1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmaelites, which had brought him down thither.
2 And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him, and that the LORD made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
4 And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
6 And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well favored.
7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand;
9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,
14 That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:
15 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 got him out.
16 And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home.
17 And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:
18 And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out.
19 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.
20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.
23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper.
1 And Joseph H3130 was brought down H3381 to Egypt; H4714 and Potiphar, H6318 an officer H5631 of Pharaoh, H6547 captain H8269 of the guard, H2876 an Egyptian, H376 H4713 bought H7069 him of the hands H3027 of the Ishmeelites, H3459 which had brought him down H3381 thither.
2 And the LORD H3068 was with Joseph, H3130 and he was a prosperous H6743 man; H376 and he was in the house H1004 of his master H113 the Egyptian. H4713
3 And his master H113 saw H7200 that the LORD H3068 was with him, and that the LORD H3068 made all that he did H6213 to prosper H6743 in his hand. H3027
4 And Joseph H3130 found H4672 grace H2580 in his sight, H5869 and he served H8334 him: and he made him overseer H6485 over his house, H1004 and all that he had H3426 he put H5414 into his hand. H3027
5 And it came to pass from the time H227 that he had made him overseer H6485 in his house, H1004 and over all that he had, H3426 that the LORD H3068 blessed H1288 the Egyptian's H4713 house H1004 for Joseph's H3130 sake; H1558 and the blessing H1293 of the LORD H3068 was upon all that he had H3426 in the house, H1004 and in the field. H7704
6 And he left H5800 all that he had in Joseph's H3130 hand; H3027 and he knew H3045 not ought H3972 he had, save H518 the bread H3899 which he did eat. H398 And Joseph H3130 was a goodly H8389 person, and well H3303 favoured. H4758
7 And it came to pass after H310 these things, H1697 that his master's H113 wife H802 cast H5375 her eyes H5869 upon Joseph; H3130 and she said, H559 Lie H7901 with me.
8 But he refused, H3985 and said H559 unto his master's H113 wife, H802 Behold, my master H113 wotteth H3045 not what is with me in the house, H1004 and he hath committed H5414 all that he hath H3426 to my hand; H3027
9 There is none greater H1419 in this house H1004 than I; neither H3808 hath he kept back H2820 any thing H3972 from me but thee, because H834 thou H859 art his wife: H802 how then can I do H6213 this great H1419 wickedness, H7451 and sin H2398 against God? H430
10 And it came to pass, as she spake H1696 to Joseph H3130 day H3117 by day, H3117 that he hearkened H8085 not unto her, to lie H7901 by her, H681 or to be with her.
11 And it came to pass about this time, H3117 that Joseph went H935 into the house H1004 to do H6213 his business; H4399 and there was none of the men H376 H582 of the house H1004 there within.
12 And she caught H8610 him by his garment, H899 saying, H559 Lie H7901 with me: and he left H5800 his garment H899 in her hand, H3027 and fled, H5127 and got H3318 him out. H2351
13 And it came to pass, when she saw H7200 that he had left H5800 his garment H899 in her hand, H3027 and was fled H5127 forth, H2351
14 That she called H7121 unto the men H582 of her house, H1004 and spake H559 unto them, saying, H559 See, H7200 he hath brought in H935 an Hebrew H376 H5680 unto us to mock H6711 us; he came in H935 unto me to lie H7901 with me, and I cried H7121 with a loud H1419 voice: H6963
15 And it came to pass, when he heard H8085 that I lifted up H7311 my voice H6963 and cried, H7121 that he left H5800 his garment H899 with me, H681 and fled, H5127 and got him H3318 out. H2351
16 And she laid up H3240 his garment H899 by her, H681 until his lord H113 came H935 home. H1004
17 And she spake H1696 unto him according to these words, H1697 saying, H559 The Hebrew H5680 servant, H5650 which thou hast brought H935 unto us, came in H935 unto me to mock H6711 me:
18 And it came to pass, as I lifted up H7311 my voice H6963 and cried, H7121 that he left H5800 his garment H899 with me, H681 and fled H5127 out. H2351
19 And it came to pass, when his master H113 heard H8085 the words H1697 of his wife, H802 which she spake H1696 unto him, saying, H559 After this manner H1697 did H6213 thy servant H5650 to me; that his wrath H639 was kindled. H2734
20 And Joseph's H3130 master H113 took H3947 him, and put him H5414 into the prison, H1004 H5470 a place H4725 where the king's H4428 prisoners H615 were bound: H631 and he was there in the prison. H1004 H5470
21 But the LORD H3068 was with Joseph, H3130 and shewed H5186 him mercy, H2617 and gave H5414 him favour H2580 in the sight H5869 of the keeper H8269 of the prison. H1004 H5470
22 And the keeper H8269 of the prison H1004 H5470 committed H5414 to Joseph's H3130 hand H3027 all the prisoners H615 that were in the prison; H1004 H5470 and whatsoever they did H6213 there, he was the doer H6213 of it.
23 The keeper H8269 of the prison H1004 H5470 looked H7200 not to any thing H3972 that was under his hand; H3027 because the LORD H3068 was with him, and that which he did, H6213 the LORD H3068 made it to prosper. H6743
1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hand of the Ishmaelites, that had brought him down thither.
2 And Jehovah was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
3 And his master saw that Jehovah was with him, and that Jehovah made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
4 And Joseph found favor in his sight, and he ministered unto him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
5 And it came to pass from the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that Jehovah blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of Jehovah was upon all that he had, in the house and in the field.
6 And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not aught `that was' with him, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was comely, and well-favored.
7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me.
8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master knoweth not what is with me in the house, and he hath put all that he hath into my hand:
9 he is not greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back anything from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?
10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, `or' to be with her.
11 And it came to pass about this time, that he went into the house to do his work; and there was none of the men of the house there within.
12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.
13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,
14 that she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in a Hebrew unto us to mock us: he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice:
15 and it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and fled, and got him out.
16 And she laid up his garment by her, until his master came home.
17 And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, whom thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me:
18 and it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and fled out.
19 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled.
20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
21 But Jehovah was with Joseph, and showed kindness unto him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it.
23 The keeper of the prison looked not to anything that was under his hand, because Jehovah was with him; and that which he did, Jehovah made it prosper.
1 And Joseph hath been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, a eunuch of Pharaoh, head of the executioners, an Egyptian man, buyeth him out of the hands of the Ishmaelites who have brought him thither.
2 And Jehovah is with Joseph, and he is a prosperous man, and he is in the house of his lord the Egyptian,
3 and his lord seeth that Jehovah is with him, and all that he is doing Jehovah is causing to prosper in his hand,
4 and Joseph findeth grace in his eyes and serveth him, and he appointeth him over his house, and all that he hath he hath given into his hand.
5 And it cometh to pass from the time that he hath appointed him over his house, and over all that he hath, that Jehovah blesseth the house of the Egyptian for Joseph's sake, and the blessing of Jehovah is on all that he hath, in the house, and in the field;
6 and he leaveth all that he hath in the hand of Joseph, and he hath not known anything that he hath, except the bread which he is eating. And Joseph is of a fair form, and of a fair appearance.
7 And it cometh to pass after these things, that his lord's wife lifteth up her eyes unto Joseph, and saith, `Lie with me;'
8 and he refuseth, and saith unto his lord's wife, `Lo, my lord hath not known what `is' with me in the house, and all that he hath he hath given into my hand;
9 none is greater in this house than I, and he hath not withheld from me anything, except thee, because thou `art' his wife; and how shall I do this great evil? -- then have I sinned against God.'
10 And it cometh to pass at her speaking unto Joseph day `by' day, that he hath not hearkened unto her, to lie near her, to be with her;
11 and it cometh to pass about this day, that he goeth into the house to do his work, and there is none of the men of the house there in the house,
12 and she catcheth him by his garment, saying, `Lie with me;' and he leaveth his garment in her hand, and fleeth, and goeth without.
13 And it cometh to pass when she seeth that he hath left his garment in her hand, and fleeth without,
14 that she calleth for the men of her house, and speaketh to them, saying, `See, he hath brought in to us a man, a Hebrew, to play with us; he hath come in unto me, to lie with me, and I call with a loud voice,
15 and it cometh to pass, when he heareth that I have lifted up my voice and call, that he leaveth his garment near me, and fleeth, and goeth without.'
16 And she placeth his garment near her, until the coming in of his lord unto his house.
17 And she speaketh unto him according to these words, saying, `The Hebrew servant whom thou hast brought unto us, hath come in unto me to play with me;
18 and it cometh to pass, when I lift my voice and call, that he leaveth his garment near me, and fleeth without.'
19 And it cometh to pass when his lord heareth the words of his wife, which she hath spoken unto him, saying, `According to these things hath thy servant done to me,' that his anger burneth;
20 and Joseph's lord taketh him, and putteth him unto the round-house, a place where the king's prisoners `are' bound; and he is there in the round-house.
21 And Jehovah is with Joseph, and stretcheth out kindness unto him, and putteth his grace in the eyes of the chief of the round-house;
22 and the chief of the round-house giveth into the hand of Joseph all the prisoners who `are' in the round-house, and of all that they are doing there, he hath been doer;
23 the chief of the round-house seeth not anything under his hand, because Jehovah `is' with him, and that which he is doing Jehovah is causing to prosper.
1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, a chamberlain of Pharaoh, the captain of the life-guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hand of the Ishmaelites who had brought him down thither.
2 And Jehovah was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
3 And his master saw that Jehovah was with him, and that Jehovah made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
4 And Joseph found favour in his eyes, and attended on him; and he set him over his house, and all that he had he gave into his hand.
5 And it came to pass from the time he had set him over his house and all that he had, that Jehovah blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of Jehovah was on all that he had in the house and in the field.
6 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.
7 And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph, and said, Lie with me!
8 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.
9 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?
10 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,
11 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.
12 Then she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me! But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran out.
13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled forth,
14 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;
15 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.
16 And she laid his garment by her until his lord came home.
17 And she spoke to him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew bondman that thou hast brought to us came in to me to mock me;
18 and it came to pass as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled forth.
19 And it came to pass when his lord heard the words of his wife which she spoke to him, saying, After this manner did thy bondman to me, that his wrath was kindled.
20 And Joseph's lord took him and put him into the tower-house, [the] place where the king's prisoners were confined; and he was there in the tower-house.
21 And Jehovah was with Joseph, and extended mercy to him, and gave him favour in the eyes of the chief of the tower-house.
22 And the chief of the tower-house committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the tower-house; and whatever they had to do there he did.
23 The chief of the tower-house looked not to anything under his hand, because Jehovah was with him; and what he did, Jehovah made it prosper.
1 Joseph was brought down to Egypt. Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the hand of the Ishmaelites that had brought him down there.
2 Yahweh was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man. He was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
3 His master saw that Yahweh was with him, and that Yahweh made all that he did prosper in his hand.
4 Joseph found favor in his sight. He ministered to him, and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand.
5 It happened from the time that he made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that Yahweh blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of Yahweh was on all that he had, in the house and in the field.
6 He left all that he had in Joseph's hand. He didn't concern himself with anything, except for the food which he ate. Joseph was well-built and handsome.
7 It happened after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes on Joseph; and she said, "Lie with me."
8 But he refused, and said to his master's wife, "Behold, my master doesn't know what is with me in the house, and he has put all that he has into my hand.
9 He isn't greater in this house than I, neither has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?"
10 It happened that as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he didn't listen to her, to lie by her, or to be with her.
11 It happened about this time, that he went into the house to do his work, and there were none of the men of the house inside.
12 She caught him by his garment, saying, "Lie with me!" He left his garment in her hand, and ran outside.
13 It happened, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and had run outside,
14 that she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, "Behold, he has brought in a Hebrew to us to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice.
15 It happened, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and ran outside."
16 She laid up his garment by her, until his master came home.
17 She spoke to him according to these words, saying, "The Hebrew servant, whom you have brought to us, came in to me to mock me,
18 and it happened, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment by me, and ran outside."
19 It happened, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spoke to him, saying, "This is what your servant did to me," that his wrath was kindled.
20 Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were bound, and he was there in custody.
21 But Yahweh was with Joseph, and showed kindness to him, and gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
22 The keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever they did there, he was the doer of it.
23 The keeper of the prison didn't look after anything that was under his hand, because Yahweh was with him; and that which he did, Yahweh made it prosper.
1 Now Joseph was taken down to Egypt; and Potiphar the Egyptian, a captain of high position in Pharaoh's house, got him for a price from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there.
2 And the Lord was with Joseph, and he did well; and he was living in the house of his master the Egyptian.
3 And his master saw that the Lord was with him, making everything he did go well.
4 And having a high opinion of Joseph as his servant, he made him the overseer of his house and gave him control over all he had.
5 And from the time when he made him overseer and gave him control of all his property, the blessing of the Lord was with the Egyptian, because of Joseph; the blessing of the Lord was on all he had, in the house and in the field.
6 And he gave Joseph control of all his property, keeping no account of anything, but only the food which was put before him. Now Joseph was very beautiful in form and face.
7 And after a time, his master's wife, looking on Joseph with desire, said to him, Be my lover.
8 But he would not, and said to her, You see that my master keeps no account of what I do in his house, and has put all his property in my control;
9 So that no one has more authority in this house than I have; he has kept nothing back from me but you, because you are his wife; how then may I do this great wrong, sinning against God?
10 And day after day she went on requesting Joseph to come to her and be her lover, but he would not give ear to her.
11 Now one day he went into the house to do his work; and not one of the men of the house was inside.
12 And pulling at his coat, she said, Come to my bed; but slipping out of his coat, he went running away.
13 And when she saw that he had got away, letting her keep his coat,
14 She sent for the men of her house and said to them, See, he has let a Hebrew come here and make sport of us; he came to my bed, and I gave a loud cry;
15 And hearing it he went running out without his coat.
16 And she kept his coat by her, till his master came back.
17 Then she gave him the same story, saying, The Hebrew servant whom you have taken into our house came in to make sport of me;
18 And when I gave a loud cry he went running out without his coat.
19 And hearing his wife's account of what his servant had done, he became very angry.
20 And Joseph's master took him and put him in prison, in the place where the king's prisoners were kept in chains, and he was there in the prison-house.
21 But the Lord was with Joseph, and was good to him, and made the keeper of the prison his friend.
22 And the keeper of the prison put all the prisoners under Joseph's control, and he was responsible for whatever was done there.
23 And the keeper of the prison gave no attention to anything which was under his care, because the Lord was with him; and the Lord made everything he did go well.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 39
Commentary on Genesis 39 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 39
Ge 39:1-23. Joseph in Potiphar's House.
1. Potiphar—This name, Potiphar, signifies one "devoted to the sun," the local deity of On or Heliopolis, a circumstance which fixes the place of his residence in the Delta, the district of Egypt bordering on Canaan.
officer—literally, "prince of the Pharoah"—that is, in the service of government.
captain of the guard—The import of the original term has been variously interpreted, some considering it means "chief cook," others, "chief inspector of plantations"; but that which seems best founded is "chief of the executioners," the same as the captain of the watch, the zabut of modern Egypt [Wilkinson].
bought him … of the Ishmaelites—The age, appearance, and intelligence of the Hebrew slave would soon cause him to be picked up in the market. But the unseen, unfelt influence of the great Disposer drew the attention of Potiphar towards him, in order that in the house of one so closely connected with the court, he might receive that previous training which was necessary for the high office he was destined to fill, and in the school of adversity learn the lessons of practical wisdom that were to be of greatest utility and importance in his future career. Thus it is that when God has any important work to be done, He always prepares fitting agents to accomplish it.
2. he was in the house of his master—Those slaves who had been war captives were generally sent to labor in the field and subjected to hard treatment under the "stick" of taskmasters. But those who were bought with money were employed in domestic purposes, were kindly treated, and enjoyed as much liberty as the same class does in modern Egypt.
3. his master saw that the Lord was with him—Though changed in condition, Joseph was not changed in spirit; though stripped of the gaudy coat that had adorned his person, he had not lost the moral graces that distinguished his character; though separated from his father on earth, he still lived in communion with his Father in heaven; though in the house of an idolater, he continued a worshipper of the true God.
5. the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake, &c.—It might be—it probably was—that a special, a miraculous blessing was poured out on a youth who so faithfully and zealously served God amid all the disadvantages of his place. But it may be useful to remark that such a blessing usually follows in the ordinary course of things; and the most worldly, unprincipled masters always admire and respect religion in a servant when they see that profession supported by conscientious principle and a consistent life.
made him overseer in his house—We do not know in what capacity Joseph entered into the service of Potiphar; but the observant eye of his master soon discovered his superior qualities and made him his chief, his confidential servant (compare Eph 6:7; Col 3:23). The advancement of domestic slaves is not uncommon, and it is considered a great disgrace not to raise one who has been a year or two in the family. But this extraordinary advancement of Joseph was the doing of the Lord, though on the part of Potiphar it was the consequence of observing the astonishing prosperity that attended him in all that he did.
7. his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph—Egyptian women were not kept in the same secluded manner as females are in most Oriental countries now. They were treated in a manner more worthy of a civilized people—in fact, enjoyed much freedom both at home and abroad. Hence Potiphar's wife had constant opportunity of meeting Joseph. But the ancient women of Egypt were very loose in their morals. Intrigues and intemperance were vices very prevalent among them, as the monuments too plainly attest [Wilkinson]. Potiphar's wife was probably not worse than many of the same rank, and her infamous advances made to Joseph arose from her superiority of station.
9. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?—This remonstrance, when all inferior arguments had failed, embodied the true principle of moral purity—a principle always sufficient where it exists, and alone sufficient.
14. Then she called unto the men of her house—Disappointed and affronted, she vowed revenge and accused Joseph, first to the servants of the house, and on his return to her lord.
See, he hath brought in an Hebrew … to mock us—an affected and blind aspersion of her husband for keeping in his house an Hebrew, the very abomination of Egyptians.
20. Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison—the roundhouse, from the form of its construction, usually attached to the dwelling of such an officer as Potiphar. It was partly a subterranean dungeon (Ge 41:14), though the brick-built walls rose considerably above the surface of the ground, and were surmounted by a vaulted roof somewhat in the form of an inverted bowl. Into such a dungeon Potiphar, in the first ebullition of rage, threw Joseph and ordered him to be subjected further to as great harshness of treatment (Ps 105:18) as he dared; for the power of masters over their slaves was very properly restrained by law, and the murder of a slave was a capital crime.
a place where the king's prisoners were bound—Though prisons seem to have been an inseparable appendage of the palaces, this was not a common jail—it was the receptacle of state criminals; and, therefore, it may be presumed that more than ordinary strictness and vigilance were exercised over the prisoners. In general, however, the Egyptian, like other Oriental prisons, were used solely for the purposes of detention. Accused persons were cast into them until the charges against them could be investigated; and though the jailer was responsible for the appearance of those placed under his custody, yet, provided they were produced when called, he was never interrogated as to the way in which he had kept them.
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."