ASENETH, the Daughter of Potiphar, and Wife of the Patriarch Joseph. She was the Mother of Ephraim and Manasseh. It is a question whether Aseneth be the Daughter of the same Potiphar, who bought Joseph, and afterwards being imposed upon by his Wife’s slanders, threw him into a dungeon. The Hebrews, who are cited in Origen, relate1, that Aseneth discovered to her Father Potiphar what passed between Joseph and her Mother, and convinced him, that there was no פוטי פרע פטי פרground for the suspicions which he had conceived against his Servant. S. Jerom2, Abbot Rupert, Tostatus, and some others are persuaded likewise, that Aseneth is the Daughter of Potiphar, Joseph’s first Master.
But the generality of the Fathers and Expositors are of a contrary opinion; for, first, the name of Potiphar, Joseph’s Father-in-law, is written with some little difference from his who bought him, when he was first brought into Egypt; secondly, Scripture not having said that this is the same Potiphar, there is reason to believe it may be another. This circumstance was too remarkable not to be insisted on. Thirdly, St. Austin3 observes, that the dignity of Priest of Heliopolis, ascribed by Scripture to Potiphar, Joseph’s Father-in-law, does not seem consistent with the quality of Master Cook, or Captain of Pharaoh’s guards, which is given in Scripture to Potiphar Joseph’s Master. Fourthly, and lastly, the City of Heliopolis, in Hebrew called On, is too remote from that of Tanis, where the King of Egypt kept his Court, to think that the same Potiphar who attended that Court in this employment, could reside at On, which was above fifteen leagues from it. These reasons have determined the generality of Commentators to believe, that Aseneth the Wife of Joseph was not Daughter to that Potiphar whom Joseph, upon his coming into Egypt, was sold to. These arguments are not without reply, as will appear in the Article of POTIPHAR.
If any one has a curiosity for fables, he may read a long recital in the Rabbins, of the manner how Aseneth became Joseph’s Wife. Vincent of Beuavais gives the following account of her marriage. Joseph visiting Egypt in the first of the seven years of barrenness4, came into the neighbourhood of Heliopolis, where Potiphar, Pharaoh’s Counsellor, dwelt, who had a Daughter, named Aseneth, of very uncommon beauty. She lived in a Tower joining to her Father’s House, in which Tower there were ten chambers, or apartments; in the first Aseneth kept her Gods, to whom she sacrificed every day; the second contained her ornaments, rich clothes and jewels; the third was filled with all the valuable things of the earth; the seven other apartments were inhabited by Virgins, who were in the service of Aseneth, all of an extraordinary beauty, and had never spoken to any man.
There were three windows in Aseneth’s chamber, one to the East, another to the South, and another to the North. In it was a golden bed, with purple curtains embroidered with gold; and about the Tower there was a Court encompassed with very high walls of free stone, wherein were four iron gates guarded by eighteen young men well armed. On the right hand there was a fountain and a bason to receive the water wherewith the trees in the garden were all watered.
Aseneth was tall like Sarah, graceful like Rebekah, and beautiful like Rachel. Joseph coming into this part of the Country, sent word to Potiphar that he would lodge at his house; Potiphar was overjoyed at it, and told his Daughter that Joseph the mighty man of God was to lodge in his house, and that it was his design to marry her to him. She replied, that she would have nothing to do with a Slave; and for a Husband she would have none but a King’s Son. At the same time intelligence was brought of Joseph’s arrival. Aseneth went up immediately to her apartment, and seeing Joseph come sitting in Pharaoh’s Chariot, which was all of gold, drawn by four horses whiter than snow; Joseph himself dressed in a purple mantle wrought with gold, with a Crown of gold upon his head, adorned with twelve precious stones, holding a branch of olive and a gold scepter in his hand; immediately, I say, upon her perceiving him, she was discomposed at the sight of so much beauty, and said, This is the Sun coming in his Chariot to us; I did not know that Joseph was the Son of God; for what Woman could ingender such a beauty?
Joseph being conducted into the house, his hands were washed, and he desired to know who that woman was, whom he had observed through the window there? for he was apprehensive lest she should do as many other women had done, who had sent him presents, and made court to him. Potiphar told him she was his Daughter, that she had never spoke to any man, nor could endure any; that if he desired it, she should come and pay her respects to him. Joseph answered, If she is a Virgin, let her come, and I will love her as my own Sister. The young Lady’s Mother went up and brought her; and Potiphar said to her, Salute your Brother, who has the same aversion to all Women as you have to all Men; embrace him. Joseph hereupon stretched out his hand, and put it upon her bosom, telling her that he would not suffer any one who worshiped Idols to touch him.
Aseneth was so moved at this, that she shed tears: Joseph blessed her; she renounced her Idols, and fell sick with grief. Joseph being upon the point of departing, Potipherah was desirous to detain him; but he refused to stay, and promised to return in eight days. During all this time Aseneth continued dressed in black, threw her Idols out of the windows, and took no nourishment. On the eighth day, upon the first dawn of light, an Angel from Heaven came to comfort her, required her to eat, to put on her richest clothes, and told her that her name was written in the book of life; that she should no longer be called Aseneth, but Great Refuge. At the same time she served him with bread and wine; and he asking for a honey comb; she told him she was very sorry she had none. Go, says he to her, into your buttery, and you will find some: which accordingly she did; the Angel took and eat a little piece of it, and gave Aseneth the rest. The Bees came and made honey in this Virgin’s hand, then at the Angel’s command fled to Heaven.
Aseneth desired the Angel to give his blessing likewise to seven Virgins, who had lived with her from her infancy, and had been brought up in the same apartment. The Angel blessed them all, and disappeared. In a moment after she was told that Joseph was returned: she went therefore in haste to meet him, and related to him how the Angel had declared to her, that she should be his Wife. The next day Joseph desired Pharaoh’s permission to marry her, which was granted him.
I omit several circumstances of less importance, here is enough to enable us to judge of the merit of the piece, and inspire us with all the contempt of it which it deserves.
The Eastern people have likewise composed mystical books, containing the amours of Joseph and Zoleïkab, Daughter to Pharaoh King of Egypt, and Wife to Potiphar, Joseph’s Master. They explain these stories much after the same manner as we do the Canticles of Solomon, that is to say, in a moral and exalted sense, of the love of the soul towards God. See hereafter JOSEPH.
Read this article in its place on the printed pages