JOSEPH AND THE WIFE OF POTIPHAR If Judah, the free son, had enslaved himself to the lust of his body, and married the Canaanite, the daughter of Shua; Joseph, the slave, on the other hand, proclaimed his true freedom, when his master’s wife could not take over his heart, or defile his body, despite the bitter circumstances in which that young man lived. Indeed, if the name ‘Joseph’ means ‘growth’ or ‘addition,’ he practiced, in his life, consistent growth: in his love for his brothers, despite their hatred for him; and now, in his enjoyment of purity in the midst of servitude. 1- Joseph in the house of Potiphar 1-6. 2- Joseph and his master’s wife 7-10. 3- Joseph and his garment 1-18. 4- Joseph in prison 19-23. 1- JOSEPH IN THE HOUSE OF POTIPHAR We did not hear about Joseph, while in his father’s house, that the house was blessed because of him, nor was said, “The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man” (Gen. 39:2). That was not because Joseph was not a blessing in his father’s house, or that he was not successful, but, as he was enjoying his father’s bosom, and his colored tunic, he was not in need of a word of encouragement. But, when he was sold as a slave in a strange land, and became deprived of any family emotion, the divine inspiration proclaimed that the Lord Himself was with him, granting him success, and giving him favor in his master’s eyes; as it is said: “The Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all that he had in the house and in the field. So He (Potiphar) left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. And Joseph was handsome in form and appearance” (Gen. 39:5-6). Joseph, in Jacob’s house, was like a bottle of expensive fragrant oil, kept closed, for nobody to enjoy its smell; but once it was broken by the afflictions of servitude, and deprivation of family love, its fragrance filled Potiphar’s house and field. So, seeing in Joseph the work of God, he loved him dearly, and put everything in his hand. Everybody saw him handsome in form and appearance, as affliction revealed the inner beauty of his face, as well as the peace of his heart and mind. The same thing happened with his father Jacob; who could not enjoy the heavenly ladder, nor the mysteries and glories of the cross, while still in his father’s tent, and in the bosom of his mother Rebecca; But he did, once he became a fugitive with no human help, placing his head on Christ (the Cornerstone). If we could say, that we could never have recognized the true Joseph, as being, “Fairer than the sons of men” (Psalm 44), until he was lifted up on the cross, and crossed the winepress alone, for our sake; That is why the Church praises him by saying: “Your name is ointment poured forth. Therefore the virgins love you” (Song 1:3). 2- JOSEPH AND HIS MASTER’S WIFE The Church stands, all along the ages, before the pure Joseph, who refused to defile his body, with respect and honor. The heart that was filled with true love, even for his brothers who hated him, has no place for carnal lust, nor a need for the emotion of a strange woman. Joseph succeeded in the temptation set for him by the enemy 4 through his master’s wife, not because of human dignity, nor of an earlier upbringing, but because of the love that filled his heart. That was confirmed by St. John Chrysostom, as he compared between Joseph and Potiphar’s wife, proclaiming that Joseph had practically loved her; In his talk to her, he did not hurt her feelings with a single harsh word... he did not hint that she was intending to commit adultery; but humbly said: “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and has committed all that he has in my hand. There is no greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife” (Gen. 39:9). He is reminding her that she is his mistress, and his master’s wife, proclaiming that he could not pay for their generosity toward him, by treason! He proclaims that he is the servant who serves, and not betray. He made it clear, that his relationship with them, is in the Lord, saying: “How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” (Gen. 39:9) He loved her in the Lord, and submitted to her in the Lord. The sign of his true love was that he did not say anything disgraceful about her, when he was unfairly put in prison; nor avenged her, when he was glorified by Pharaoh! On the contrary, Potiphar’s wife loved him only carnally, or, in other words, she loved the lusts of her body, as proved by her putting him in prison, and exposing him to death. Fr. Caesarius says: [I believe that she neither loved him, nor loved herself. If she loved him, how could she wish to destroy him?! And if she loved herself, how could she wish to disgrace herself?! She was not in love, but was burning with the poison of lust. She was not shinning with the flame of the truth1.] In his talk with her, who loved him ferociously, he kept on calling her man, “My master.” He did not use her evil emotions to control her, nor to let her feel that he is equal to her, but adorned himself with the spirit of humility; and as St. Ambrose says: [Although Joseph was from the family of the great Patriarchs, he was not ashamed of the lowly servitude, but he adorned it by his readiness for service, and glorified it by his virtues2.] 3- JOSEPH AND HIS GARMENT As they were home alone, she caught him by his garment, so “He left the garment in her hand and fled and ran outside” (Gen. 39:2). He was aware of the probable consequences of his escape: nakedness, disgrace, and false accusation, and probably also death. Yet, he accepted all that, as a price for his relationship with God and his purity. By that, the young Joseph became a living role model for purity; and as said by Fr. Caesarius: [In the Church there are three role models for purity, the example of whom we should follow: Joseph, Sosanna, and St. Mary; Men should follow the example of Joseph, women should follow that of Sosanna, and virgins should follow that of St. Mary3.] If it was said about Joseph, that he was “handsome in form and appearance” (Gen. 39:6), leaving his garment in the hands of his mistress, revealed his purity, the beauty of his soul, and the sweetness of his heart; and as said by Fr. Caesarius: [Joseph was more handsome inside than outside, in his heart that the woman could not penetrate to enjoy its beauty, than his outer body4.] St. John Chrysostom5 says that 1 Ser.98:1. 2 Duties of the Clergy 2:17. 3 Ser. 93:3. 4 Ser. 90:2. 5 In Matt. Hom 18:2. 5 Joseph became naked, to become more splendid than others; as though he returned to how Adam has not been ashamed of his nakedness in Paradise, because of his purity. Joseph became a living role model of courage and fleeing from evil. Of the sayings of Fathers in this concern: If you are still pure, be more so by avoiding looking at indecent things, and hearing improper talk...Do not seek vain excuses, but have only one solution... leave the Egyptian harlot, and escape even naked1. St. John Chrysostom Joseph fled leaving his garment, to avoid hearing what could contradict his purity, as he, who enjoys listening, is encouraging the other who talks2. St. Ambrose If you can follow Joseph’s example, and leave your garment in the hand of your Egyptian mistress; in your nakedness you are following your Lord and Savior, who says in the Bible, that whoever do not forsake all what he has and bear his cross and follow Me, will not be my disciple3. St. Jerome When you are on the housetop, do not think about your garment that is down (Matthew 24: 17, 18); To flee from your Egyptian mistress, forsake the garment that belongs to this world... Even Elijah, in his quick move to heaven, could not take his mantle with him, but left the garments of the world there in the world (2 Kings 2:11,13)4. St. Jerome Fr. Asterius, Bishop of Amasea, believes that what Joseph did, strongly bore what was realized in our Lord Jesus Christ, saying: [An Egyptian woman caught Joseph by his garment, so he left his garment in her hand and fled away... Christ The Lord forsook death that took hold of Him, leaving his linen clothes in the tomb. The Egyptian woman got Joseph’s garment in her hand, but could not get Joseph himself... The linen wraps were in the tomb that could not keep the Lord in it5.] 4- JOSEPH IN PRISON Potiphar’s wife could not have Joseph’s heart, so he took hold of his garment, and cried out accusing him of evil, to arouse the anger of her husband: “He took him and put him into the prison, a place where the King’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison” (Gen. 39: 20, 21) Joseph succeeded in his father’s house, as a son who loved those who hated him; so God got him into servitude, to proclaim his success as a foreign slave; and having succeeded in his servitude, and adorned it with virtues. God got him in prison, to be glorified in him in the midst of criminals. God gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison, who committed everything to Joseph’s hand, and: “The Lord was with him, and whatever he did, the Lord made it prosper” (Gen. 39:23). How beautiful are the words of St. John Chrysostom: [Joseph, in his 1 In Matt. Hom 37:8. 2 Duties of the Clergy 1:18. 3 Ep. 145. 4 Ep. 118:4. 5 On Ps. 5. hom 19. 6 shackles, was more glorified than any victorious crowned leader; while Potiphar’s wife, even in her royal dwellings, was more miserable than any prisoner1.] The divine inspiration confirmed that “The Lord was with Joseph.” By this the prison turned into heaven; as wherever the Lord is, that place turns to heaven! Jonah encountered the Lord, buried in the tomb, when he was inside the whale, amid the raging waves of the sea; and the Word of God appeared among the three young men amid the flames of fire, while the Pharisee was deprived of the encounter with God in the temple, as he stood haughtily counting his virtues! I am not underestimating by this, the holiness of the temple, but I wish we encounter with God wherever we are! God wants us to become a sanctuary for the Lord, and a temple for His Holy Spirit, to carry Him inside us wherever we go. Thus, the prison was transformed in Joseph’s life, into a new encounter with the Lord, on a level, probably deeper than what he has been, in his father’s house. Or in that of his master. Anyhow, the wicked woman cast Joseph into prison to destroy him; and there he found success and grace; the prison was transformed into a way to glory; and as said by St. John Chrysostom: [So are God’s ordainment, that things that seem to harm us, are, themselves, that benefit us. That is what occurred in Joseph’s case; his mistress intended to destroy him, yet while doing that, she placed him into security. The house where that monster (woman) has been kept, was for Joseph, a sort of pit, while the prison was for him a mercy. When he was in her house, surrounded by endearment and love (her flirtation), he was in terror that she would entrap him; but once he was accused and cast in prison, he got rid of that monster and of its corruption and perishing plots. So, it was better for him, to be put into a miserable place (prison), amid humans, than to be in a place dwelt by a crazy woman... Actually, he was not cast into prison, but he set forth from one. She turned his master into an enemy, but made of God a friend of his! She let him enter into a closer relationship with God, the true Friend2.] 1 In Matt. Hom 84:4. 2 In Acts hom 49.
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