The Image of His Father Cooled Joseph's Blood

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 146:3

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

Rabbi Yehudah says: It was the day of the rising of the Nile, and all went to see it, but he did not go; rather, "he came into the house to do his work" — to reckon his master's accounts. Rabbi Nehemiah says: It was the day of the theater, and all went to watch, but he did not go. Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachman said: "To do his work" literally. Rav Hiyya taught: he saw the image of his father and his blood cooled, as it says, "By the hands of the Mighty One" (Genesis 49:24). Rav Huna in the name of Rav taught: he saw the image of his mother and his blood cooled, as it says, "From there the Shepherd, the Stone of Israel." Who did this? "From the God of your father, who will help you" (Genesis 49:25). Concerning what we learned, that the primary categories of labor are forty less one — corresponding to what? Rabbi Hanina said: corresponding to the services of the Tabernacle. Rabbi Shimon ben Yosi ben Lakunya said: corresponding to the number of times "work" and "works" appear in the Torah. Rav Yosef asked: Is this "he came into the house to do his work" included in the count or not? When he came to join with her, the Holy One came in the image of his father, and his desire cooled, as it says, "His bow remained firm" (Genesis 49:24). She said, "What is wrong with you?" He said, "I see my father." She said, "Where is he? There is no one of the men of the house here." He said, "You are a daughter of donkeys — 'whose flesh is the flesh of donkeys' (Ezekiel 23:20) — and a donkey does not see, but I am of those who see, as it says, 'And he saw the place from afar.'" That day all went to the idol and she made herself out to be ill. When they returned, her companions came to visit her. They said, "Why is your face like this?" She told them all that had happened. They said, "You have no remedy except to tell your husband such and such, and he will imprison him." She said to them, "Please, may each of you tell your husbands that he made advances to you as well" — and they did so. All the officers entered Potiphar's courtyard and told him. He wished to kill Joseph. She said, "Do not kill him and lose your money; rather imprison him." Even so he wished to kill him, until Asenath came secretly to Potiphera and swore to him and told the truth. The Holy One said to her, "By your life, since you plead his merit, the tribes I raise from him shall come through you." And some say she was the daughter of Dinah, but Potiphera raised her.

Themes

JosephRighteousnessProvidence

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