In our previous study of Judah and Tamar, Tamar gave birth to twins, Judah’s sons, Pharez and Zerah (Genesis 38:28-30), in the same year in which Joseph brought his father, Jacob, and his entire family to Egypt. Here, we begin the account of Joseph, twenty-one years earlier, when he was seventeen years of age, just after his brothers sold him to Ishmaelite merchants, who took him to Egypt, where he was sold once more as a slave (cp. Genesis 37:2, 26-28, 36). In chapter 39 of the Book of Genesis, we find the name of God, vis-à-vis the LORD (Yahweh), mentioned eight times.[1] However, his name is mentioned only one other time afterward in the Book of Genesis, and that is in Genesis 49:18.
The name: Yahweh (all caps LORD in the KJV) reveals God as the covenant keeping God, and in Genesis 39 the eight occurrences tell us that he is with Joseph in Egypt, blessing him in whatever state Joseph is found. In other words, whatever man does to Joseph, whether he is put in slavery or in prison, the Lord turns cursing into a blessing and raises his servant up from the depths of despair and gives him great authority, second only to whomsoever his master is.
So, Joseph was brought down to Egypt by a band of Ishmaelite merchants, and they sold him to an officer in Pharoah’s court. The man’s name was Potiphar, and he was an Egyptian,[2] the captain of the guard, which may indicate he commanded the royal bodyguard, protecting Pharoah and his family, or he may have been Pharoah’s chief law officer, a kind of provost marshal (Genesis 39:1). The term officer (H5631) actually indicates Potiphar was a eunuch (castrated), as were all captured foreign royalty, who had once been the king’s/Pharoah’s enemies. Once conquered, all the males of the subjugated royal family that were brought to the victorious king as hostages were castrated and given certain responsibilities in the service of the victorious king. Potiphar seems to have been one of those males. He probably dwelt in a district, where other nobility lived, who had been taken hostage from his former kingdom. So, Joseph was bought by a man who, himself, served a foreign master, and he was apt to give Joseph such responsibilities that fitted his loyal service.
It is interesting that Joseph didn’t seek to escape. Certainly, he might have hidden himself with a band of merchants traveling east. Yet, he stayed, instead, submitting himself to the providence of God (Psalm 37:5). Therefore, the Lord was with Joseph, and he prospered him in all that he did in the service of his master, Potiphar, and eventually, he was brought into his house and served him there (Genesis 29:2).
Potiphar observed that the Lord caused everything that Joseph did to work out well. In fact, Potiphar was so pleased with Joseph that he made him the overseer of his house, because he trusted his loyalty, believing Joseph would carry out his responsibilities in a manner that served his master well (Genesis 29:3-4; cp. Matthew 25:21).
Moreover, it was found that from the very moment that Joseph was raised to this chief responsibility that the Lord blessed the house of Potiphar for Joseph’s sake. No matter what his business included, whether in his house or in his fields, Potiphar was blessed by the Lord, and he prospered for Joseph’s sake (Genesis 39:5). Therefore, because he was so pleased with Joseph Potiphar trusted him with everything, including the decisions that had to be made daily in his business and household affairs (Genesis 39:6).
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[1] That is, he is mentioned in Genesis 39:2-3 (3 times), 39:5 (twice), 39:21 (once) and 39:23 (twice) – 8 times!
[2] The term Egyptian is repeated three times in 5 verses (Genesis 39:1, 2, 5). Why was this needed? The literal term in Genesis 39:1 is a man of Mitraim, which is probably an emphasis that implies Potiphar was a foreigner who was raised to his high office.
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