Genesis 39 resumes the saga of Joseph, who was sold as a slave in Egypt to Potiphar, the captain of the guard under Pharaoh. Joseph's managerial talents soon became evident, and Potiphar eventually felt confident placing Joseph in charge of his household affairs (vv 1-6).
Potiphar's wife, however, had a different kind of household affair in mind. In an ancient example of sexual harassment, she tried to seduce Joseph. The Book of Jubilees pictures her putting pressure on him for a year.
But Joseph withstood the pressure and refused to give in to Potiphar's wife. Although he was far from home, he had not lost his connection to the God of Jacob and the teaching he must have received from Jacob as a child.
Joseph's example has always been important for those who are striving to resist sexual temptation. Paul had Joseph's example in mind when he admonished early Christians to "flee from sexual immorality" (1 Cor 6:18).
The book of Fourth Maccabees, a philosophically-oriented work from the Second Temple period, holds up Joseph's example as proof that it is possible to obey the 10th commandment (You shall not covet) by the mastery of reason over emotion (4 Macc 2).
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