, when all
inferior arguments had failed, embodied the true principle of moral
purity—a principle always sufficient where it exists, and alone
sufficient.

**14. Then she called unto the men of
her house**—Disappointed and affronted, she vowed revenge and
accused Joseph, first to the servants of the house, and on his return
to her lord.
**See, he hath brought in an
Hebrew . . . to mock us**—an affected and blind aspersion of her
husband for keeping in his house an Hebrew, the very abomination of
Egyptians.

**20. Joseph's master took him, and
put him into the prison**—the roundhouse, from the form of its
construction, usually attached to the dwelling of such an officer as
Potiphar. It was partly a subterranean dungeon (), though the brick-built walls rose considerably above the
surface of the ground, and were surmounted by a vaulted roof somewhat
in the form of an inverted bowl. Into such a dungeon Potiphar, in the
first ebullition of rage, threw Joseph and ordered him to be
subjected further to as great harshness of treatment () as he dared; for the power of masters over their slaves
was very properly restrained by law, and the murder of a slave was a
capital crime.
**a place where the king's
prisoners were bound**—Though prisons seem to have been an
inseparable appendage of the palaces, this was not a common jail—it
was the receptacle of state criminals; and, therefore, it may be
presumed that more than ordinary strictness and vigilance were
exercised over the prisoners. In general, however, the Egyptian, like
other Oriental prisons, were used solely for the purposes of
detention. Accused persons were cast into them until the charges
against them could be investigated; and though the jailer was
responsible for the appearance of those placed under his custody,
yet, provided they were produced when called, he was never
interrogated as to the way in which he had kept them.

**21-23. The Lord . . . gave him
favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison,** c.—It is
highly probable, from the situation of this prison (), that the keeper might have been previously acquainted with
Joseph and have had access to know his innocence of the crime laid to
his charge, as well as with all the high integrity of his character.
That may partly account for his showing so much kindness and
confidence to his prisoner. But there was a higher influence at work
for "the Lord was with Joseph, and that which he did, the Lord
made it to prosper."

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