“It was on a certain day, he came into the house to perform his labor, and there was no one of the people of the household there in the house” (Genesis 39:11). “It was on a certain day, he came… and there was no one of the people of the household” – is it possible that this man’s house remained without anyone [inside]? Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Neḥemya, Rabbi Yehuda says: It was the day of the celebration of the Nile.16The midrash employs the term nibul, literally, disgrace, to refer to this event, because it was an idolatrous practice (Matnot Kehuna; see also Etz Yosef).
Everyone went to see, but he did not go. Rabbi Neḥemya said: It was the day of the theater. Everyone went to see it, but he did not go. Instead, “he came into the house to perform his labor” – to calculate his master’s accounts.
Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: “to perform his labor” indeed.17He went to submit to the demands of Potiphar’s wife. However, “there was no one [ish]” – he examined himself and did not find himself to be a man [ish].18He was afflicted with impotence. Alternatively, he realized that if he were to commit this act he would be comparable to an animal and not a man (Yefeh To’ar). Another matter, the bow was drawn, and was restored.19This is a euphemism meaning that he experienced sexual arousal and then returned to a state of relaxation.
That is what is written: “His bow sat firm [vateshev be’eitan kashto]” 20This is expounded as vatashav – it returned to its original state [le’eitano]. (Genesis 49:24) – his firmness [kashyuto].21His male organ, metaphorically referred to as a bow, was firm, but returned [vatashav] to its former state [eitano] as he conquered his desire. Rabbi Yitzḥak said: His semen dispersed and emerged through his fingernails, as it is stated: “And the arms of his hand were gilded [vayafozu]”22This is expounded as though it was vayafutzu – they were dispersed.
The midrash asserts that Joseph dug his fingernails into the ground (Sota 36b) so that the discomfort would help his desire dissipate (Etz Yosef). (Genesis 49:24). Rav Huna said in the name of Rabbi Matna: He saw the image of his father and his blood cooled, as it is written: “From the shepherd of the stone of Israel” (Genesis 49:24). Who did so?23Who enabled Joseph to conquer his desire? “From the God of your father, and He will help you…blessings of breasts and of womb” (Genesis 49:25) – the blessings of your father and your mother.