EXPOSITION. 1 exception of a fow alterations by the redactor CH.APTER XXXIX. (Davidson), or because, though the work of ,·er. 1.-.And Joseph was brought down the Elohist, it has been modified by the to Egypt. The narrative now preparing to Jehovistic editor (Bleek, Yail1inger); but recite the fortunes of Joseph in Egypt, which more likely because the advancement of cvcntnally led, through bis elevation to be Joseph in Egypt was a special fruit of the Pharaoh' s prime minister, first to the salva- theocratic promise which belonged to the tion of the patriarchal family, and finally to patriarchal family (Hongstenberg, Quarry)- their settlement in Goshen, the historian wa.s with J"oseph (cf. ver. 21; xxi. 20; xxvi. reverts, in accordance with his usual prac- 24; xxviii. 16), and he was a i;>rosperous tice, to a point of time antecedent to the man (literally, a man prosperi'll{J); and he incidents contained in the preceding chapter, was in the house of his master the Egyp• nnd makes a new departure in his story from tian-i. e. as a domestic servnnt. the moment of Joseph's crossing into Egypt. Ver. 3.-And his master saw tho.t the And Potiphar, an officer of Fhara.oh, cap- Lord (Jehovah) was with him-this does not tain of the guard (vide eh. :x:xxvii. 36), a.n imply that Potiphar was acquainted with Egyptian,-literally, a man of Mitzraim. Jehovah, but s1mplv that he concluded This implies that foreigners were sometimes Joseph to be under the Divine protection- employed to fill responsible offices about the and that the Lord (Jehovah) ma.de all that Court of Pharaoh. The phrase "!.a not a he did to prosper in his hanll. That which superfluous addition, as the population of led to the conviction of Potiphar concerning Heliopolis, from remote times, included a con- Joseph was the remarkable success which siderable admixture of Arabians" (Kalisch)- he saw attending all his efforts nnd under- bought him of the hands of the Ishmaelites takings. • (vide eh. xxxvii. 3G), which had brought him Vor. 4.-.And J'oseph found graoe in his down thither. aight,-vide eh. vi. 8; xviii. 3 ; xix. 19; Ver. 2. -And the Lord-Jehovah, as xxxix. 21. Most men aro plertsed with a nsua 1, uecause the en tire chapfor is the work good servant. Even Laban had no objec- of the J chovist (Tuch, Colen so), with the tions to Jacob so long as lie divined that CH. XXXIX, 1-6.) THE BOOK OF GENESIS. 441
Jehovah w11s multiplying his flocks for Ja. time that he had made (literally, from lltat cob's sake (eh. xxx. 27)-nnd he served him time he made) him overseer in his house, (i. e. ho waited on Potiphar, or nctcd as his and over all that he had, that (literally, personal attendant and comptroller of his and) the Lord (Jehovah) blessed the Egyp- f1ouschold): and he (i. e. Potiphar) made him tie.n's house for.J'oseph's sake (cf. eh. xxir. overseer over. his house,-a position co1Te- 12); and the bleasing of the Lord (Jehovah) sponding to that occupied by Eliezer in the was upon all.that he had in the house, and household of Abraham (eh. xxiv. 2). ,Egyp- in the ~eld. It is observable that through- tian monuments attest the existence of such out this chapter, when the historian is an officer in wealthy houses at an early pe- speaking in his own name the term Jehovah riod ; a tomb at Kum-el-Ahmar exhibiting is used to designate the Supreme Being (cf. the account books, writing materials, and ve:ra: 21! 23), '!"~ereas when Joserh replies clerks that pertain to the office of a stewo.rd, to his mistress it LS the word Eloh1m which and another at Beni-hassan, besides displayiug he employs, the reason of which is suffi- his accustomed inlplements, styling him the ciently obvious. Overseer (Wilkinson's 'Ancient Egyptians,' Ver. 6-And· (accordingly, encouraged by vol.i. p. 372, ed. 1878; Hengstenberg's 'Egypt the admirable success attending Joseph's and tbe Books of Moses,' p. 24). A sepul- management) he left all that he had in chral inscription belonging to the period of J'oseph's hand (i. e. gave him unrestricted. the eleventh dynasty also mentions among control over all his temporal affairs) ; and ha the officers comprising the household of knew not ought he had (literally, he knew Amcni the chancellor Athorsi, the barber not anything with him, i. e. he shared. uot Khentikhrati, the slave Gefohapi, the lady's the care of anything along with him), save maid Khui, the steward Ameni, the steward the bread which he did eat. This was Santit (vide 'Records of the Past;' vol. vi. necessitated by the laws of caste which then p. 3). Joseph had also, after his exaltation, prcvo.iled among the Egyptians, and in par- a ruler or sieward of his house (cf. eh. xliii ticular by the fact that "the Egyptians 16, 19 ; xliv. 1)-and all that he had he put might not eat with the Hebrews" (eh. xliii. into his hand=literally, and all which was w 32). And Joseph was a goodly person, and hiin he gave into Ms hand, i. e. he intrristed well favoured-literally, beautiful in form to ,Toseph's care). and beautifitl in appearance, like his mother Ver. 6,-Alld it came to pass from the Rachel (eh. xxix. 17).