Bibledoorajar Observes The Chase and Challenge

      "Challenge, and not desire, lies at the heart of seduction."
                                                   Jean Baudrillard    

Scholars tell us that sexual promiscuity was fairly common in Egypt. They also tell us that many of the Court officials were made eunuchs in order to ensure greater loyalty to the Pharoah and his purposes. So, we do not really know what all of the issues may have been that contributed to Potiphar's marital state nor what drove his wife to pursue Joseph. We do know that Joseph was one of the men that the Bible describes as handsome and that it was apparently necessary for him to work within the house of Potiphar. But this handsome fellow was always busy at work and never seemed to give Potiphar's wife the time of day! The challenge was on. Could she snare him?

Apparently she tried and tried but Joseph was having none of it. Finally, she was willing to grab him by his clothes to pull him in; Joseph was fast and he slipped out of his outer garment and fled in his undergarments. The challenge was foiled and now explanations and cover-ups had to occur. What she needed was some witnesses, even if they be false, so she called to other men working nearby. She enhanced her argument by not referring to Joseph by his name, but by calling him the Hebrew her husband had brought in to work. He was but a lowly Hebrew servant and who was he to get away with such an attempt made upon her? Could she find witnesses ruthless enough to bear false witness? Whatever she was able to pull off was apparently enough for her husband's anger to be kindled. But against whom? Joseph's name was not mentioned as the focus of the anger, but Potiphar obviously felt he must take some action anyway.  Attempted rape would have meant death usually, but Potiphar put Joseph in prison. Joseph offered no defense.

When the Greater Servant had thoroughly withstood all of the Hebrew officials attempts to discredit Him, they looked for witnesses whose testimony would end their chase and His life.

"Now the chief priests and the whole Council kept trying to obtain testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, and they were not finding any. For many were giving false testimony against Him, but their testimony was not consistent. Some stood up and began to give false testimony against Him.."  (Mark 14. He offered no defense.

Even, today, there are many who are willing to bear false witness against the Greater Servant and those who serve Him. Those willing to bear false witness have long existed and this kind of human failing led God to make bearing false witness a severe problem (find it listed as the 9th Commandment in Deuteronomy) even among His own people.  Ah, Lord, a word to the wise; help us remember.