Biblical Hotties

October 31, 2009, 9:19 am by dc-agape.

Genesis Chapter 39

This is the story of Joseph’s rise and fall, in Potiphar’s house and in Potiphar’s custody.  Remember Potiphar is the captain of the guard, we learn in Gen 40:3 that Joseph is in custody in the house of the captain of the guard.  So Potiphar is not the captain of the Pharaoh’s military guard but of his prison guard!  And Joseph has gone from being a slave of Potiphar to being a prisoner of Potiphar.

We can assume that it took time for Potiphar to recognize that Joseph was good at what he was told to do.  So over time he gained favor in the eyes of Potiphar.  He did diligent work, and his master saw this.  The Word of God attributes Joseph’s capacity to work to YHWH.  But just like Jacob, Joseph’s father, I would not be surprised that shear human capacity would be effective.  When Jacob becomes rich off of Laban, it is not due to YHWH.  And we can be sure that Joseph learned a thing or two from his father, both about work ethics and about tending flocks.  Basically, Joseph was prepped by his childhood to succeed. 

Due to the “good looks the Lord gave” Joseph, Potiphar’s wife began to notice him; she wanted to have sex with him.  Rich woman and slaves, common story!  Day after day she would ask, and Joseph would deny her.  He denies her by bragging about his position in the house.  His pride does not help the situation, which would only make her want him all the more.  There is no fury like a woman scorned!  She sets a trap by sending all the servants away except Joseph.  Then she approached him and attempted to seduce him.  She fails, but in the attempt has his cloak.  Miraculously the other servants hear her scream, at her failure.  In her scorn, she devices to tell Potiphar that Joseph was the one who tried to sex with her. 

For some reason, Potiphar believes his wife.  Wouldn’t you think that she had tried to have extra-marital affairs before?  Don’t you think that he would not know about this?  But he is furious with Joseph.  Even though by this time, Joseph has been in the household for a number of years.  So Potiphar puts Joseph under house arrest!  Potiphar’s house is the prison that Joseph is in!  When you realize this, of course the warden likes Joseph.  He has seen everything that Joseph has done since Potiphar bought him as a slave!  And I would not be surprised if the warden did not know the truth about Potiphar’s wife, to boot.  As a result, the warden takes advantage of having someone he trust.  Joseph becomes the warden’s right hand man, just like he had been Potiphar’s right hand man.

If the Christians would recognize that Joseph was never moved out of the same compound (Potiphar’s house), they would recognize that YHWH was not responsible for anything that happened to Joseph!  His brother’s anger sold him into slavery, his hard work paid off in Potiphar’s house and prison.  The only thing that remains a mystery is why did Potiphar buy Joseph?  But the Word of God is completely silent on this topic.

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