That's the scene we encounter in the story of Zuleika and Joseph, a tale brimming with passion, temptation, and unwavering faith.
The story, as retold in Ginzberg's Legends of the Jews, describes a pivotal moment where Zuleika, the wife of Potiphar, seeks to justify her infatuation with the young Joseph. Remember, this isn't just a simple crush; it's an all-consuming desire that threatens to unravel her world. So, what does she do? She invites a group of prominent women to her home.
Zuleika sets a trap. She places oranges before them, along with knives. Then, she has Joseph walk through the room. And what happens? The women are so utterlyMesmerized by Joseph's beauty that they accidentally cut their own hands. "What have ye done?" Zuleika cries out, feigning shock. "Behold, I set oranges before you to eat, and you have cut your hands."
The women, aghast, look down to see their hands covered in blood, staining their garments. They exclaim that Joseph has enchanted them, that they couldn't tear their eyes away from him because of his sheer beauty. It's a dramatic moment, underscoring the power that Joseph unwittingly wields.
Zuleika then reveals her true motive. "This happened to you that looked upon him but a moment, and you could not refrain yourselves!" she declares. Think about the implications here. She is essentially saying, "If you, who only saw him for a fleeting instant, are so affected, how can you possibly judge me, who sees him every single day?"
She continues, lamenting her constant proximity to him: "How, then, can I control myself in whose house he abideth continually, who see him go in and out day after day? How, then, should I not waste away, or keep from languishing on account of him!" It's a desperate plea, a raw confession of her inner turmoil.
The women, now understanding the depth of her obsession, offer a pragmatic solution: If you desire him so much, why not simply reveal your feelings? "But he is thy slave! Why dost thou not disclose to him that which is in thy heart, rather than suffer thy life to perish through this thing?"
Zuleika's response reveals the core of the conflict. "Daily do I endeavor to persuade him, but he will not consent to my wishes. I promised him everything that is fair, yet have I met with no return from him, and therefore I am sick, as you may see." She has tried everything, offered everything, but Joseph remains steadfast in his refusal. It's this unyielding resistance that fuels her frustration and despair.
This scene, so vividly rendered, highlights not only Joseph's extraordinary beauty but also his remarkable moral strength. It sets the stage for the trials and tribulations that lie ahead, reminding us that even in the face of overwhelming temptation, faith and integrity can prevail. It makes you wonder, doesn’t it? What would you do in Joseph’s place? What lengths would you go to, to stay true to your principles?