Genesis 39:12

It is very probable that before this time, as soon as ever she began to speak to him, he got away as fast as he could, and would not hear her; wherefore she now laid hold on his garment, in order to detain him, that she might have time to parley with him, and so prevail: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out; it was his outward loose garment she laid hold on, out of which he slipped himself, and so got clear of her, and ran away, and got out of the house as fast as he could: this he did, because he would not struggle with his mistress for his garment, which no doubt by his strength he could have got from her; and partly lest he should by handling of her have carnal desires excited in him, and so be overcome with her temptation. Genesis 39:13 Ver. 13. And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand,.... And so all hopes of succeeding in her addresses to him were over: and [he] was fled forth; into the streets, or into some out house, where business was carried on by servants under him. Genesis 39:14 Ver. 14. That she called unto the men of her house,....

39:7-12 Beauty either in men or women, often proves a snare both to themselves and others. This forbids pride in it, and requires constant watchfulness against the temptation that attends it. We have great need to make a covenant with our eyes, lest the eyes infect the heart. When lust has got power, decency, and reputation, and conscience, are all sacrificed. Potiphar's wife showed that her heart was fully set to do evil. Satan, when he found he could not overcome Joseph with the troubles and the frowns of the world, for in them he still held fast his principle, assaulted him with pleasures, which have ruined more than the former. But Joseph, by the grace of God, was enabled to resist and overcome this temptation; and his escape was as great an instance of the Divine power, as the deliverance of the three children out of the fiery furnace. This sin was one which might most easily beset him. The tempter was his mistress, one whose favour would help him forward; and it was at his utmost peril if he slighted her, and made her his enemy. The time and place favoured the temptation. To all this was added frequent, constant urging. The almighty grace of God enabled Joseph to overcome this assault of the enemy. He urges what he owed both to God and his master. We are bound in honour, as well as justice and gratitude, not in any thing to wrong those who place trust in us, how secretly soever it may be done. He would not offend his God. Three arguments Joseph urges upon himself. 1.

He considers who he was that was tempted. One in covenant with God, who professed religion and relation to him. 2. What the sin was to which he was tempted. Others might look upon it as a small matter; but Joseph did not so think of it. Call sin by its own name, and never lessen it. Let sins of this nature always be looked upon as great wickedness, as exceedingly sinful. 3. Against whom he was tempted to sin, against God. Sin is against God, against his nature and his dominion, against his love and his design. Those that love God, for this reason hate sin. The grace of God enabled Joseph to overcome the temptation, by avoiding the temper. He would not stay to parley with the temptation, but fled from it, as escaping for his life. If we mean not to do iniquity, let us flee as a bird from the snare, and as a roe from the hunter.

And she caught him by his garment, saying, lie with me,.... It is very probable that before this time, as soon as ever she began to speak to him, he got away as fast as he could, and would not hear her; wherefore she now laid hold on his garment, in order to detain him, that she might have time to parley with him, and so prevail: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out; it was his outward loose garment she laid hold on, out of which he slipped himself, and so got clear of her, and ran away, and got out of the house as fast as he could: this he did, because he would not struggle with his mistress for his garment, which no doubt by his strength he could have got from her; and partly lest he should by handling of her have carnal desires excited in him, and so be overcome with her temptation.

He left his garment in her hand, which he would not strive to get from her, partly, for reverence to his mistress; partly, in detestation of her wickedness, whereby even his garment might seem to be infected; and partly, to put himself and her out of the danger of further temptation.

"At this day," the day on which the occurrence now to be related took place. "To do his business." He does not come in her way except at the call of duty. He hath brought in. She either does not condescend, or does not need to name her husband. "A Hebrew to mock us." Her disappointment now provokes her to falsehood as the means of concealment and revenge. A Hebrew is still the only national designation proper to Joseph Genesis 14:13 . Jacob's descendants had not got beyond the family. The term Israelite was therefore, not yet in use. The national name is designedly used as a term of reproach among the Egyptians Genesis 43:32 . "To mock us," - to take improper liberties, not only with me, but with any of the females in the house. "I cried with a loud voice." This is intended to be the proof of her innocence Deuteronomy 22:24 , Deuteronomy 22:27 . "Left his garments by me;" not in her hand, which would have been suspicious.

But after she had repeated her enticements day after day without success, "it came to pass at that time (הזּה כּהיּום for the more usual הזּה כּיּום ( Genesis 50:20 ), lit., about this day, i.e., the day in the writer's mind, on which the thing to be narrated occurred) that Joseph came into his house to attend to his duties, and there were none of the house-servants within." And she laid hold of him by his garment and entreated him to lie with her; but he left his garment in her hand and fled from the house.

[Bible] Genesis Chapter 39 Joseph hath charge of his master's house: rejecteth his mistress's solicitations: is falsely accused by her, and cast into prison, where he hath the charge of all the prisoners. 39:1. And Joseph was brought into Egypt, and Putiphar, an eunuch of Pharao, chief captain of the army, an Egyptian, bought him of the Ismaelites, by whom he was brought. 39:2. And the Lord was with him, and he was a prosperous man in all things: and he dwelt in his master's house: 39:3. Who knew very well that the Lord was with him, and made all that he did to prosper in his hand. 39:4. And Joseph found favour in the sight of his master, and ministered to him: and being set over all by him, he governed the house committed to him, and all things that were delivered to him: 39:5. And the Lord blessed the house of the Egyptian for Joseph's sake, and multiplied all his substance, both at home and in the fields. 39:6. Neither knew he any other thing, but the bread which he ate. And Joseph was of a beautiful countenance, and comely to behold. 39:7. And after many days, his mistress cast her eyes on Joseph, and said: Lie with me. 39:8. But he in no wise consenting to that wicked act said to her: Behold, my master hath delivered all things to me, and knoweth not what he hath in his own house: 39:9. Neither is there any thing which is not in my power, or that he hath not delivered to me, but thee, who art his wife; how then can I do this wicked thing, and sin against my God? 39:10. With such words as these day by day, both the woman was importunate with the young man, and he refused the adultery. 39:11. Now it happened on a certain day, that Joseph went into the house, and was doing some business, without any man with him: 39:12. And she catching the skirt of his garment, said: Lie with me. But he leaving the garment in her hand, fled, and went out. 39:13. And when the woman saw the garment in her hands, and herself disregarded,

[Reformed Biblical] vil. See Pro_1:15 5:8 1Co_15:33 1Th_5:22 1Ti_5:14. Genesis 39:11 ## About this time, or, upon a certain day, which she thought convenient for the reason following. ## To do his business, that which belonged to his charge; to cast up his accounts, as the Chaldee renders it, which requiring privacy, gave her this opportunity. ## There was none of the men within, to wit, in that part of the house where Joseph was. Genesis 39:12 He left his garment in her hand, which he would not strive to get from her, partly, for reverence to his mistress; partly, in detestation of her wickedness, whereby even his garment mi ght seem to be infected; and partly, to put himself and her out of the danger of further temptation. Genesis 39:14 # # Unto the men of her house; to such as were in other parts of the house, whom she called in as witnesses for her husband’s satisfaction. ## He, i.e. my husband, whom she would not name, as it were out of di sdain and high displeasure for being the occasion of this horrid affront. Thus the pronouns he and they are oft used by way of contempt, as Luk_4:24 19:27 Joh_7:11 8:10 . ## An Hebrew; so she calls him, to render him hateful and contemptible to the Egyptians. ## To mock us; to abuse me; or to vitiate and defile me; for that word is oft used in an obscene sense. Sh

And he left all that he had in Joseph`s hand, and took cognizance of nothing with him, save the bread that he ate. And Joseph was of a beautiful form and of a beautiful countenance. And it came to pass after these things, that his master`s wife cast her eyes on Joseph, and said, Lie with me! But he refused, and said to his master`s wife, Behold, my master takes cognizance of nothing with me: what is in the house, and all that he has, he has given into my hand. There is none greater in this house than I; neither has he withheld anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife; and how should I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? And it came to pass as she spoke to Joseph day by day and he hearkened not to her, to lie with her [and] to be with her, that on a certain day he went into the house to do his business, and there was none of the men of the house there in the house. Then she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me! But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran out. And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled forth, that she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, See, he has brought in a Hebrew man to us, to mock us: he came in to me, to lie with me; and I cried with a loud voice; and it came to pass when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went out. And she laid his garment by her until his lord came home.