It’s Biblical! This week: Potiphar
Everything you wanted to know about your favourite Torah characters, and the ones you’ve never heard of...
We all know the story of Joseph and how he was sold down to Egypt. The story when told in English unfailingly brings to my mind the music of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber and the words of Sir Tim Rice.
Joseph, sold into slavery by his brothers, is sold on by the traders to Potiphar, the Captain of the Guard (according to one translation).
The Hebrew is hat vachim shar, which could also mean the head of the butchers or cooks.
“Butchers” could also mean Royal Guards. It might also mean Lord High Executioner.
Potiphar is described as saris, which could mean a eunuch or a king’s minister. This is an explanation either of his wife’s need to proposition Joseph or, more likely, a way of saying that he was very important, a minister of state.
This latter translation also explains the presence of the chief butler and baker in the prison with Joseph. The later imprisonment seems to be within the same household establishment.
Potiphar seems to trust Joseph with his house and his family, and makes him the steward over all his affairs. He is rewarded by God for this.
Potiphar had an attractive wife, who attempted to seduce Joseph. The episode is the classic rabbinic illustration of how a man should never be alone in private with anyone except immediate family. Potiphar throws Joseph into prison for the alleged illicit liaison.
A little while later, free and now vizier to Pharaoh, Joseph married Asnat, “daughter of Poti-phera, the Priest of On”.
Was this the same chap? Did he marry the daughter of the woman who falsely accused him? Very possibly. Poti-phera is possibly the long version of the name. The long name means “gift of Ra”, and being priest of On (Heliopolis) he may well have had a promotion.
This marriage holds out a very interesting thought. Joseph forgave Potiphar’s wife. His kind and forgiving nature is revealed in this marriage, as well as in his dealings with his brothers.
Zvi Solomons is rabbi of the Jewish Community of Berkshire (JCoB.org)
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
