Genesis 39:21

39:19-23 Joseph's master believed the accusation. Potiphar, it is likely, chose that prison, because it was the worst; but God designed to open the way to Joseph's honour. Joseph was owned and righted by his God. He was away from all his friends and relations; he had none to help or comfort him; but the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy. Those that have a good conscience in a prison, have a good God there. God gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison; he trusted him to manage the affairs of the prison. A good man will do good wherever he is, and will be a blessing even in bonds and banishment. Let us not forget, through Joseph, to look unto Jesus, who suffered being tempted, yet without sin; who was slandered, and persecuted, and imprisoned, but without cause; who by the cross ascended to the throne. May we be enabled to follow the same path in submitting and in suffering, to the same place of glory.

And the Lord was with Joseph,.... Comforting him with his presence under his afflictions; supporting him with his right hand; sanctifying all his troubles to him, and so causing him to bear them patiently and cheerfully: and showed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison; who was the underkeeper to Potiphar; God so wrought upon the heart of this man, that he was merciful to him, and took off the iron fetters, which hurt his feet, and gave him liberty to walk about; and many other favours and kindnesses he showed unto him, as follow.

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 (Ge 40:3), 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."

He is a goodly person, and his mistress solicits him to lie with her, Genesis 39:7. He abhorring the ingratitude against his master, and sin against God, constantly refuses, Genesis 39:8-10. They being in the house alone, she seizes his coat, which he leaves with her, and fled, Genesis 39:11-13. She accuses him first to the servants, Genesis 39:14,15; then to his master, Genesis 39:16-18, who casts him into prison, Genesis 39:19,20. The Lord is with him there; he finds favour with the keeper; is set over the prisoners, and prospers, Genesis 39:21-23. 1729 The Lord was with Joseph, with his gracious presence and blessing, as this phrase is taken here, Genesis 39:21 21:22 26:24. He was in the house of his master: he doth not endeavour to make an escape to his father, but demeaned himself patiently and faithfully in the station into which God’s providence had brought him.

Verse 21. - But (even if Joseph was harshly treated in the tower of Heliopolis) the Lord - Jehovah ( vide on ver. 5) - was with Joseph ( vide ver. 2), and showed him mercy (literally, extended kindness unto him ) , and gave him favor in the eyes of the keeper (or captain) of the prison (or round house). Genesis 39:21

Her husband believes her story and naturally resents the supposed unfaithfulness of his slave. His treatment of him is mild. He puts him in ward, probably to stand his trial for the offence. The Lord does not forsake the prisoner. He gives him favor with the governor of the jail. The same unlimited trust is placed in him by the governor as by his late master. - Joseph in Prison An uncomplaining patience and an unhesitating hopefulness keep the breast of Joseph in calm tranquillity. There is a God above, and that God is with him. His soul swerves not from this feeling. Meanwhile, new and distinguished prisoners are introduced into his place of confinement.

In the prison itself Jehovah was with Joseph, procuring him favour in the eyes of the governor of the prison, so that he entrusted all the prisoners to his care, leaving everything that they had to do, to be done through him, and not troubling himself about anything that was in his hand, i.e., was committed to him, because Jehovah made all that he did to prosper. "The keeper" was the governor of the prison, or superintendent of the gaolers, and was under Potiphar, the captain of the trabantes and chief of the executioners ( Genesis 37:36 ).

[Bible] 39:13. And when the woman saw the garment in her hands, and herself disregarded, 39:14. She called to her the men of her house, and said to them: See, he hath brought in a Hebrew, to abuse us: he came in to me, to lie with me; and when I cried out, 39:15. And he heard my voice, he left the garment that I held, and got him out. 39:16. For a proof therefore of her fidelity, she kept the garment, and shewed it to her husband when he returned home: A proof of her fidelity... or an argument to gain credit, argumentum fidei. 39:17. And said: The Hebrew servant, whom thou hast brought, came to me to abuse me. 39:18. And when he heard me cry, he left the garment which I held, and fled out. 39:19. His master hearing these things, and giving too much credit to his wife's words, was very angry, 39:20. And cast Joseph into the prison, where the king's prisoners were kept, and he was there shut up. 39:21. But the Lord was with Joseph, and having mercy upon him gave him favour in the sight of the chief keeper of the prison: 39:22. Who delivered into his hand all the prisoners that were kept in custody: and whatsoever was done, was under him. 39:23. Neither did he himself know any thing, having committed all things to him: for the Lord was with him, and made all that he did to prosper. Genesis Chapter 40 Joseph interpreteth the dreams of two of Pharao's servants in prison: the event declareth the interpretations to be true, but Joseph is forgotten. 40:1. After this, it came to pass, that two eunuchs, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, offended their lord. 40:2. And Pharao being angry with them, (now the one was chief butler, the other chief baker,) 40:3. He sent them to the prison of the commander of the soldiers, in which Joseph also was prisoner. 40:4. But the keeper of the prison delivered them to Joseph, and he served them. Some little time passed, and they were kept in custody.

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.