Why God Sent Joseph Fragrant Spices and Cut Off Potiphar's Seed

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Vayeshev 14:3

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

Another interpretation of (Ps. 37:28): "For the Lord loves justice [and does not abandon His pious ones; they are guarded forever]." It speaks about Joseph. And where did He guard him? [See] what is written (in Gen. 37:28): "And Midianite traders passed by." And with what were they laden? Is it not the way of camels to be laden only with tar (itran)? Yet here it is written (in Gen. 37:25): "spice (nekhot), balsam, and labdanum." Rather, the Holy One, blessed be He, said: Shall this righteous man be set amid a foul odor? Instead, I will arrange for him a good odor. Thus, "He does not abandon His pious ones." "But the seed of the wicked is cut off" (Ps. 37:28) — this is Potiphar, who took him not for labor but for another matter. What did the Holy One, blessed be He, do? He castrated him. Thus, "and the seed of the wicked is cut off," and "cut off" denotes nothing other than castration, as it is said (in Lev. 22:24): "and that which is crushed, smashed, torn out, or cut off [you shall not offer to the Lord]." And whence do we know that he was not a eunuch and the Holy One, blessed be He, castrated him? As it is said (in Gen. 39:1): "Potiphar, a eunuch of Pharaoh."

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