Joseph's Struggle With Potiphar's Wife Revisited

Midrash Rabbah Bereshit Rabbah 98:20 View source
Curated by The Jewish Mythology Team ·

We all know the story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife, but the ancient rabbis saw layers of complexity there, hints of struggle just beneath the surface. to a fascinating passage from Bereshit Rabbah 98, a collection of rabbinic interpretations on the Book of Genesis, and unpack what it reveals.

The passage centers on Jacob's blessing to Joseph in (Genesis 49:24). “His bow [kashto] sat firm [be’eitan], and the arms of his hands were golden, by the hands of the mighty One of Jacob, from there, from the Shepherd of the stone of Israel.” What does it all mean?

The rabbis, never shy about diving deep, begin to dissect the verse. "His bow sat firm" – this, we're told, refers to Aksilo, a star that influences the month of Sagittarius. But Rabbi Yoḥanan takes it further, asking, "Who caused you to be rejected from the mighty ones [ha’eitanim]?" In other words, what prevented Joseph from being counted among the patriarchs? The answer, according to this interpretation, is the passion [kashyut] he experienced with his master's wife.

Oof. Talk about a loaded interpretation! The text implies that Joseph, at least initially, wanted to be with Potiphar's wife. Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman offers a slightly softened take: "The bow was drawn until taut and was then loosened." Joseph experienced arousal, but he subdued his passion and regained control. Bereshit Rabbah suggests the very real internal battle Joseph faced.

And what about the phrase, "And the arms [zero’ei] of his hands were golden [vayafozu]"? Yitzḥak offers a rather graphic interpretation: "His seed [zaro] scattered [nitpazeru] and emerged through his fingernails.” Whoa. Talk about a physical manifestation of repressed desire! It's a powerful, if unsettling, image of the struggle Joseph endured.

The passage then shifts to how Joseph overcame this temptation. "By the hands of the mighty One of Jacob" – Rav Huna, citing Rav Matana, says that Joseph saw the image of his father's face, and "it cooled his blood." Rabbi Menaḥama, in the name of Rabbi Ami, offers an alternative: he saw the image of his mother's face. Another interpretation says he saw the stone of Israel, referring to his mother Rachel, the cornerstone of Jacob's house. In each case, the sight of his parents, or a symbol of his family, helped him resist temptation. It served as a powerful reminder of his values and his heritage.

Then comes a bit that might feel obscure to us today: "'Above [me’al]' – this is Azkarot that is in Baal. 'Lying beneath' – this is Beit She’an, in Beit HaSherai." What's that about? These are locations in the territory of Joseph, one high up and one low down, both known for their excellent produce. The blessing extends to the land itself.

The rabbis then circle back to Jacob's love for Rachel, even in blessing Joseph: "Blessings of breasts and of womb" – Rabbi Luleyani ben Turin, quoting Rabbi Yitzḥak, says this refers to blessings for the offspring of animals. Rabbi Abba bar Zutera adds that Jacob blessed the breasts that nursed Joseph and the womb that bore him, highlighting Rachel's importance.

Finally, the passage touches on Joseph's unique position among his brothers. "On the head of the elect [nezir] among his brothers" – Rabbi Yitzḥak of Migdal says, "You are the crown of your brothers.” Rabbi Levi even suggests that Joseph was a literal nazirite (someone who abstains from wine), abstaining from wine for the twenty-two years he was separated from his brothers, and they abstained as well until their reunion. "They drank and became intoxicated with him" (Genesis 43:34) – with him they drank; without him they did not drink. His separation, his suffering, ultimately elevated him.

So, what does all this mean for us? It's a reminder that even great figures like Joseph faced immense internal struggles. The rabbis, in their insightful interpretations, show us the very human side of a biblical hero. It's a comforting thought that even when we are battling our inner demons, we, too, can draw strength from our values, our families, and our traditions. And maybe, just maybe, emerge stronger on the other side.

Themes

Creation Patriarchs Matriarchs Joseph King David Messiah Prophecy Miracles Holy Land

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