VERSE 1 Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt (hm'y>r'c.mi dr;Wh @seAyw> [waw w/p.n. Joseph + Hophal perf.3m.s. yarad go down + p.n. Egypt]).

Potiphar, an Egyptian who was one of Pharaoh's officials, the captain of the guard, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him there (hM'v' WhdurIAh rv,a] ~ylia[em.v.YIh; dY:mi yrIc.mi vyai ~yxiB'J;h; rf; h[or>P; syrIs. rp;yjiAP WhnEq.YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s.w/3m.s.suff. qanah acquire + p.n. Potiphar + noun m.s.constr. saris official; eunuch + p.n. Pharaoh + noun m.s.abs. shar prince; "official" + def.art.w/noun m.p.abs. tabbach "captain" + noun m.s.abs. ish man + p.n. Egypt + prep min w/noun f.s.constr. yadh hand + def.art.w/p.n. Ishmaelites + rel.pro. asher + Hiphil perf.3p.w/3m.s.suff. yaradh go down; "brought him" + adv sham there]).

VERSE 2 The LORD was with Joseph, so he became a successful man (x;ylic.m; vyai yhiy>w: @seAy-ta, hw"hy> yhiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. hayah be + p.n. Yahweh + d.o. marker + p.n. Joseph + waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. hayah be + Hiphil part.m.s.abs. tsalach rush; "a successful man"]).

And he was in the house of his master, the Egyptian (yrIc.Mih; wyn"doa] tybeB. yhiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. hayah be + prep beth w/noun m.s.constr. bayith house + noun m.p.constr.w/3m.s.suff. adon + def.art.w/p.n. Egyptian]).

VERSE 3 Now his master saw that the LORD was with him and how the LORD caused all that he did to prosper in his hand (Ady"B. x;ylic.m; hw"hy> hf,[o aWh-rv,a] lkow> ATai hw"hy> yKi wyn"doa] ar>Y:w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. ra-ah see + noun m.p.constr.w/3m.s.suff. adon lord; "master" + part ki that + p.n. Yahweh + prep eth w/3m.s.suff. + waw w/noun m.s.abs. kol all + rel.pro. asher + pro.3m.s. hu he + Qal part.m.s.abs. asher + p.n. Yahweh + Hiphil part.m.s.abs. tsalach rush; "caused…to prosper" + prep beth w/noun f.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. yadh hand]).

VERSE 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal servant (Atao tr,v'y>w: wyn"y[eB. !xe @seAy ac'm.YIw: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. matsa find + p.n. Joseph + noun m.s.abs. chen favor + prep beth w/noun f. dual constr.w/3m.s.suff. ayin eye + waw w/Piel impf.3m.s. sharath minister; "became…personal servant" + d.o. marker /w3m.s.suff.]; and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he owned he put in his charge [Ady"B. !t;n" Al-vy<-lk'w> AtyBe-l[; Whdeqip.Y:w: [waw w/Hiphil impf.3m.s.w/3m.s.suff. paqadh number, appoint; "he made him overseer" + prep al + noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. bayith house + waw w/noun m.s.constr. kol + adv yesh there is; "he owned" + prep lamedh w/3m.s.suff. + Qal perf.3m.s. nathan give; "he put" + prep beth w/noun f.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. yadh hand; "in his charge"]).

VERSE 5 It came about that from the time he made him overseer in his house and over all that he owned (Al-vy< rv,a]-lK' l[;w> AtybeB. Atao dyqip.hi za'me yhiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. hayah + prep min w/adv an then; "from the time" + Hiphil perf.3m.s. paqad number; "he made him overseer" + d.o. marker w/3m.s.suff. "him" + prep beth w/noun m.s.constr.w/3m.s.suff. bayith house + waw w/prep al "and over" + noun m.s.constr. kol + adv yesh there is; "he owned"], the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house on account of Joseph [@seAy ll;g>Bi yrIc.Mih; tyBe-ta, hw"hy> %r,b'y>w: [waw w/Piel impf.3m.s. barak bless + p.n. Yahweh + d.o. marker + noun m.s.constr. bayith house + def.art.w/p.n. Egyptian + prep beth w/gelal on account of; also at Deut.15:10; 1Kgs. 14:16; Jer. 11:17; 15:4 + p.n. Joseph] ; thus the LORD'S blessing was upon all that he owned, in the house and in the field [hd,F'b;W tyIB;B; Al-vy< rv,a]-lk'B. hw"hy> tK;r>Bi yhiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. hayah + noun f.s.constr. berakah blessing + p.n. Yahweh + prep beth w/noun m.s.constr. kol all + rel.pro. asher + adv yesh there is + prep lamedh w/3m.s.suff. + def.art.w/prep beth w/noun m.s.abs. bayith house + waw w/def.art.w/prep beth w/noun m.s.abs. shadeh field]).

VERSE 6 So he left everything he owned in Joseph's charge (@seAy-dy:B. Al-rv,a]-lK' bzO[]Y:w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. azab leave + noun m.s.constr. kol all + rel.pro. asher + prep lamedh w/3m.s.suff.; "he owned" + prep beth w/noun f.s.constr. yadh; "charge" + p.n. Joseph]; and with him there he did not concern himself with anything except the food which he ate [lkeAa aWh-rv,a] ~x,L,h;-~ai yKi hm'Wam. ATai [d;y"-al{w [waw w/neg lo + Qal perf.3m.s. yada know; "concern" + d.o. marker w/3m.s.suff. "himself" + noun m.s.abs. me-umah anything + part ki that + part im except + def.art.w/noun m.s.abs. lechem food + rel.pro. asher + pro.3m.s. hu he + Qal part.m.s.abs. akal eat]).

Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance (ha,r>m; hpeywI ra;to-hpey> @seAy yhiy>w: [waw w/Qal impf.3m.s. hayah + p.n. Joseph + adj.m.s.constr. yapeh handsome + noun m.s.abs. ta-ar form + waaw w/adj.m.s.constr. yapeh handsome + noun m.s.abs. mare-ah appearance]).

ANALYSIS: VERSES 1-6

1. The narrative from chap. 37:36 is resumed with verse 1a.
2. The hophal form of the verb yaradh ("had been taken down") is equivalent to the english pluperfect, hence the translation.
3. At the end of chapter 37 Joseph is "sold" by Midianites, and here he is "bought/purchased."
4. The story shifts from the brothers and the Midianites (Ishmaelites who lived in Midian) to Joseph and Potiphar ("he whom Ra has given").
5. The year of Joseph’s captivity is 1678BC when he was just 17 years of age (37:2).
6. Joseph’s new owner is described in v.1 as "a man of Egypt," "an officer of Pharaoh," and "the captain of the bodyguard" (cf. 37:1 where two of these titles occur).
7. It is clear that this man was a very high ranking official in the court of the reigning Pharaoh.
8. The Pharaoh is unnamed but based in the research and conclusions of Ted T. Steward in his book, "Solving the Exodus Problem" the reigning Pharaoh was Amenemhet I (father of Sesostris I the Pharaoh who elevated Joseph to the office of prime minister).
9. Joseph arrived in Egypt in the 9^th year of Amenemhet I’s reign (he reigned 30 years from 1688 to 1657, the 2^nd year of the famine; Year "zero" was 1688 the ascension year which was not counted).
10. V. 2 has the waw consecutive ("and") with the Qal imperfect of hayah in regards to Yahweh ("Yahweh was with Joseph"), and Joseph ("he became" and "he was").
11. Four times in this chapter the declaration is made that the LORD was with Joseph (vv. 2,3,21,23).
12. The phrase recalls the promise of the LORD’s presence with the patriarchs (26:3; 28:15; 31:3).
13. Here it is stated as a fact rather than a promise.
14. Apart from 49:18, this is the only chapter in the Joseph narrative that has the divine name, Yahweh.
15. Of the seven uses of the tetragrammaton in this chapter (vv. 2, 3 [2x], 5 [2x], 21 23), four of them occur in the phrase, "Yahweh was with Joseph" (vv. 2, 3, 21, 23).
16. The name occurs here at what is the most crucial moment in the career of Joseph.
17. His future hangs in the balance.
18. He is alone in Egypt, separated from family, and exposed.
19. Or is he alone?
20. It is the narrator who uses the special name for God, and who tells the reader, no less than four times, that in this very precarious situation, that Joseph was really not alone.
21. Yahweh stood by him.
22. There is little doubt that the LORD was with Joseph from this point forward in the narrative.
23. Was the LORD with him when his brothers were deciding what to do with him?
24. When he was thrown into a pit?
25. When he joined some Ishmaelites as an involuntary passenger headed for Egypt?
26. We, the readers know that the LORD was with him, although the phrase is not there.
27. Joseph no doubt needed some time to realize that God was with him.
28. Joseph’s master is called in v.2 simply "the Egyptian."
29. But God began to work immediately in the new career of Joseph moving him forward in his role as a slave on Potiphar’s estate.
30. Joseph soon began to excel as a servant on this vast estate as noted in the designation "a successful man" (Heb. "a man prospering"—ish matseliyach from the participle ‘to rush’).
31. This expression has been previously seen in connection with the servant who sought out a bride for Isaac (24:21, 40, 42).
32. So demonstrative was Joseph’s magic touch that his master soon came to recognize his God-given talents (v.3).
33. As an in-door worker Potiphar saw the glowing results wherever Joseph served.
34. Hence, the phrase "all that he did [prospered] in his hand."
35. His master was no doubt aware of Joseph’s unusual faith and so being a religious type himself realized that God was with this young man.
36. Potiphar promoted Joseph to personal assistant (v.4a).
37. The verb sharath (‘to minister, serve’) is used of personal service versus menial tasks performed by slaves.
38. Joshua was Moses’ personal servant (Ex. 24:13; Josh. 1:1); Elisha was Elijah’s personal servant (1Kgs. 19:21).
39. The words "and he made him overseer over his house" means that he was appointed as chief manager or steward of his household (cf. Lk. 16:1).
40. Such slaves are mentioned in Egyptian texts.
41. They were in charge not just of the house but the entire estate with all its property (v. 4).
42. V. 5 tells us of the results of Potiphar’s decision in terms of the doctrine of blessing by association.
43. As with the case of Joseph’s father, and his employment with Laban (30:27, 30), so Potiphar saw a marked increase in the prosperity of an already great estate (v. 5).
44. The "LORD’s blessing" extended to every aspect of the estate both inside and out.
45. Hence the words, "all that he had in the house and in the field."
46. This was a harbinger of what Joseph would bring to all Egypt and the neighboring nations, when he would come to rule the great kingdom of Egypt.
47. BD teaches us that the one that the Lord blesses overflows to even those of a pagan faith.
48. Joseph sees the covenant promise fulfilled, declaring, "I will bless those who bless you."
49. Potiphar did right by Joseph and God repaid him in kind.
50. The phrase "he left everything in Joseph’s charge/hand"(v.6a) seems an even stronger phrase than, "all that he owned" (v.4).
51. It implies that Potiphar abandoned his interests in what Joseph was doing, because he was so content with what Joseph was doing seeing all was in his best interests.
52. The only thing that Potiphar did not delegate to Joseph’s care was the preparation of his food (v.6b).
53. This may be because Egyptians were circumspect with regards to dinner company (cf. 43:32).
54. In others words, Egyptians only ate with Egyptians.
55. It could also have to do with the fact that Egyptians considered their food preparation to be superior to all others (like the French!).
56. The concluding note (v.6c) regarding Joseph’s physical appeal prepares the reader for Joseph’s run-in with Potiphar’s wife.
57. A young single man "handsome in physic and facial structure" is regularly in the vicinity of a wife who has been virtually abandoned by a busy husband, spells trouble.
58. It signals a warning of the next episode.
59. Joseph suffered from one endowment too many!
60. Joseph is not to blame that he had great authority and was extremely handsome to boot.
61. This parallels his place and position in the household of Jacob.
62. It wasn’t his fault that his father doted over him at the expense of the other sons or that he was the recipient of special divine revelation that indicated that the entire family would one day be subservient to him.
63. History is about to repeat itself for this successful, handsome and young manager of this great estate.
64. The level of the LORD’s blessing upon Joseph is underscored by the fivefold repetition of the noun "all" (kol).
65. The LORD brought success to "all" Joseph touched (v.3).
66. And so Potiphar placed Joseph over "all" his holdings (vv. 4-5).
67. The LORD’s blessing is on "all" that was Potiphar’s (v. 5b).
68. And finally, Potiphar left "everything" in Joseph’s care as if he was overseeing the operations of the estate.