וְיוֹסֵף הוּרַד מִצְרָיְמָה (בראשית לט, א), כְּתִיב (הושע יא, ד): בְּחַבְלֵי אָדָם אֶמְשְׁכֵם, אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, (שיר השירים א, ד): מָשְׁכֵנִי אַחֲרֶיךָ נָרוּצָה. (הושע יא, ד): בַּעֲבֹתוֹת אַהֲבָה, דִכְתִיב (מלאכי א, ב): אָהַבְתִּי אֶתְכֶם אָמַר ה'. (הושע יא, ד): וָאֶהְיֶה לָהֶם כִּמְרִימֵי עֹל, שֶׁרוֹמַמְתִּי צָרֵיהֶם עֲלֵיהֶם, כָּל כָּךְ לָמָּה (הושע יא, ד): עַל לְחֵיהֶם, בִּשְׁבִיל דָּבָר שֶׁהוֹצִיאוּ מִלְּחָיֵיהֶם, שֶׁאָמְרוּ (שמות לב, ח): אֵלֶּה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, וְסוֹף (הושע יא, ד): וְאַט אֵלָיו אוֹכִיל, אֲנִי מַטֶּה עֲלֵיהֶם אֲכִילוֹת הַרְבֵּה, (תהלים עב, טז): יְהִי פִסַּת בַּר בָּאָרֶץ. דָּבָר אַחֵר, בְּחַבְלֵי אָדָם אֶמְשְׁכֵם, זֶה יוֹסֵף, (בראשית לז, כח): וַיִּמְשְׁכוּ וַיַּעֲלוּ אֶת יוֹסֵף מִן הַבּוֹר. בַּעֲבוֹתוֹת אַהֲבָה, (בראשית לז, ג): וְיִשְׂרָאֵל אָהַב אֶת יוֹסֵף מִכָּל בָּנָיו. וְאֶהְיֶה כִּמְרִימֵי עֹל, שֶׁרוֹמַמְתִּי צָרָיו עָלָיו, וְאֵיזוֹ זוֹ, זוֹ אֵשֶׁת פּוֹטִיפַר, כָּל כָּךְ לָמָּה עַל לְחֵיהֶם, בִּשְׁבִיל דָּבָר שֶׁהוֹצִיא מִלְּחָיָיו, (בראשית לז, ב): וַיָּבֵא יוֹסֵף אֶת דִּבָּתָם רָעָה אֶל אֲבִיהֶם. וְסוֹף וְאַט אֵלָיו אוֹכִיל, אֲכִילוֹת הַרְבֵּה. “Joseph was taken down to Egypt and Potiphar, the official of Pharaoh, the chief executioner, an Egyptian man, purchased him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there” (Genesis 39:1).
“Joseph was taken down to Egypt.” It is written: “With ropes of man I drew them, [with bonds of love; I was for them like those who lift the yoke above their jaws, and I leaned to them to provide food]” (Hosea 11:4) – these are Israel, [as it is stated]: “Draw me; after you I will run” (Song of Songs 1:4). “With bonds of love” (Hosea 11:4) – as it is written: “I loved you, said the Lord” (Malachi 1:2). “I was for them like those who lift the yoke” (Hosea 11:4) – as I elevated their enemies over them. Why to that extent? “Above their jaws” (Hosea 11:4) – because of the words that they expressed with their jaws, as they said: “This is your god, Israel” (Exodus 32:8).1This was stated by the Israelites as they committed the sin of the Golden Calf. But ultimately, “I leaned to them to provide food” (Hosea 11:4) – I provide them with many foods to eat; “There will be abundance of grain in the land” (Psalms 72:16).
Another matter, “with ropes of man I drew them [emshakhem]” (Hosea 11:4) – this is Joseph, [as it is stated]: “They pulled [vayimshekhu] and lifted Joseph from the pit” (Genesis 37:28). “With bonds of love” (Hosea 11:4) – “Israel loved Joseph more than all his sons” (Genesis 37:3). “I was for them like those who lift the yoke” (Hosea11:4) – as I elevated his enemies over him. Who was that? It was Potiphar’s wife. Why to that extent? “Above their jaws” (Hosea 11:4) – because of the words that he expressed with his jaws – “Joseph brought evil report of them to their father” (Genesis 37:2). But ultimately, “I leaned to them to provide food (Hosea 11:4) – an abundance of food.2Eventually, after his actions caused him to be brought down to Egypt, Joseph ended up providing food for his entire family, as well as for the entire population of Egypt and other lands.
דָּבָר אַחֵר, (בראשית לט, א): וְיוֹסֵף הוּרַד מִצְרָיְמָה, (בראשית מב, ו): וְיוֹסֵף הוּא הַשַּׁלִּיט. וְיוֹסֵף הוּרַד מִצְרָיְמָה, שָׁלַט בְּהוֹן, הֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (תהלים עב, ח): וְיֵרְדְּ מִיָּם עַד יָם, כָּבַשׁ בְּהוֹן, הֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (מלכים א ה, ד): כִּי הוּא רֹדֶה בְּכָל עֵבֶר הַנָּהָר, נָסְחִין נְחַת עֲלֵיהוֹן, הֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמֵר (שופטים יד, ט): וַיִּרְדֵּהוּ אֶל כַּפָּיו, הוֹרִיד לְאָבִינוּ יַעֲקֹב לְמִצְרַיִם. רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בַּר סִימוֹן אָמַר, לְפָרָה שֶׁהָיוּ מוֹשְׁכִין אוֹתָהּ לְמַקּוּלִין וְלֹא הָיְתָה נִמְשֶׁכֶת, מֶה עָשׂוּ לָהּ, מָשְׁכוּ אֶת בְּנָהּ לְפָנֶיהָ וְהָיְתָה מְהַלֶּכֶת אַחֲרָיו עַל כָּרְחָהּ שֶׁלֹא בְטוֹבָתָהּ. כָּךְ הָיָה יַעֲקֹב אָבִינוּ רָאוּי לֵירֵד לְמִצְרַיִם בְּשַׁלְשְׁלָאוֹת וּבְקוֹלָרִין, אָמַר הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּנִי בְּכוֹרִי וַאֲנִי מוֹרִידוֹ בְּבִזָּיוֹן, וְאִם לִתֵּן בְּלִבּוֹ שֶׁל פַּרְעֹה אֵינִי מוֹרִידוֹ פּוּמְבִּי, אֶלָּא הֲרֵינִי מוֹשֵׁךְ אֶת בְּנוֹ לְפָנָיו, וְהוּא יוֹרֵד אַחֲרָיו עַל כָּרְחוֹ שֶׁלֹא בְטוֹבָתוֹ, וְהוֹרִיד אֶת הַשְּׁכִינָה לְמִצְרַיִם עִמּוֹ. רַבִּי פִּינְחָס בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי סִימוֹן אָמַר מְנָא לָן שֶׁיָּרְדָה הַשְּׁכִינָה עִמּוֹ, מִדִּכְתִיב (בראשית לט, ב): וַיְהִי ה' אֶת יוֹסֵף, מִצְרָיְמָה, תָּנֵי בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי נְחֶמְיָה, כָּל דָּבָר שֶׁצָּרִיךְ למ"ד בִּתְחִלָּתוֹ נִתַּן בּוֹ ה"א בְּסוֹפוֹ, סְדוֹמָה, שֵׂעִירָה, מִצְרָיְמָה. אֵיתֵיבֵיהּ וְהָא כְתִיב (תהלים ט, יח): יָשׁוּבוּ רְשָׁעִים לִשְׁאוֹלָה, אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּא בַּר זַבְדָּא, לַבֵּיטִי הַתַּחְתּוֹנָה שֶׁבַּשְּׁאוֹל. Another matter, “Joseph was taken down to Egypt.” “Joseph was the ruler” (Genesis 42:6). “Joseph was taken down [hurad] to Egypt” – he ruled over them, just as it says: “He will rule [veyerd] from sea to sea” (Psalms 72:8). He subdued them, just as it says: “For he had dominion [rodeh] over the entire region across the River” (I Kings 5:4). He imposed relocation upon them,3See Genesis 47:21. just as it says: “He scraped it [vayirdehu] into his hands” (Judges 14:9).
He caused Jacob our patriarch to descend [horid] to Egypt. Rabbi Berekhya said in the name of Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon: This is analogous to a cow that they were pulling to the slaughterhouse, but it would not be pulled. What did they do to it? They pulled its offspring before it, and it was walking after it despite itself, and to its [ultimate] detriment. So, Jacob was supposed to descend to Egypt in chains and neck chains.4This is because of the decree of enslavement in the Covenant between the Pieces (see Genesis 15:13). The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Shall I take My firstborn son down [to Egypt] in disgrace? And if I introduce it into Pharaoh’s heart, would I not be taking him down [to Egypt] in public?5If I introduce it into Pharaoh’s heart to bring Jacob down to Egypt in an honorable fashion, the public nature of the spectacle of his leaving the Land of Israel would itself cause Jacob great discomfort (Etz Yosef). Instead, I will draw his son before him, and he will descend after him despite himself and to his [ultimate] detriment.’ He took down the Divine Presence with him. Rabbi Pinḥas said in the name of Rabbi Simon: From where do we derive that the Divine Presence descended with him? From what is written: “The Lord was with Joseph” (Genesis 39:2).
“To Egypt [Mitzraima]” – it is taught in the name of Rabbi Neḥemya: Any word that requires a lamed at its start, a heh [can be] placed at its end [instead]: Sedoma, Se’ira, Mitzraima, Ḥarana.6The lamed as a prefix or the heh as a suffix both mean “to.” These are examples where the verse uses the heh at the end of the name of the place, indicating “to Sodom” and the like. But is it not written: “The wicked will return to the netherworld [lishola]”? (Psalms 9:18).7Lishola has both a lamed at the start and a heh at the end. Rabbi Abba bar Zavda said: [They will be sent] to the lowest compartment in the netherworld.
וַיִּקְנֵהוּ (בראשית לט, א), הַקְּנוּיִין קוֹנִין וְכָל הָעֲבָדִים מְחַסְּרִין אֶת בֵּית רַבָּן, אֲבָל זֶה (בראשית לט, ה): וַיְבָרֶךְ ה' אֶת בֵּית הַמִּצְרִי בִּגְלַל יוֹסֵף. כָּל הָעֲבָדִים חֲשׁוּדִים עַל הַגָּזֵל, אֲבָל זֶה (בראשית מז, יד): וַיְלַקֵּט יוֹסֵף אֶת כָּל הַכֶּסֶף. כָּל הָעֲבָדִים חֲשׁוּדִים עַל הָעֶרְוָה, אֲבָל זֶה (בראשית לט, י): וְלֹא שָׁמַע אֵלֶיהָ. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ דְּסִכְנִין בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר כָּל הָעֲבָדִים רַבָּן מַאֲכִילִין תְּרוּמָה לְעַבְדֵיהֶם, אֲבָל זֶה הֶאֱכִיל אֶת רַבּוֹ תְּרוּמָה, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן קָרְחָה מִבְּנוֹת יוֹסֵף לָקַח אֶלְעָזָר. פוֹטִיפַר הוּא (בראשית מא, מה): פּוֹטִיפֶרַע, פּוֹטִיפַר שֶׁהָיָה מְפַטֵּם עֲגָלִים לַעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים. פּוֹטִיפֶרַע, שֶׁהָיָה פּוֹרֵעַ עַצְמוֹ לַעֲבוֹדַת כּוֹכָבִים, כֵּיוָן שֶׁיָּרַד הַפָּר לְשָׁם נַעֲשָׂה פּוֹטֶנוֹן. סְרִיס פַּרְעֹה, שֶׁנִּסְתָּרֵס בְּגוּפוֹ, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁלֹא לְקָחוֹ אֶלָּא לְתַשְׁמִישׁ וְסֵרְסוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּגוּפוֹ. מָשָׁל לְדֻבָּה שֶׁהָיְתָה מְשַׁכֶּלֶת בִּבְנֵי אֲדוֹנֶיהָ, אֲמַר פַּכְרוּן נִיבֶיהָ. כָּךְ מְלַמֵּד שֶׁלֹא לְקָחוֹ אֶלָּא לְתַשְׁמִישׁ וְסֵרְסוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (תהלים לז, כח): כִּי ה' אֹהֵב מִשְׁפָט וגו' חֲסִידָיו. חֲסִידוֹ כְּתִיב, וְאֵיזֶה זֶה, יוֹסֵף, (תהלים לז, כח): לְעוֹלָם נִשְׁמָרוּ וְזֶרַע רְשָׁעִים נִכְרָת, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁלֹא לְקָחוֹ אֶלָּא לְתַשְׁמִישׁ, וְסֵרְסוֹ הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא. וַיִּקְנֵהוּ פּוֹטִיפַר אִישׁ מִצְרִי, גְּבַר עָרוּם, וּמָה הֲוַת עֲרִימוּתֵיהּ, אֲמַר בְּכָל מָקוֹם גֶּרְמָנִי מוֹכֵר כּוּשִׁי, וְכָאן כּוּשִׁי מוֹכֵר גֶּרְמָנִי, אֵין זֶה עָבֶד, אָמַר לָהֶם הָבִיאוּ לִי עָרֵב, וְאֵין לָשׁוֹן מִיָּד זֶה אֶלָּא עָרֵב, הֵיךְ מָה דְאַתְּ אָמַר (בראשית מג, ט): אָנֹכִי אֶעֶרְבֶנּוּ וגו', עַל כֵּן אָמַר מִיַּד הַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִים. אָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי עַבְדָא זָבֵן וּבַר אַמְתָא מְזַבֵּן, וּבַר חוֹרִין עֶבֶד לְתַרְוֵיהוֹן. “[Potiphar...an Egyptian man,] purchased him [from the Ishmaelites]” – those who were acquired were acquiring.8The Ishmaelites descend from Hagar, Sarah’s maidservant, and the Egyptians descend from Ḥam, of whom it is stated: “A slave of slaves he shall be to his brothers” (Genesis 9:25), and they were the ones purchasing and selling Joseph. All slaves damage the household of their masters. But this one – “the Lord blessed the house of the Egyptian for Joseph’s sake” (Genesis 39:5). All slaves are suspected of robbery, but this one: “Joseph collected all the silver…[Joseph brought the silver to Pharoah’s house]” (Genesis 47:14). All slaves are suspected of licentiousness, but this one: “But he did not heed her” (Genesis 39:10). Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: All slaves, their master feeds teruma to their slaves, but this one fed his master teruma, as Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa said: Elazar took a wife from the daughters of Joseph.9Joseph was married to Potiphar’s daughter, so Potiphar’s granddaughter married Elazar, the son of Aaron, and ate teruma.
Potiphar is “Potifera” (Genesis 41:45). Potiphar – because he would fatten [mefatem] calves for idol worship. Potifera – because he would defecate [pore’a atzmo] for idol worship.10Defacation in front of the idol of Baal Peor was a form of its worship (see Sanhedrin 60b). When the bull [par]11Joseph, who was likened to a bull; see Deuteronomy 33:17. descended there, [Potiphar] became wealthy.12Translation follows Matnot Kehuna. Alternatively, he became an officer, or a eunuch.
“The official of [seris] Pharaoh” – he was castrated [nistares]. This teaches that [Potiphar] purchased [Joseph] only for intercourse, but the Holy One blessed be He castrated him. This is analogous to a she-bear that was killing its master’s children. He said: ‘Break its teeth.’ So, it teaches that [Potiphar] purchased him only for intercourse, and the Holy One blessed be He castrated him. That is what is written: “For the Lord loves justice [and does not forsake] His pious ones [ḥasidav]” (Psalms 37:28). Ḥasido is written.13The word ḥasidav is written with only one vav, such that it can be read ḥasido, “His pious one,” in singular. It should be noted however that the Masoretic text of Psalms actually has the word ḥasidav with two vavs. The midrash here cites a different tradition. Alternatively, in Midrash Shmuel the version of the text cites I Samuel 2:9 rather than Psalms, and in that verse the word in fact appears as ḥasido, with one vav (Etz Yosef). Who is that? It is Joseph. “They are guarded forever, while the seed of the wicked is cut off” (Psalms 37:28) – this teaches that [Potiphar] purchased him only for intercourse, and the Holy One blessed be He castrated him.
“Potiphar…an Egyptian man, purchased him [from [miyad] the Ishmaelites]” – a clever man. What was his cleverness? He said: In every place, a German sells a Cushite,14A white man sells a man of dark complexion (Matnot Kehuna). but here, a Cushite is selling a German? This is no slave. He said to them: ‘Bring me a guarantor,’ as the term “from [miyad]” is nothing other than a guarantor, just as it says: “I will guarantee him, [from me [miyadi] you can demand him]” (Genesis 43:9). That is why it says: “From [miyad] the Ishmaelites.”
Rabbi Levi said: A slave purchased, the son of a maidservant sold, and a free man was a slave to both of them.15Potiphar, the Egyptian, was a descendant of Canaan, who was cursed by Noah to be a slave (see Genesis 9:25). The Ishmaelites were sons of Hagar, described as a maidservant to Sarah (see Genesis 16:2). Joseph was, by birth, a free man.
וַיְהִי ה' אֶת יוֹסֵף (בראשית לט, ב), הָא עִם שְׁאָר שְׁבָטִים לָאו, אָמַר רַבִּי יוּדָן לְבֶהָמִי שֶׁהָיָה לְפָנָיו שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה בְּהֵמוֹת טְעוּנוֹת יַיִן, נִכְנְסָה אַחַת מֵהֶם לַחֲנוּתוֹ שֶׁל עוֹבֵד כּוֹכָבִים, הִנִּיחַ אַחַת עֶשְׂרֵה וְהָלַךְ לוֹ אַחֲרֶיהָ, אָמְרוּ לוֹ מַה אַתָּה מַנִּיחַ אַחַת עֶשְׂרֵה וְהוֹלֵךְ לְךָ אַחֲרֵי הָאֶחָת, אָמַר לָהֶם, אֵלּוּ בִּרְשׁוּת הָרַבִּים הֵם וְאֵינִי חוֹשֵׁשׁ לָהֶן שֶׁמָּא יֵעָשֶׂה יַיִן נָסֶךְ. כָּךְ אֵלּוּ גְּדוֹלִים וּבִרְשׁוּת אֲבִיהֶם, אֲבָל זֶה שֶׁהוּא קָטָן וּבִרְשׁוּת עַצְמוֹ, לְפִיכָךְ וַיְהִי ה' אֶת יוֹסֵף. (בראשית לט, ב): וַיְהִי אִישׁ מַצְלִיחַ, רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה אָמַר גֶּבֶר קָפוֹז, כְּמָה דְתֵימָא (שמואל ב יט, יח): וְצָלְחוּ הַיַּרְדֵּן לִפְנֵי הַמֶּלֶךְ, מָשָׁל לְדֻבָּה שֶׁהָיְתָה עוֹמֶדֶת בַּשּׁוּק מְקֻשֶּׁטֶת בַּאֲבָנִים טוֹבוֹת וּמַרְגָּלִיּוֹת, אָמְרוּ כָּל דְּקָפֵז לָהּ נְסֵיב בֵּיהּ מַה דַּעֲלָהּ. הָיָה שָׁם פִּקֵּחַ אֶחָד אָמַר לָהֶם אַתּוּן מִסְתַּכְּלִין אַתּוּן בַּמֶּה דַּעֲלָהּ וַאֲנָא מִסְתַּכֵּל בְּנִיבֶיהָ, אָמַר רַבִּי בֶּרֶכְיָה כָּל אוֹתָהּ דֻּבָּה קָפוֹז קָפֵז וְאַתְּ רַב מִדֵּין, אֶתְמְהָא. “The Lord was with Joseph, and he was a successful man, and he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian” (Genesis 39:2).
“The Lord was with Joseph” – but with the rest of the tribes, He was not? Rabbi Yudan said: [This is analogous] to an animal driver, who had twelve animals laden with wine before him. One of them entered the shop of an idolater; he forsook the eleven and followed after it. They said to him: ‘Why do you forsake eleven [animals] and follow the one?’ He said to them: ‘These are in the public domain, and I am not concerned lest [the wine] become libation wine.’16I am not concerned that an idolator will take the wine and use it for a libation to an idol, rendering it forbidden. Alternatively, this means – I am not concerned that an idolator will pick up the wine, rendering it forbidden by rabbinic law, as though it was poured as a libation to an idol. So, these [Joseph’s brothers] were adults, and in their father’s domain, but this one was young and on his own. That is why, “the Lord was with Joseph.”
“He was a successful [matzliaḥ] man” – Rabbi Berekhya said: A leaping man,17He was able to surmount all obstacles. just as it says: “They crossed [vetzalḥu] the Jordan before the king” (II Samuel 19:18). This is analogous to a she-bear that was standing in the street adorned with gems and precious stones. They said: ‘Anyone who jumps on it can take everything that is on it.’ There was a certain clever man there. He said to them: ‘You are looking at what is on it. I am looking at its teeth.’18Thus, while the masses approached the bear, the clever man distanced himself from it. Similarly, Joseph recognized the danger of the wife of Potiphar, and sought to distance himself from her. Rabbi Berekhya said: All the power of that she-bear is in that it is able to jump, and you are greater that it.19The wife of Potiphar expended great effort to entice Joseph, yet he withstood her advances (Nezer HaKodesh). Astonishing!
רַבָּנָן אָמְרֵי (בראשית לט, ג): וַיַּרְא אֲדֹנָיו כִּי ה' אִתּוֹ, וּבַסּוֹף שָׁכַח, דִּכְתִיב (בראשית מא, נא): כִּי נַשַּׁנִי אֱלֹהִים אֶת כָּל עֲמָלִי. רַב הוּנָא בְּשֵׁם רַב אֲחָא אָמַר מְלַחֵשׁ וְנִכְנַס מְלַחֵשׁ וְיוֹצֵא, הֲוָה אָמַר לֵיהּ מְזוֹג רוֹתְחִין, וְהָיוּ רוֹתְחִין, פּוֹשְׁרִין, וְהָיוּ פּוֹשְׁרִין. אָמַר מַה יּוֹסֵף תֶּבֶן לְעֶפְרַיִם אַתָּה מַכְנִיס, קְדָרִים בִּכְפַר חֲנִינָא. גְּזָזִין בְּדַמֶּשֶׂק. חֲרָשִׁין בְּמִצְרַיִם, בַּאֲתַר דַּחֲרָשִׁין חֲרִישִׁין, עַד הֵיכָן, אָמַר רַבִּי חִיָּא עַד שֶׁרָאָה שְׁכִינָה עוֹמֶדֶת עַל גַּבָּיו. הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב: וַיַּרְא אֲדוֹנָיו כִּי ה' אִתּוֹ. “His master saw that the Lord was with him, and everything that he did, the Lord made his undertaking successful” (Genesis 39:3).
The Rabbis say: “His master saw that the Lord was with him” – but ultimately, he forgot, as it is written: “God has caused me to forget all my toil” (Genesis 41:51).20“The Lord was with him” in that Joseph would review his Torah studies, but ultimately, over time, he forgot them (Etz Yosef). Rav Huna said in the name of Rav Aḥa: He would whisper and enter and whisper and exit.21He was constantly whispering his studies, or praying (see Yefeh To’ar). [Potiphar] would say to him: ‘Pour me boiling water,’ and it would be boiling; lukewarm [water], and it would be lukewarm.22“The Lord was with him” and granted Joseph success beyond the natural order of the world. He said: ‘What, Joseph, are you bringing straw to Efrayim, earthenware pots to Kefar Ḥanina, fleeces to Damascus, sorcery to Egypt – sorcery in a place of sorcerers?’ Until when? Rabbi Ḥiyya said: Until he saw the Divine Presence standing over him. That is what is written: “His master saw that the Lord was with him.”
וַיִּמְצָא יוֹסֵף, וַיְהִי מֵאָז (בראשית לט, ד ה), תָּנֵי רַבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן יוֹחָאי בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁהַצַּדִּיקִים הוֹלְכִים הַשְּׁכִינָה הוֹלֶכֶת עֲלֵיהֶם, שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה עָשָׂה שָׁם, שֵׁשׁ בַּבַּיִת, וְשֵׁשׁ בַּשָּׂדֶה, (בראשית לט, ו): וַיַּעֲזֹב אֶת כָּל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ בְּיַד יוֹסֵף, (בראשית לט, ו): כִּי אִם הַלֶּחֶם אֲשֶׁר הוּא אוֹכֵל, לָשׁוֹן נָקִי. (בראשית לט, ו): וַיְהִי יוֹסֵף יְפֵה תֹאַר וִיפֵה מַרְאֶה, אָמַר רַבִּי יִצְחָק זְרוֹק חֻטְרָא לְאַרְעָא וְעַל עִקָּרֵיהּ נָפִיק, לְפִי שֶׁכָּתוּב (בראשית כט, יז): וְרָחֵל הָיְתָה יְפַת תֹּאַר וגו' לְפִיכָךְ וַיְהִי יוֹסֵף וגו'. “Joseph found favor in his eyes, and he served him. He appointed him overseer of his household, and everything that was his, he placed in his charge” (Genesis 39:4).
“It was once he appointed him overseer of his household and over everything that was his, that the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the Lord was in all that he had, in the house and in the field” (Genesis 39:5).
“Joseph found…. It was once…” – Rabbi Shimon ben Yoḥai taught: Everywhere that the righteous go, the Divine Presence goes with them.
He was there twelve years, six in the house and six in the field.23Many commentaries emend the text to read: He was there twelve months, six in the house and six in the field (see, e.g., Matnot Kehuna; Yefeh To’ar).
“He left everything that he had in Joseph's charge and he did not know anything with him about his doings, except the bread that he would eat. Joseph was of fine form, and of fair appearance” (Genesis 39:6).
“He left everything that he had in Joseph's charge…except the bread that he would eat” – a euphemism.24This was a euphemism for his wife, as Joseph later says to her: “He has not withheld anything from me but you, as you are his wife” (Genesis 39:9).
“Joseph was of fine form, and of fair appearance” – Rabbi Yitzḥak said: Cast a stick onto the ground and it will land on its source. Because it is written: “Rachel was of fine form [and fair appearance]” (Genesis 29:17); therefore, “Joseph was….”