Genesis 37:36

37:36 Now ¹  in Egypt the Midianites ²  sold Joseph ³  to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard. ⁴ 

Genesis 39:1

Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife

39:1 Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt. ⁵  An Egyptian named Potiphar, an official of Pharaoh and the captain of the guard, ⁶  purchased him from ⁷  the Ishmaelites who had brought him there.

Genesis 39:21-23

39:21 But the Lord was with Joseph and showed him kindness. ⁸  He granted him favor in the sight of the prison warden. ⁹  39:22 The warden put all the prisoners under Joseph’s care. He was in charge of whatever they were doing. ¹⁰  39:23 The warden did not concern himself ¹¹  with anything that was in Joseph’s ¹²  care because the Lord was with him and whatever he was doing the Lord was making successful.

Psalms 37:5

37:5 Commit your future to the Lord! ¹³ 

Trust in him, and he will act on your behalf. ¹⁴ 

[37:36]  ¹ tn The disjunctive clause formally signals closure for this episode of Joseph’s story, which will be resumed in Gen 39.

[37:36]  ² tc The MT spells the name of the merchants as מְדָנִים (mÿdanim, “Medanites”) rather than מִדְיָנִים (midyanim, “Midianites”) as in v. 28. It is likely that the MT is corrupt at this point, with the letter yod (י) being accidentally omitted. The LXX, Vulgate, Samaritan Pentateuch, and Syriac read “Midianites” here. Some prefer to read “Medanites” both here and in v. 28, but Judg 8:24, which identifies the Midianites and Ishmaelites, favors the reading “Midianites.”

[37:36]  ³ tn Heb “him”; the referent (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[37:36]  ⁴ sn The expression captain of the guard might indicate that Potiphar was the chief executioner.

[39:1]  ⁵ tn The disjunctive clause resumes the earlier narrative pertaining to Joseph by recapitulating the event described in 37:36. The perfect verbal form is given a past perfect translation to restore the sequence of the narrative for the reader.

[39:1]  ⁶ sn Captain of the guard. See the note on this phrase in Gen 37:36.

[39:1]  ⁷ tn Heb “from the hand of.”

[39:21]  ⁸ tn Heb “and he extended to him loyal love.”

[39:21]  ⁹ tn Or “the chief jailer” (also in the following verses).

[39:22]  ¹⁰ tn Heb “all which they were doing there, he was doing.” This probably means that Joseph was in charge of everything that went on in the prison.

[39:23]  ¹¹ tn Heb “was not looking at anything.”

[39:23]  ¹² tn Heb “his”; the referent (Joseph) has been specified in the translation for clarity.

[37:5]  ¹³ tn Heb “roll your way upon the Lord.” The noun “way” may refer here to one’s activities or course of life.

[37:5]  ¹⁴ tn Heb “he will act.” Verse 6 explains what is meant; the Lord will vindicate those who trust in him.