Joseph, the dreamer, the interpreter of dreams, the viceroy of Egypt… he died younger than he should have. The Sefer ha-Yashar attributes his early demise to a seemingly minor infraction. You see, his brothers, still carrying the weight of their past betrayal, referred to their father, Jacob, as Joseph's "servant" in his presence. Joseph, puffed up with his own importance perhaps, didn't object. "Dominion buries him that exercises it," it is said. And for this, according to some accounts, he lost ten years of his life. A chilling reminder that even those in power are accountable.
And what of Asenath, Joseph's wife? Where did she come from? The Bible itself is rather quiet on her origins, simply stating she was the daughter of Potiphera, a priest of On (Genesis 41:45). But legend fills in the gaps, painting a vivid portrait.
The Rabbis teach, "God gives every man the wife he deserves." And according to Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg, Asenath was certainly worthy of Joseph. Her father, Potiphar – not the Potiphar who initially imprisoned Joseph, but rather another Egyptian noble – was a man of great wisdom, wealth, and standing. Asenath herself? She was said to be as slender as Sarah, as beautiful as Rebekah, and as radiant as Rachel. Quite the lineage!
When she turned eighteen, princes and noblemen flocked to seek her hand. Even Pharaoh's own son wanted to marry her! But Pharaoh refused, deeming her unsuitable for a future king. He suggested the daughter of the Moabite king instead. But Asenath… she wasn’t interested in any of them. She rejected every proposal, preferring a life of seclusion. With seven maidens born on the very same day as her, she lived in a magnificent palace next to her parents', sheltered from the world.
Imagine that: a woman of unparalleled beauty and privilege, choosing solitude over power and prestige. It makes you wonder what was going on inside her heart, what she was waiting for. Perhaps she was destined for something greater, a role that only Joseph, with his own unique destiny, could unlock. The story of Asenath reminds us that sometimes, the most significant destinies are found not in the clamor of the court, but in the quiet of a waiting heart.