Ver. 1. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s.] See here a sweet providence, that Joseph should fall into such hands. Potiphar was provost-marshal, keeper of the king’s prisoners. And what could Joseph have wished better than this, that, since he must be a prisoner, he should be put into that prison, where he might, by interpreting the butler’s dream, come to so great preferment? Chrysostom, in his nineteenth Homily on the Ephesians, saith: We must not once doubt of the divine providence, though we presently perceive not the causes and reasons of many passages. And this he sweetly sets forth by apt similitudes drawn from the works of carpenters, painters, bees, ants, spiders, swallows, &c. Surely, as a man, by a chain made up of various links, some of gold, others of silver, some of brass, iron, or tin, may be drawn out of a pit: so the Lord by the concurrence of several subordinate things, which have no manner of dependence, or natural coincidency among themselves, hath oftentimes wrought and brought about the deliverance and exaltation of his children, that it might appear to be the work of his own hand. See M. Reynold on Psalm cx. 5.
Ver. 2. And the Lord was with Joseph, and he, &c.] “The Lord” also “is with you, while ye be with him”: (2 Chronicles 15:2) and so long you may promise yourselves prosperity; that of Gaius, howsoever, -that your souls shall prosper; and for most part also, your outward estates. If it fall out otherwise, it is because God will have godliness admired for itself. If ungodly men prosper, it is that ease may slay them, (Proverbs 1:32) and “that they may perish for ever.” (Psalms 37:20) Moritur Zacharias Papa, rebus pro Ecclesiae salute et Apostolicae sedis dignitate, non tam pie quam prospere gestis, saith Sigonius. This was little to his commendation, -that he was not so pious as he was prosperous.
Ver. 3. And his master saw.] Though he knew not God, yet he acknowledged that God was the giver of prosperity, and that piety pleaseth him. This ran into his senses, but wrought not kindly upon his heart.
Ver. 4. And Joseph found grace in his sight.] This also was of God, who fashioneth men’s opinions, and therefore Paul, though he went to carry alms (and such are commonly welcome), yet prays that his “service might be accepted of the saints.” (Romans 15:31) And he served him.] As his page or chamberlain; afterwards he became his steward. He that is faithful in a little shall be master of more.
Ver. 5. The Lord blessed the Egyptian’s house.] There is nothing lost by any love men show to the saints. “God is not unfaithful to forget” it, nor unmindful to reward it. (Hebrews 6:10)
Ver. 6. And he knew not aught he had, &c.] Some expound this of Joseph, that he took nothing for all his pains, but the food he ate; did not feather his own nest, as many in his place would have done; nor embezzle his master’s goods committed to his trust. But without doubt the other is the better sense: Potiphar took what was provided for him, and cared for no more. This is few men’s happiness; for usually the master is the greatest servant in the house. And Joseph was a goodly person.] But nothing so goodly on the outside as on the inside. His brethren had stript him of his coat, but could not disrobe him of his graces. Still he retained his piety and fear of God, his integrity and faithfulness toward his master, his chastity and modesty toward his mistress, his spiritual prudence and watchfulness over himself. How stoutly did he resist the devil, despise the world, subdue the flesh! Many “archers shot at him, but his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made firm by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob.” (Genesis 49:23,24) Of bodily beauty, [See Trapp on “Ge 6:2”] Pulchrior in luce cordis quam facie corporis.
Ver. 7. After these things.] After he had been ten or eleven years in that house. So long he was safe: yet at length set upon. Learn we always to stand upon our guard; to do, as it is reported of the bird Onocrotalus, that she is so well practised to expect the hawk to grapple with her, that even, when she shutteth her eyes, she sleepeth with her beak exalted, as if she would contend with her adversary. A man is to expect, if he live out his days, to be urged to all sins, to the breach of every branch of the ten commandments, and to be put to it in respect of every article of our creed. His master’s wife cast her eyes upon Joseph.] She looked and lusted. [See Trapp on “Ge 34:2”] And she said, Lie with me.] An impudent harlotry, that could so barely and basely solicit. Such a frontless propudium was that in the Proverbs 7:13,18. Such were those insatiate empresses, Messalina, wife to Claudius; and Barbara, wife to Sigismund, emperor of Germany, faemina immensae libidinis et procacitatis inverecundae, quae saepius viros peteret quam peteretur. Vitam omnem censuit inanem, quae non coitu, luxu, ac libidine contereretur. And such were those brazen faced courtezans that Franciscus Junius, that learned man, met with; and for their sakes abhorred the company of all women ever after, as himself recordeth in his own life. The Divine Cosmographer, p. 94. Non dicit Moses, “Vidit”; “Aspexit,” &c. Hic fuit aspectus impudicus. -Pareus. Pareus, in Medul. Hist. Profanae, p. 786. Haec stultas vocabat virgines pro Christi nomine passas, quod voluptatum gaudia non gustassent.