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Genesis Chapter
Thirty-nine
Genesis 39
Outlines
New King James Version
(NKJV)
INTRODUCTION TO
GENESIS 39
In this chapter the
history returns to Joseph again
who being brought down to Egypt was sold to
Potiphar
with whom he found favour
and who set him over his house
the Lord
prospering everything in his hands
Genesis 39:1; and
being a young man of a comely aspect
his mistress lusted after him
and
tempted him to lie with her from time to time
but he as constantly refused it
as being both ingratitude to his master
and a sin against God
Genesis 39:7; at a
certain time they being alone in the house
she renewed her solicitations
and
laid hold on his garment
which he left in her hand and fled
Genesis 39:11; upon
which she called to her servants without
and accused Joseph of an ill design
upon her
and reported the same to her husband when he came home
Genesis 39:13; upon
which his master put him into prison
but he found favour also with the keeper
of it
who committed the prisoners and all things relative to them into his
hands
Genesis 39:20.
Genesis 39:1. Now
Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar
an officer of Pharaoh
captain of the guard
an Egyptian
bought him from the Ishmaelites who had
taken him down there.
YLT 1And 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.
And Joseph was
brought down to Egypt
....
By the Ishmaelites
Genesis 37:28; as
in a following clause:
and Potiphar an
officer of Pharaoh
captain of the guard
an Egyptian;
as his name also shows
which signifies the fruit of Pot or Phut
that is
the son or grandson of one
of that nameF13Onomastic. Sacr. p. 671
672. ; which might be common
in Egypt
since it was the name of a son of Ham
Genesis 10:6
from
whom the land of Egypt is called the land of Ham
Psalm 105:23; of
this man and his offices; see Gill on Genesis 37:36
he bought him:
that is
"Joseph":
of the hands of
the Ishmaelites
who had brought him down thither;
what they gave for him we
know
but what they sold him for to Potiphar is not said; no doubt they got a
good price for him
and his master had a good bargain too
as appears by what
follows.
Genesis 39:2. 2 The
Lord was with
Joseph
and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the
Egyptian.
YLT 2And Jehovah is with Joseph
and he is a prosperous man
and he is in the house of his lord the Egyptian
And the Lord
was with Joseph
....
Blessing him with his
gracious presence
with discoveries of his love
and communion with himself
though destitute of the means of grace and ordinances of worship he enjoyed in
his father's house; favouring him with bodily health
and protecting him from
all evils and enemies:
and he was a
prosperous man;
in worldly things
and which
was owing to the presence of God with him
and his blessing on him:
and he was in
the house of his master the Egyptian;
he continued there
and
did not attempt to make his escape; or his employment lay chiefly
if not
altogether
in the house
and herein he was prosperous
and continued to be so
as long as he was in it; the JewsF14Seder Olam Rabba
c. 2. p. 5.
say
he remained here twelve months. Near the pyramids built in the
neighbourhood of Memphis
as is affirmed unanimously by the ancients
to this
day is shown a hill
on which they say the house of Potiphar was built
whose
servant the patriarch Joseph was
and some of the rubbish of the bricks are yet
to be seenF15Jablonski de Terra Goshen
Dissert. 6. sect. 6. .
Genesis 39:3. 3 And
his master saw that the Lord
was with him and that the Lord made all he did to
prosper in his hand.
YLT 3and his lord seeth that
Jehovah is with him
and all that he is doing Jehovah is causing to prosper in
his hand
And his master
saw that the Lord was with him
....
He knew nothing of the
spiritual and gracious presence of God that was with him
he was no judge of
that; but he perceived by the ingenuity of his mind
by his ready and speedy
learning the Egyptian language
by his dexterity in business
and by the
prudence and faithfulness with which he did everything
that he was highly
favoured by the divine Being
and had great endowments bestowed upon him
and was
an extraordinary person for his age:
and that the
Lord made all that he did to prosper in his hand;
and though Potiphar might
have no knowledge of the true Jehovah
whose name he uses
yet he might have a
notion of a supreme Being
and that all outward prosperity was owing to him;
and knowing Joseph to be an Hebrew
as it is plain his wife did
Genesis 39:14; and
Jehovah to be the God of the Hebrews
he imputes all the prosperity that
attended Joseph and his services unto his God.
Genesis 39:4. 4 So
Joseph found favor in his sight
and served him. Then he made him overseer of
his house
and all that he had he put under his authority.
YLT 4and 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.
And Joseph
found grace in his sight
....
In the sight of his
master
as he did in the sight of God
he had favour both with God and man; his
master had a high esteem of him
and a great value for him
and showed him much
kindness and respect:
and he served
him;
readily
willingly
cheerfully
and faithfully; or he served him personally; his master took such a liking to
him
that he selected him from the rest of his servants to wait on his person
and to be what we now call a "valet de chambre"
whose business was
to dress and undress him
to wait upon him at table
&c.
and he made him
overseer over his house
and all that he had he put into his hand;
that is
after he had
served him some time
in the capacity of a valet
he advanced him
and made him
the head servant
or steward of his house
and committed all his business
cash
and accounts to his care
and put all his servants under him.
Genesis 39:5. 5 So
it was
from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all
that he had
that the Lord
blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the Lord was on all
that he had in the house and in the field.
YLT 5And 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;
And it came to
pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house
and over all
that he had
....
How long he was in this
office is not certain; there must be some time for the following observation;
and during all the time he was in it
it was easily discerned:
that the Lord
blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake;
that is
much more than
before; everything under his hands succeeded before
but now much more
abundantly; Potiphar's family was blessed with health
his substance increased
he grew rich and wealthy
and abounded with all good things:
and the
blessing of the Lord was upon all that he had in the house
and in the
field; his domestic affairs prospered
his fields brought forth
plentifully
his cattle were fruitful and stood well; every thing belonging to
him within doors and without happily succeeded
through the blessing of God
upon it
and all for Joseph's sake.
Genesis 39:6. 6 Thus
he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand
and he did not know what he had
except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and
appearance.
YLT 6and 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.
And he left all
he had in Joseph's hand;....
His master took no care of
anything
but committed all to him
trusted him with his money and with his
accounts
and with the management of all his affairs; such confidence did he
put in him:
and he knew not
aught he had
save the bread which he did eat;
some understand this of
Joseph
that though he had all his master's substance in his hands
yet he made
no use of it for himself
enjoyed nothing of it but the bread he ate; and it is
the observation of a Jewish writerF16R. Abraham Sepharadi apud
Munster. in loc.
that he ate nothing but dry bread
and yet
like Daniel and
his companions
was well favoured and of a goodly countenance
as in the next clause:
but it is better to interpret it of Joseph's master
who was so satisfied with
Joseph's good management and fidelity
that he never concerned himself about
his affairs
how they stood or what money he had in his house
or what effects
he was possessed of; all that he regarded was his food
and perhaps he knew not
what that would be till it came to his table; though some take the expression
in this light
that he gave himself unto a luxurious life
regarding nothing
but eating and drinking
and taking his pleasure
having so good and faithful a
servant: but according to Aben Ezra the sense is
that Joseph had all committed
to his care
excepting the bread
or making provision of that for him and his
family
which he might not touch being an Hebrew
and had all things common
with him but that
see Genesis 43:32;
which is a much better sense than what the Targum of Jonathan and Jarchi give
who interpret bread of his wife
whom only he reserved for himself of all
things in his house:
and Joseph was a
goodly person
and well favoured;
being like his mother
as
Aben Ezra observes
see Genesis 29:17; this
is remarked for the sake of what follows
and as leading on to that.
Genesis 39:7. 7 And
it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on
Joseph
and she said
“Lie with me.”
YLT 7And it cometh to pass after
these things
that his lord's wife lifteth up her eyes unto Joseph
and saith
`Lie with me;'
And it came to
pass after these things
....
After he was the overseer
of his house; in which office
after he had been some time
so it was
that his
master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph;
he being a handsome young
man
caught her eye
and that her heart
and led her on to lust after him
and
frequently fed her eyes with amorous glances at him:
and
at length being fired with
lust
and having an opportunity:
she said
to him
in a bold and
impudent manner
in plain words
having given signs and hints
and dropped
expressions tending thereto before
as it is probable:
lie with me;
now directly
there being
both opportunity and convenience
perhaps her chamber was near: this was a very
great temptation to a young man in single life and living well
from his
mistress
who had it greatly in her power to make him should he consent
or
ruin him should he deny.
Genesis 39:8. 8 But
he refused and said to his master’s wife
“Look
my master does not know what is
with me in the house
and he has committed all that he has to my hand.
YLT 8and 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;
But he refused
and said unto his master's wife
....
Reasoning with her about
the evil nature of the crime she tempted him to
which to commit would be
ingratitude
as well as injury to his master
and a sin against God; by which
it appears that Joseph was a partaker of the grace of God
and that this was in
strong exercise at this time
by which he was preserved from the temptation he
was beset with:
behold
my
master wotteth not what is with me in the house;
what goods or money are in
it:
and he hath
committed all that he hath to my hand:
such confidence did he
repose in him
wherefore to do such an injury to him as to commit adultery with
his wife
would be making a sad return
and acting a most ungrateful part for
such favour shown him.
Genesis 39:9. 9 There is no one greater in this
house than I
nor 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?”
YLT 9none 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.'
There is none greater in this house than I
....
Not any of the servants of
the house
he was the chief of them
who had all the rest under him; or rather
"he himself is not greaterF17איננו גדול "non ipse magnus"
Montanus; "ne ipse
quidem est me major"
Junius & Tremellius
Munster
Fagius
Drusius
Mercerus
Cartwright. in this house than I"; that is
his master was not
greater than he: he had a greater propriety in the house and the things of it
and he had the original power and authority in it
but had not a greater use of
it; Joseph had authority over all the servants
and everything in the house at
his command
and the free use of everything his master had
excepting what
follows:
neither hath he
kept back anything from me but thee
because thou art his wife;
and is a reason not only
why his master retained her for his own use
but why he should not touch her
and why she should not solicit him to it:
how then can I
do this great wickedness and sin against God?
the words are emphatic in
the original
"this! this wickedness! this great one!" adultery was
reckoned a great sin among all nations
and this
had Joseph committed it
would have been greatly aggravated by the favours his master had conferred upon
him; and not only a sin against himself
his soul and body
and against his
master
but
above all
a sin against God
contrary to his holy nature
revealed will
and righteous law; all which prevailed upon Joseph to refuse the
offer made him
which he could not comply with
in honour or with a good
conscience.
Genesis 39:10. 10 So
it was
as she spoke to Joseph day by day
that he did not heed her
to lie
with her or to be with her.
YLT 10And 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;
And it came to
pass
that as she spake to Joseph day by day
....
Continually
incessantly
hoping in time to prevail upon him to comply with her desires; so that the
temptation
as it was strong
and very ensnaring
it was urgent
and frequent
and pressed with great importunity; which required the more grace and spiritual
strength to resist:
that he
hearkened not unto her;
not only did not yield to
her
but would not give her an hearing
at least as little as possible he
could
lest he should be overcome by her persuasions:
to lie by her
or
to be with her;
she might tempt him to lie
by her
if he would not lie with her; or to lie
as Aben Ezra interprets it
in
a place near her
in a chamber next to hers
in hopes by degrees to gain her
point; but he would not yield to either
nor to be in her company
and have any
conversation with her
at least as little as possible
that he might not be in
the way of temptation
and be led into it; though these phrases may all signify
carnal copulation with her
which was what his mistress solicited
and he would
not hearken to her in
and comply with her.
Genesis 39:11. 11 But it happened about this
time
when Joseph went into the house to do his work
and none of the men of
the house was inside
YLT 11and 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
And it came to
pass about this time
....
About a week
or a month
or rather a year
as Aben Ezra thinks
after she first began her solicitations
to him. According to JosephusF18Antiqu. l. 2. c. 4. sect. 3.
it
was a public festival
at which women used to attend; but she excused herself
pretending illness; and so Jarchi takes it to be some noted day at the idol's
temple
to which all used to go; but she pretended she was sick
and could not
go
knowing that Joseph would not be there
but at home
and therefore judged
this a fit opportunity to attack him once more: and so it was:
that Joseph
went into the house to do his business:
to inspect the accounts
as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan paraphrase it
and settle them:
and there
was none of the men of the house there within;
being all gone to the
public festival
or however there were none in that part of the house where
Joseph was.
Genesis 39:12. 12 that
she caught him by his garment
saying
“Lie with me.” But he left his garment
in her hand
and fled and ran outside.
YLT 12and she catcheth him by his
garment
saying
`Lie with me;' and he leaveth his garment in her hand
and
fleeth
and goeth without.
And she caught
him by his garment
saying
lie with me
....
It is very probable that
before this time
as soon as ever she began to speak to him
he got away as
fast as he could
and would not hear her; wherefore she now laid hold on his
garment
in order to detain him
that she might have time to parley with him
and so prevail:
and he left his
garment in her hand
and fled
and got him out;
it was his outward loose
garment she laid hold on
out of which he slipped himself
and so got clear of
her
and ran away
and got out of the house as fast as he could: this he did
because he would not struggle with his mistress for his garment
which no doubt
by his strength he could have got from her; and partly lest he should by
handling of her have carnal desires excited in him
and so be overcome with her
temptation.
Genesis 39:13. 13 And
so it was
when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled
outside
YLT 13And it cometh to pass when
she seeth that he hath left his garment in her hand
and fleeth without
And it came to
pass
when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand
....
And so all hopes of
succeeding in her addresses to him were over:
and he
was fled forth;
into the streets
or into
some out house
where business was carried on by servants under him.
Genesis 39:14. 14 that
she called to the men of her house and spoke to them
saying
“See
he has
brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me
and I
cried out with a loud voice.
YLT 14that 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
That she called
unto the men of her house
....
Of that part of the house
which belonged to her; her eunuchs that waited upon her
or that were in
another part of the home
at some distance:
and spake unto
them;
when they came to her:
saying
see
he
hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us:
she means her husband
whom through contempt
and in her passion
she names not
having lost all
affection for him
as her addresses to Joseph showed; and so the Targum of
Jonathan supplies it
"your master hath brought
&c.'and Joseph she
calls an Hebrew by way of reproach
and with a view to set her servants against
him; who before this might not have any great regard to him through envy at him
for the favours he enjoyed
and the authority he had; and because he prevented
their doing wrong things to serve themselves
and hurt their master: and
holding up his garment in her hand
which they knew full well
bid them look at
it
and observe
that this was the issue of his Being brought into the house by
their master; that though it was not with such an intention
which can hardly
be thought to be her sense
yet this was the event of it; an attempt to abuse
vitiate
and corrupt her
and so bring contempt upon the whole family
and
expose them to the scorn and mockery of men
for their mistress to be abused by
a base foreigner: she explains herself more fully by saying:
he came in unto
me to lie with me
and I cried with a loud voice;
both of them lies; for it
was she that solicited him to lie with her
and not he; nor did she cry out at
all; and if she did
how came it she was not heard by them
as well as when she
called unto them; thus her impure love was turned into hatred
which put her
upon framing lies and calumnies; and which has been also done in cases similar
to thisF19Vid. Juvenal Satyr. 10. Apollodorum de Deorum Origin. l.
2. p. 70.
as Sthenobaea against Bellerophon.
Genesis 39:15. 15 And
it happened
when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out
that he left
his garment with me
and fled and went outside.”
YLT 15and 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.'
And it came to
pass
when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried
....
He attempting to ravish
her
as she would have it understood
but afraid
lest upon her outcry those
that were in the house should come in to her assistance
and seize on him:
that he left
his garment with me
and fled
and got him out:
but why should he strip
himself of his garment
and leave that behind him? he might have fled with it.
Genesis 39:16. 16 So
she kept his garment with her until his master came home.
YLT 16And she placeth his garment
near her
until the coming in of his lord unto his house.
And she laid up
his garment by her
....
As a proof of what she
laid to his charge
and as a testimony against him:
until her lord
came home;
or until his lord came
home
for the pronoun refers to Joseph
and so Jarchi interprets it; who either
was gone a journey
or gone to court that day
being an officer of Pharaoh's
or to the public place where the festival was kept that day
if it was such an
one.
Genesis 39:17. 17 Then
she spoke to him with words like these
saying
“The Hebrew servant whom you
brought to us came in to me to mock me;
YLT 17And 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;
And she spake
unto him according to these words
....
When her husband came home
she related to him the above affair
according to the purport of the above
words
and in much the same manner
and to the same import as she had to the
men of her house:
saying
the
Hebrew servant which thou hast brought unto us came in unto me to mock me;
in an obscene manner
using filthy words and actions
contrary to the rules of chastity as well as
good manners; or
in other words
to lie with her
which she pretended he
solicited.
Genesis 39:18. 18 so
it happened
as I lifted my voice and cried out
that he left his garment with
me and fled outside.”
YLT 18and it cometh to pass
when
I lift my voice and call
that he leaveth his garment near me
and fleeth
without.'
And it came to
pass
as I lifted up my voice and cried
....
For help from the
servants
and frightened at his insolent attempt:
that he left
his garment with me
and fled out;
and then she brought it
forth
and showed him it.
Genesis 39:19. 19 So
it was
when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him
saying
“Your servant did to me after this manner
” that his anger was aroused.
YLT 19And 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;
And it came to
pass
when his master heard the words of his wife
....
The story she related
concerning Joseph
which was her own invention
and a lie:
which she spake
unto him
saying
after this manner did thy servant to me;
attempting to violate her
chastity
as she pretended:
that his wrath
was kindled;
that is
against Joseph
without strictly examining her words
which they would not bear
her story
being but ill put together
and without hearing Joseph's defence.
Genesis 39:20. 20 Then
Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison
a place where the king’s
prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison.
YLT 20and 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.
And Joseph's
master took him
and put him into the prison
....
Which was in or adjoining
to his house
Genesis 40:3; of
himself he had power to do this
as the captain of the guard; and as he was the
chief of the executioners
as some take his office to be
it is much he did not
in his passion deliver him up into their hands to put him to death at once; but
it may be through the great respect he had had for Joseph
which was not wholly
extinguished by this impeachment of him; and especially if he heard Joseph's
apology for himself before he committed him
his passion might subside a
little
though for the credit of his wife he might take this step; or however
things were so overruled by the providence of God
who has the hearts of all
men in his hands
that he should do what he did. The word for
"prison" has the signification of roundness
and may be rendered the
"round house"F20בית הסהר "rotundam turrim"
Junius & Tremellius;
"domum rotundi carceris"
Piscator: "round house"
Ainsworth;
"vox Hebraea significat carcerem rotundum in modum lunae"
Vatablus;
so Ben Melech.
or "round tower"; and some Jewish writers
as Mercer
observes
take it to be in this form
that it was made under ground
and at the
top of it was an hole which let in light
and at which they went into it. Aben
Ezra is at a loss to say whether it is an Hebrew or Egyptian word
and inclines
to the latter
because he thinks it is explained in the next clause:
a place where
the king's prisoners were bound;
such as were guilty of
high treason
or however of high crimes and misdemeanours against him; and so
was a prison in which men were strictly kept and used hardly
as was Joseph at
first
as appears from Psalm 105:18
and he was
there in the prison;
he continued there
some
of the Jewish writers sayF21Pirke Eliezer
c. 39. ten years
others
twelveF23Seder Olam Rabba
c. 2. p. 5. Shalshalet Hakabala
fol. 3.
2. ; and so long he must be
if he was but one year in Potiphar's house; for
there were thirteen years between his being sold into Egypt
and his appearance
before Pharaoh; he was seventeen when he was sold
and he was thirty when he
stood before Pharaoh
being took out of prison
see Genesis 37:2; but
it is more likely that he was a longer time in Potiphar's house
and a lesser
time in prison.
Genesis 39:21. 21 But the Lord was with
Joseph and showed him mercy
and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper
of the prison.
YLT 21And Jehovah is with Joseph
and stretcheth out kindness unto him
and putteth his grace in the eyes of the
chief of the round-house;
And the Lord
was with Joseph
....
Comforting him with his
presence under his afflictions; supporting him with his right hand; sanctifying
all his troubles to him
and so causing him to bear them patiently and
cheerfully:
and showed him
mercy
and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison;
who was the underkeeper to
Potiphar; God so wrought upon the heart of this man
that he was merciful to
him
and took off the iron fetters
which hurt his feet
and gave him liberty
to walk about; and many other favours and kindnesses he showed unto him
as
follow.
Genesis 39:22. 22 And
the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were
in the prison; whatever they did there
it was his doing.
YLT 22and 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;
And the keeper
of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in
the prisons
....
Who
as they were state
prisoners
were a considerable charge; and this gave Joseph great honour
credit
and influence in the prison:
and whatsoever
they did there
he was the doer of it;
not that he learned and
exercised every trade the prisoners were of
to get a living by
which is the
sense of some
as Aben Ezra relates; or that he in fact did everything that was
done in the prison: but the meaning is
that he gave orders for the doing of
everything
and there was nothing done without him; all that was done
as the
Targum of Jonathan paraphrases it
he commanded it to be done; or
as Onkelos
all that was done was done by his word
that is
by his authority and command.
Genesis 39:23. 23 The
keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s
authority
[a] because
the Lord
was with him; and whatever he did
the Lord made it prosper.
YLT 23the 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.
The keeper of
the prison looked not to anything that was under his hand
....
Under the hand of Joseph;
he did not inquire into and examine his conduct and management of things; he
took no account of what was in his hands
nor required any of him; so satisfied
was he with what he did
and had such an opinion of his prudence and
faithfulness. The Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan paraphrase it
"he saw no
crime in him
'either in the management of affairs he committed to him
or for
which he was put into prison
and therefore did not use him as he did other
prisoners:
because the
Lord was with him;
supplying him with his
grace
giving him wisdom to do everything in the best manner committed to him
which caused the keeper of the prison to respect him as he did:
and that
which he did the Lord made it to prosper;
every method he took to secure
the prisoners
every scheme he formed to bring them to confession of their
crimes
or to clear those that were innocent; and every other thing relative to
prison affairs
all through the good hand of God upon him
guiding
directing
and blessing him
succeeded well
which gained him the favour and good will of
the keeper and the prisoners.
──《John Gill’s
Exposition of the Bible》
New
King James Version (NKJV)
a.
Genesis 39:23
Literally his hand