וְיוֹסֵ֖ף הוּרַ֣ד מִצְרָ֑יְמָה וַיִּקְנֵ֡הוּ פּוֹטִיפַר֩ סְרִ֨יס פַּרְעֹ֜ה שַׂ֤ר הַטַּבָּחִים֙ אִ֣ישׁ מִצְרִ֔י מִיַּד֙ הַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר הוֹרִדֻ֖הוּ שָֽׁמָּה׃

Joseph was brought down to Egypt as a slave devoid of rights. Potifar, the courtier of Pharaoh, chief executioner, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites, who had brought him down there.

וַיְהִ֤י יְהוָה֙ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֔ף וַיְהִ֖י אִ֣ישׁ מַצְלִ֑יחַ וַיְהִ֕י בְּבֵ֖ית אֲדֹנָ֥יו הַמִּצְרִֽי׃

The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man in the house of Potifar. Joseph arrived in Egypt as an inexperienced youth and with no knowledge of the Egyptian language. He also needed to cross the cultural divide between his upbringing in a small village to life in a developed city. Nevertheless, his success was evident for all to see. And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian.

וַיַּ֣רְא אֲדֹנָ֔יו כִּ֥י יְהוָ֖ה אִתּ֑וֹ וְכֹל֙ אֲשֶׁר־ה֣וּא עֹשֶׂ֔ה יְהוָ֖ה מַצְלִ֥יחַ בְּיָדֽוֹ׃

After some time, his master saw that the Lord was with him, and all that he did, the Lord made his undertaking successful. Potifar took notice of Joseph’s success.

וַיִּמְצָ֨א יוֹסֵ֥ף חֵ֛ן בְּעֵינָ֖יו וַיְשָׁ֣רֶת אֹת֑וֹ וַיַּפְקִדֵ֙הוּ֙ עַל־בֵּית֔וֹ וְכָל־יֶשׁ־ל֖וֹ נָתַ֥ן בְּיָדֽוֹ׃

Joseph found favor in his eyes, and he served him as his personal attendant. Following that, Potifar promoted him and he appointed him overseer of his household, and everything that was his he placed in his charge, as Potifar saw Joseph’s successes as well as his honesty.

וַיְהִ֡י מֵאָז֩ הִפְקִ֨יד אֹת֜וֹ בְּבֵית֗וֹ וְעַל֙ כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֶשׁ־ל֔וֹ וַיְבָ֧רֶךְ יְהוָ֛ה אֶת־בֵּ֥ית הַמִּצְרִ֖י בִּגְלַ֣ל יוֹסֵ֑ף וַיְהִ֞י בִּרְכַּ֤ת יְהוָה֙ בְּכָל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֶשׁ־ל֔וֹ בַּבַּ֖יִת וּבַשָּׂדֶֽה׃

It was once he appointed him overseer of his household and over everything that was his; the Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake. The blessing of the Lord was in all that he had, in the house and in the field. In addition to Joseph’s personal success, Potifar noticed that he too became prosperous. He sensed that this was due to Joseph’s presence, just as Laban had known to attribute his prosperity to Jacob a generation earlier (see also 30:27).

וַיַּעֲזֹ֣ב כָּל־אֲשֶׁר־לוֹ֮ בְּיַד־יוֹסֵף֒ וְלֹא־יָדַ֤ע אִתּוֹ֙ מְא֔וּמָה כִּ֥י אִם־הַלֶּ֖חֶם אֲשֶׁר־ה֣וּא אוֹכֵ֑ל וַיְהִ֣י יוֹסֵ֔ף יְפֵה־תֹ֖אַר וִיפֵ֥ה מַרְאֶֽה׃

Therefore, he left everything that he had in Joseph’s charge; and he did not know anything about his doings except the bread that he would eat. In other words, Potifar found it unnecessary for himself to be involved in the affairs of his household, as he trusted Joseph completely; he was therefore present only for his personal needs, such as eating. The Torah adds a comment that will be important in the continuation of the narrative: Joseph, who was probably around eighteen or twenty years old at the time, was of fine form, and handsome. As previously discussed, he bore a resemblance to his mother, who was also described in such terms.

וַיְהִ֗י אַחַר֙ הַדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה וַתִּשָּׂ֧א אֵֽשֶׁת־אֲדֹנָ֛יו אֶת־עֵינֶ֖יהָ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֑ף וַתֹּ֖אמֶר שִׁכְבָ֥ה עִמִּֽי׃

It was after these matters, after Joseph was promoted above Potifar’s other servants and presumably began to dress in more impressive clothing, that his master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; she desired him. And she said: Lie with me. Despite his elevated status, Joseph was still a slave. She therefore spoke directly and in unequivocal terms.

וַיְמָאֵ֓ן ׀ וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־אֵ֣שֶׁת אֲדֹנָ֔יו הֵ֣ן אֲדֹנִ֔י לֹא־יָדַ֥ע אִתִּ֖י מַה־בַּבָּ֑יִת וְכֹ֥ל אֲשֶׁר־יֶשׁ־ל֖וֹ נָתַ֥ן בְּיָדִֽי׃

He refused to lie with her; and in order not to offend her, Joseph explained that his refusal was not because of her appearance or some other reason. He said to his master’s wife: Behold, my master Potifar does not know anything about what is in the house. He trusts me to such a degree that he has no idea what I do in this house, and he has placed everything that he has in my charge.

אֵינֶ֨נּוּ גָד֜וֹל בַּבַּ֣יִת הַזֶּה֮ מִמֶּנִּי֒ וְלֹֽא־חָשַׂ֤ךְ מִמֶּ֙נִּי֙ מְא֔וּמָה כִּ֥י אִם־אוֹתָ֖ךְ בַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר אַתְּ־אִשְׁתּ֑וֹ וְאֵ֨יךְ אֶֽעֱשֶׂ֜ה הָרָעָ֤ה הַגְּדֹלָה֙ הַזֹּ֔את וְחָטָ֖אתִי לֵֽאלֹהִֽים׃

There is no one greater in this house than I; he has provided good living conditions for me and he has not withheld anything from me but you, as you are his wife. Furthermore, aside from the fact that lying with you would constitute a betrayal of my master’s trust and a complete lack of appreciation for all that he has provided me, there are also religious grounds for my refusal: How can I do this great wickedness, and sin to God?

וַיְהִ֕י כְּדַבְּרָ֥הּ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֖ף י֣וֹם ׀ י֑וֹם וְלֹא־שָׁמַ֥ע אֵלֶ֛יהָ לִשְׁכַּ֥ב אֶצְלָ֖הּ לִהְי֥וֹת עִמָּֽהּ׃

Despite Joseph’s refusal, she persisted: It was as she spoke to Joseph day after day, and he did not heed her to lie with her, to be with her. At first, she tried to the best of her ability to seduce Joseph. When he refused, she requested that he lie in her bed beside her. Joseph was torn between temptation and the restraint demanded by his religion and his conscience. Nevertheless, the more she pushed to be with Joseph, the more he took effort to avoid her.

וַיְהִי֙ כְּהַיּ֣וֹם הַזֶּ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֥א הַבַּ֖יְתָה לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת מְלַאכְתּ֑וֹ וְאֵ֨ין אִ֜ישׁ מֵאַנְשֵׁ֥י הַבַּ֛יִת שָׁ֖ם בַּבָּֽיִת׃

It was on a certain day, a festive occasion, that he, Joseph, went into the house to perform his labor, and none of the people of the household were there in the house. Perhaps everyone went to partake in whatever celebrations were taking place on that day. Joseph, as a faithful servant, remained in the house. Potifar’s wife also remained, as she had plans of her own:

וַתִּתְפְּשֵׂ֧הוּ בְּבִגְד֛וֹ לֵאמֹ֖ר שִׁכְבָ֣ה עִמִּ֑י וַיַּעֲזֹ֤ב בִּגְדוֹ֙ בְּיָדָ֔הּ וַיָּ֖נָס וַיֵּצֵ֥א הַחֽוּצָה׃

She seized him by his garment, saying: Lie with me. He left his garment in her hand. At that time, people wore robes that wrapped around their bodies. Accordingly, when she grabbed Joseph’s garment, he was able to unravel himself from it, leaving it in her hand. Joseph fled, and went outside.

וַיְהִי֙ כִּרְאוֹתָ֔הּ כִּֽי־עָזַ֥ב בִּגְד֖וֹ בְּיָדָ֑הּ וַיָּ֖נָס הַחֽוּצָה׃

It was when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and had fled outside. When she realized that even now, Joseph refused to lie with her, she could no longer rationalize his refusal by claiming that it was as an attempt to tease her, or that he rejected her until a more opportune time would present itself. She now felt immensely insulted, whether because she failed to achieve her desire, or because the lowly servant Joseph had the audacity to refuse her demands.

וַתִּקְרָ֞א לְאַנְשֵׁ֣י בֵיתָ֗הּ וַתֹּ֤אמֶר לָהֶם֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר רְא֗וּ הֵ֥בִיא לָ֛נוּ אִ֥ישׁ עִבְרִ֖י לְצַ֣חֶק בָּ֑נוּ בָּ֤א אֵלַי֙ לִשְׁכַּ֣ב עִמִּ֔י וָאֶקְרָ֖א בְּק֥וֹל גָּדֽוֹל׃

Potifar’s wife sought to protect her dignity and simultaneously take revenge against Joseph. She called to the people of her household, and spoke to them, saying: See, he, Potifar, brought to us a Hebrew man to ridicule us (see 19:14). Alternatively, the verse means: He brought to us a Hebrew man to abuse us. He came to me to lie with me, and I, being a decent woman, cried out immediately with a loud voice.

וַיְהִ֣י כְשָׁמְע֔וֹ כִּֽי־הֲרִימֹ֥תִי קוֹלִ֖י וָאֶקְרָ֑א וַיַּעֲזֹ֤ב בִּגְדוֹ֙ אֶצְלִ֔י וַיָּ֖נָס וַיֵּצֵ֥א הַחֽוּצָה׃

It was when he heard; I raised my voice and cried. He left his garment with me, fled, and went outside.

וַתַּנַּ֥ח בִּגְד֖וֹ אֶצְלָ֑הּ עַד־בּ֥וֹא אֲדֹנָ֖יו אֶל־בֵּיתֽוֹ׃

Potifar’s wife did not suffice with relating this tale to the members of the household; rather, she placed his garment beside her, until his master’s arrival to his home.

וַתְּדַבֵּ֣ר אֵלָ֔יו כַּדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה לֵאמֹ֑ר בָּֽא־אֵלַ֞י הָעֶ֧בֶד הָֽעִבְרִ֛י אֲשֶׁר־הֵבֵ֥אתָ לָּ֖נוּ לְצַ֥חֶק בִּֽי׃

She spoke to him these words, saying: The Hebrew slave whom you brought to us and whom you promoted, came to me to mock me.

וַיְהִ֕י כַּהֲרִימִ֥י קוֹלִ֖י וָאֶקְרָ֑א וַיַּעֲזֹ֥ב בִּגְד֛וֹ אֶצְלִ֖י וַיָּ֥נָס הַחֽוּצָה׃

It was as I raised my voice and cried that he left his garment with me and fled outside.

וַיְהִי֩ כִשְׁמֹ֨עַ אֲדֹנָ֜יו אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֣י אִשְׁתּ֗וֹ אֲשֶׁ֨ר דִּבְּרָ֤ה אֵלָיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר כַּדְּבָרִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה עָ֥שָׂהּ לִ֖י עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ וַיִּ֖חַר אַפּֽוֹ׃

It was when his master heard the words of his wife that she spoke to him, saying: Your slave did to me in this manner, he attempted to rape me, he, Potifar, was incensed. It should be noted that the verse does not state with whom he was incensed.

וַיִּקַּח֩ אֲדֹנֵ֨י יוֹסֵ֜ף אֹת֗וֹ וַֽיִּתְּנֵ֙הוּ֙ אֶל־בֵּ֣ית הַסֹּ֔הַר מְק֕וֹם אֲשֶׁר־אסורי [אֲסִירֵ֥י] הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ אֲסוּרִ֑ים וַֽיְהִי־שָׁ֖ם בְּבֵ֥ית הַסֹּֽהַר׃

Joseph’s master took him, without any judicial process, and placed him in the prison in order to punish him, in the place where the king’s prisoners were incarcerated. It later becomes apparent that this prison housed distinguished political prisoners, not convicted criminals. And he was there in the prison as one of the prisoners.

וַיְהִ֤י יְהוָה֙ אֶת־יוֹסֵ֔ף וַיֵּ֥ט אֵלָ֖יו חָ֑סֶד וַיִּתֵּ֣ן חִנּ֔וֹ בְּעֵינֵ֖י שַׂ֥ר בֵּית־הַסֹּֽהַר׃

The Lord was with Joseph, and granted him appeal, and put his favor in the eyes of the commandant of the prison. Joseph had the ability to ingratiate himself with people outside of his family.

וַיִּתֵּ֞ן שַׂ֤ר בֵּית־הַסֹּ֙הַר֙ בְּיַד־יוֹסֵ֔ף אֵ֚ת כָּל־הָ֣אֲסִירִ֔ם אֲשֶׁ֖ר בְּבֵ֣ית הַסֹּ֑הַר וְאֵ֨ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֤ר עֹשִׂים֙ שָׁ֔ם ה֖וּא הָיָ֥ה עֹשֶֽׂה׃

Joseph’s charm was effective even on the commandant of the prison. He took notice of Joseph, and after some time the commandant of the prison put in Joseph’s charge all the prisoners that were in the prison. Even though Joseph was still a prisoner, he again earned an administrative position. He was considered a loyal and trustworthy prisoner, and an excellent administrator. He was therefore appointed to oversee all the other prisoners. And everything that they did there, he, Joseph, would determine. Joseph was in charge of the daily routine of the prison: meal times, recreational times, and all other daily activities of the prisoners.

אֵ֣ין ׀ שַׂ֣ר בֵּית־הַסֹּ֗הַר רֹאֶ֤ה אֶֽת־כָּל־מְא֙וּמָה֙ בְּיָד֔וֹ בַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר יְהוָ֖ה אִתּ֑וֹ וַֽאֲשֶׁר־ה֥וּא עֹשֶׂ֖ה יְהוָ֥ה מַצְלִֽיחַ׃ (ס)

Eventually, the commandant of the prison did not oversee anything in his charge. The commandant trusted Joseph completely and did not scrutinize his actions, for all could see that the Lord was with him. That which he did, the Lord made successful. Joseph was not simply a man of fine appearance. His charm captured everyone around him: Potifar, Potifar’s wife, and the commandant of the prison. Later in the narrative, others are also captivated by his charm. Aside from his extraordinary effectiveness, something about Joseph’s personality conveyed to those around him that God was with him, and that he was somehow connected to supreme holiness.