The Jewish tradition has some fascinating stories about that, and one of the most intriguing is the tale of Asenath and Joseph. It's a story about beauty, prejudice, divine intervention, and ultimately, transformation.
The story, as retold by Ginzberg in Legends of the Jews, paints Asenath as a woman of extraordinary beauty. Think Sarah, Rebekah, and Rachel rolled into one! She's the daughter of Potiphar, a prominent Egyptian nobleman, and lives a life of privilege, secluded in her own palace with seven handmaidens. Suitors, including Pharaoh's own son, clamor for her hand, but she rejects them all. She wants nothing to do with marriage.
Then, Joseph arrives. Remember Joseph, the dreamer who was sold into slavery by his brothers? He's now a powerful figure in Egypt, thanks to his ability to interpret Pharaoh's dreams. Joseph announces he's coming to visit Potiphar, and Potiphar, eager to cement the connection, proposes a marriage between Joseph and Asenath.
Asenath is not impressed.
"Why," she asks, according to Ginzberg, "should I marry a vagabond, a slave, a son of a Canaanite herdsman?" She's bought into the rumors and the prejudices. She sees him as an outsider, someone beneath her. She even brings up the accusation that he tried to violate his master's wife! "I'd rather marry Pharaoh's son!" she declares.
But then she sees him.
Peeking from her window, Asenath is struck by Joseph's "divine beauty" and "indescribably noble carriage." It's a complete turnaround! Suddenly, she's filled with regret. "Poor, foolish me," she laments. "I permitted myself to be misled." She realizes the rumors were wrong. She even wonders if he's "a son of God," because such beauty, she believes, couldn't possibly exist in a mere mortal. She begs God for forgiveness, promising to marry Joseph if given the chance.
Joseph, however, is initially wary. He notices Asenath watching him and orders her away. He's committed to staying away from the Gentile women of Egypt, a principle instilled in him by his father, Jacob. He knows his beauty attracts unwanted attention, and he wants to avoid temptation.
Potiphar explains that Asenath is a virgin who has never looked upon another man. He asks Joseph to allow her to pay her respects. Joseph relents, and Asenath greets him with "Peace be with thee, thou blessed of God Most High." Joseph returns the greeting, but when Asenath tries to kiss him, he refuses.
"It is not meet," he says, "that a God-fearing man…should kiss a woman of a strange people, who blesses dead and unprofitable idols." Ouch! He's drawing a clear line, emphasizing the difference between his beliefs and hers. He sees her as someone who worships false gods and engages in practices that are spiritually harmful.
Asenath is heartbroken. But Joseph, seeing her distress, softens. He blesses her, asking God to "pour out His spirit over her and make her to become a member of His people and His inheritance, and grant her a portion in the life eternal."
This is where the story takes a truly fascinating turn. According to later traditions, Asenath does indeed convert to Judaism and becomes Joseph's wife. The Book of Asenath, an apocryphal text, expands on this, describing her repentance and conversion in detail, even featuring an angel who instructs her. She becomes a righteous woman, and their descendants are said to include important figures in Jewish history.
What can we take away from the story of Asenath? It's a reminder that first impressions can be deceiving, and that prejudice can blind us to the truth. It also speaks to the power of transformation and the possibility of finding common ground, even between people from very different backgrounds. It’s a beautiful tale of how love, combined with faith, can bridge divides and lead to unexpected blessings. Asenath's journey reminds us that even those who seem furthest away can be brought closer, and that the most unlikely unions can sometimes be the most blessed.