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Chapter 39

Joseph, Blessed of God.[a] When Joseph was brought down into Egypt, Potiphar, a counselor of Pharaoh and the commander of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there.

The Lord was with Joseph and he prospered. He remained in the house of the Egyptian, his master. His master realized that the Lord was with him and that whatever he undertook prospered. Thus Joseph found favor with him and became his personal attendant. Potiphar even placed him in charge of his household and he entrusted him with all his possessions. From the moment that he was made overseer and entrusted with his possessions, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph, and the blessing of the Lord was upon all that Potiphar had, whether in the house or out in the fields. He entrusted Joseph with all that he had, and he did not concern himself with anything other than the food he ate.

The Righteous One Calumniated.[b] Now Joseph was handsome and good-looking. Read full chapter

Footnotes

  1. Genesis 39:1 Joseph becomes the majordomo of the captain of the guard, in which capacity he is a model of honor, fidelity, and constancy. He is living proof of the words of St. Paul that “God makes all things work together for good for those who love him” (Rom 8:28).
  2. Genesis 39:6 Despite the powerful temptation, the young man remains heroically faithful to the word given to his master no matter what the cost. And God comes to his aid as he does to all those who love him in adversity as well as in success.