Potiphar

POTIPHAR, or Putiphar, an Officer of the Court of Pharaoh King of Egypt, and General of his Troops, according to the Version of the Vulgate, or Chief of his Butchers or Cooks, according to the Hebrew¹. The same Text calls him Eunuch²: But it is very probable that this Word, in this Place, means only an Officer of the King’s Court. Certain it is, that Potiphar was married, and had Children also, if Asineth Daughter of Potipherah, who was given to Joseph for Wife, were his Daughter, as most of the Interpreters agree, and as it will be mention’d afterwards.

Gen. xxxix. 2, 3, 4, &c.Potiphar then having bought Joseph,³ who was sold to him as a Slave by the Midianites, who had bought him of his Brethren; he seeing all Things to prosper in his Hands, took an Affection to him, and gave him the Superintendance of his whole House. But, some Years after, a the Wife of Potiphar, having taken an unlawful Liking to Joseph, and having even solicited him to the Crime of Adultery, Joseph refused her. Then, the Love of this Woman being changed into Rage, she accused him to her Husband, of making Attempts upon her Chastity. Potiphar being too easy to believe this Accusation, put Joseph into Bonds; and having, by Employment, the Charge of the Prisoners, he laid this Care upon Joseph; whether he had found out his Innocence, or whether he thought him fitter for this Office than any other of his Domesticks, as being himself confined in the Prison with the other Prisoners.

But God had replenish’d Joseph with his own Spirit, and had given him an extraordinary Talent of Interpreting Dreams, Gen. chap. xl, xli.which made him known to Pharaoh, upon the Occasion related under the Article of JOSEPH. This Prince made him Ruler of his own House, and of all the Land of Egypt,⁴ and gave him in Marriage Asineth Daughter of Potipher, or Gen. xli. 45.Potipherah, Priest of Heliopolis, or Priest of the City of On, according to the Hebrew.

Opinions are divided upon the Question, whether this Potiphar be the same as Joseph’s Master. The Hebrews⁵, Origen⁶, St. Jerom, Abbot Rupert, Tostat, and some others, think it is the same Person. And the Jews, cited in Origen, think it was Asineth that informed Potiphar of the Injustice of the Accusation that her Mother had form’d against Joseph. The Quality of Chief of the Army of Pharaoh, and that of Head of the Cooks or Butchers, or, of those that slew the Victims, (for the Hebrew Text⁷ may signify all these), are not incompatible with the Dignity of Priest of Heliopolis. The different Ways by which the Names of Potiphar are written, in Genesis, chap. xxxviii. where the Master of Joseph is mention’d, and in chap. xli. wherein his Father-in-Law is mention’d, is so inconsiderable, that it hardly deserves to be taken Notice of. Lastly, Tho’ the City of Heliopolis, wherein Potiphar was Priest, was pretty far from that of Tanis, where the King of Egypt kept his Court, and where Potiphar had an Employment; it was not so far off, but that these two Employments were very consistent. Potiphar might divide his Time between the King’s Service, and his Attendance at the Temple of Heliopolis, in Quality of Priest of this Strabo l. 16.City; for it appears from Strabo, that anciently there were a great Number of Priests in this City, where their chief Employment was to study Philosophy and Astronomy, and where are still to be seen great Apartments where they had their Habitations. Nothing in Egypt was more grand than these Priests, and several among them have been exalted to the Crown itself. Their Quality of Priests, did not exclude them either from Offices at Court, or in the Camp.

We think, therefore, that no Inconvenience can follow, from supposing that Potiphar, Joseph’s Master, might afterwards become his Father-in-Law; and we have answer’d beforehand such Reasons as have been brought to support the contrary Opinion. These Reasons may be seen under the Article ASINETH, and in our Commentary upon Genesis, chap. xli.

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