## Sforno on Genesis Chapter 39

###### Sforno on Genesis 39:1:1
[Sforno on Genesis 39:1:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/39:1:1)

**וְיוֹסֵף הוּרַד.** בִּזְמַן אֶחָד בְּעַצְמוֹ יָרַד יְהוּדָה מֵאֵת אֶחָיו וְקָרָה לוֹ כָּל מַה שֶּׁכָּתַב לְמַעְלָה, וּבְאוֹתוֹ הַזְּמַן בְּעַצְמוֹ יוֹסֵף הוּרַד.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויוסף הורד, whereas Joseph was brought to Egypt against his will, Yehudah, at the same time exiled himself. During that period all the things related earlier had befallen Yehudah. During that period Joseph had been brought to Egypt by the Ishmaelites, the owners of the camels who were also agents acting on behalf of others.


###### Sforno on Genesis 39:1:2
[Sforno on Genesis 39:1:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/39:1:2)

**מִיַּד הַיִּשְׁמְעֵאלִים.** שֶׁהָיוּ בַּעֲלֵי הַגְּמַלִּים הַנּוֹשְׂאִים, וְהֵם בְּעַצְמָם הָיוּ סַרְסוּרִים:


###### Sforno on Genesis 39:2:1
[Sforno on Genesis 39:2:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/39:2:1)

**וַיְהִי ה' אֶת יוֹסֵף.** לְהַצִּילוֹ מֵהַמִּתְקוֹמְמִים עָלָיו:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויהי ה' את יוסף, to save him from anyone who would take advantage of him.


###### Sforno on Genesis 39:2:2
[Sforno on Genesis 39:2:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/39:2:2)

**וַיְהִי אִישׁ מַצְלִיחַ.** מַשִּׂיג כָּל תַּכְלִית מְכֻוָּן מִמֶּנּוּ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויהי איש מצליח, he achieved every venture that he set out to accomplish.


###### Sforno on Genesis 39:2:3
[Sforno on Genesis 39:2:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/39:2:3)

**וַיְהִי בְּבֵית אֲדֹנָיו הַמִּצְרִי.** עוֹמֵד לְשָׁרֵת בַּחֲדַר אֲדֹנָיו, וְלָשׁוֹן הָיָה כְּמוֹ עָמַד, כְּמוֹ "וְהָיָה שָׁם" (דברים לא:כו), "וַיִּהְיוּ שָׁם כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוַּנִי ה'" (דברים י:ה).

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויהי בבית אדוניו המצרי, he would perform tasks in his master’s private room. The meaning of the word היה here is the same as the meaning of the word עמד elsewhere, i.e. stationed, remaining in a fixed position. Examples of the word היה occurring in this sense are found in Deuteronomy 31,26 והיה שם, “it would remain there.” Compare also Deuteronomy 10,5 ויהיו שם כאשר צוני ה', “they remained there as the Lord had commanded me.”


###### Sforno on Genesis 39:4:1
[Sforno on Genesis 39:4:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/39:4:1)

**וַיְשָׁרֶת אוֹתוֹ.** בִּדְבָרִים הַצְּרִיכִים לְגוּפוֹ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
וישרת אותו, he attended to his master’s bodily needs.


###### Sforno on Genesis 39:6:1
[Sforno on Genesis 39:6:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/39:6:1)

**וַיַּעֲזֹב כָּל אֲשֶׁר לוֹ.** בְּלִי שֶׁיִּצְטָרֵךְ לְכַוֵּן חֶשְׁבּוֹן:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויעזוב כל אשר לו, he left everything in Joseph’s hands without demanding an accounting from him.


###### Sforno on Genesis 39:6:2
[Sforno on Genesis 39:6:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/39:6:2)

**וַיְהִי יוֹסֵף יְפֵה תֹאַר וִיפֵה מַרְאֶה.** אַחַר שֶׁהִפְקִיד אוֹתוֹ בָּאֹפֶן זֶה עַל הֵפֶךְ שֶׁהָיָה מִתְּחִלָּה שֶׁהָיָה עוֹבֵד בַּעֲבוֹדָה קָשָׁה, כְּאָמְרוֹ (תהלים פא:ז) "הֲסִירוֹתִי מִסֵּבֶל שִׁכְמוֹ וְכוּ'":

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויהי יוסף יפה תואר ויפה מראה, after Potiphar had entrusted him with all these important tasks Joseph found time to make himself look handsome having no longer to perform demeaning physical labour assigned to most slaves. Psalms 81,7 extols the relief felt when one is freed from such burdensome tasks.


###### Sforno on Genesis 39:7:1
[Sforno on Genesis 39:7:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/39:7:1)

**וַתִּשָּׂא אֵשֶׁת אֲדֹנָיו.** בִּשְׁבִיל יָפְיוֹ שֶׁאָמַר לְמַעְלָה:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ותשא אשת אדוניו, on account of his good looks described before.


###### Sforno on Genesis 39:9:1
[Sforno on Genesis 39:9:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/39:9:1)

**כִּי אִם אוֹתָךְ בַּאֲשֶׁר אַתְּ אִשְׁתּוֹ.** בְּעִנְיַן הָאִישׁוּת בִּלְבַד חָשַׂךְ אוֹתָךְ מִמֶּנִּי.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
כי אם אותך באשר את אשתו, the only restrictions imposed upon me in this house concern the inviolable marital relations between you and my master, your husband.


###### Sforno on Genesis 39:9:2
[Sforno on Genesis 39:9:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/39:9:2)

**הָרָעָה הַגְּדוֹלָה הַזֹּאת.** לְשַׁלֵּם רָעָה תַּחַת טוֹבָה.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
הרעה הגדולה הזאת, to repay good with evil.


###### Sforno on Genesis 39:9:3
[Sforno on Genesis 39:9:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/39:9:3)

**לִהְיוֹת עִמָּהּ.** בְּיִחוּד:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
להיות עמה, in seclusion.


###### Sforno on Genesis 39:11:1
[Sforno on Genesis 39:11:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/39:11:1)

**כְּהַיּוֹם הַזֶּה.** שֶׁנָּתְנָה עֵינֶיהָ וְהִתְאַוְּתָה לוֹ.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
כהיום הזה, when she raised her eyes to him in lust.


###### Sforno on Genesis 39:11:2
[Sforno on Genesis 39:11:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/39:11:2)

**וַיָּבֹא הַבַּיְתָה.** נִכְנַס לַחֶדֶר שֶׁלֹּא יָדַע שֶׁהָיְתָה הִיא שָׁם.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ויבא הביתה, he entered a room, unaware that she was in that room at the time.


###### Sforno on Genesis 39:11:3
[Sforno on Genesis 39:11:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/39:11:3)

**שָׁם בַּבָּיִת.** בְּאוֹתוֹ הַחֶדֶר:


###### Sforno on Genesis 39:12:1
[Sforno on Genesis 39:12:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/39:12:1)

**וַיָּנָס.** מִן הַחֶדֶר פֶּן יִגְבַּר עָלָיו יֵצֶר הָרָע:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**And fled.** So that he would not be overcome by desire.


###### Sforno on Genesis 39:12:2
[Sforno on Genesis 39:12:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/39:12:2)

**וַיֵּצֵא הַחוּצָה.** בִּהְיוֹתוֹ חוּץ מִן הַחֶדֶר יָצָא לְאִטּוֹ, בִּלְתִּי תְנוּעַת נִיסָה, שֶׁלֹּא יִשְׁאָלוּהוּ: "מַה לְּךָ כִּי תָנוּס וּמִי רוֹדְפֶךָ?" אֲבָל הִיא שֶׁרָאֲתָה שֶׁיָּצָא מִן הַחֶדֶר בִּתְנוּעַת נִיסָה, יָרְאָה שֶׁמָּא עָשָׂה כָּךְ חוּץ לַחֶדֶר וְשָׁאֲלוּהוּ וְהִגִּיד, לְפִיכָךְ:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
**And he went outside.** As soon as he left the room he slowed down so that no one would ask questions. She, however, assumed that he continued running and that people would soon know what happened; therefore she called to the men of the household.


###### Sforno on Genesis 39:14:1
[Sforno on Genesis 39:14:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/39:14:1)

**וַתִּקְרָא לְאַנְשֵׁי בֵיתָהּ.** לִזְכּוֹת אֶת עַצְמָהּ, אָמְנָם כַּאֲשֶׁר רָאֲתָה שֶׁחוּץ לַחֶדֶר לֹא רָץ, וְזֶה רָאוּ גַּם אַנְשֵׁי בֵיתָהּ, אָמְרָה לָהֶם **וַיָּנָס וַיֵּצֵא הַחוּצָה** כְּמוֹ שֶׁהָיָה בֶּאֱמֶת, אֲבָל לְבַעְלָהּ שֶׁלֹּא רָאָה הַדָּבָר אָמְרָה **וַיָּנָס הַחוּצָה** לְהוֹרוֹת שֶׁעָשָׂה תְּנוּעַת הַנִּיסָה גַּם בַּחוּץ לְהִמָּלֵט מֵאַנְשֵׁי בֵיתָהּ, וְזֶה לְאַמֵּת עִנְיַן הַשֶּׁקֶר שֶׁלָּהּ:

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
ותקרא לאנשי ביתה, in order to justify her conduct. However, when she saw that Joseph had stopped running after leaving the room where she had waylaid him, and the fact that the people in her house had no reason to question Joseph who was acting perfectly normally, she told those people that Joseph had fled from her room and walked outside, something which actually corresponded to the truth as far as the facts were concerned. (verse 15) However, when relating what had supposedly occurred to her husband who had not been an eye witness to any part of the incident, she described Joseph’s behaviour as a flight not only from her room but also outside of it. (verse 18) In order to make her version of events believable she had to lie so that Joseph would be perceived as having tried to escape from the other members of the household.


###### Sforno on Genesis 39:14:2
[Sforno on Genesis 39:14:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/39:14:2)

**לְצַחֶק בָּנוּ.** בְּעִנְיְנֵי צְחוֹק שֶׁמִּתּוֹכָם נִכָּר שֶׁבָּא אֵלַי לִשְׁכַּב עִמִּי.

**Yalkut, Sifsei Chachomim Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009:**
לצחק בנו, to take sexual liberties with us.


###### Sforno on Genesis 39:19:1
[Sforno on Genesis 39:19:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Sforno%20on%20Genesis/r/39:19:1)

**וַיִּחַר אַפּוֹ.** עַל שֶׁהִתְרַעֲמָה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהֵבִיא לָהּ אִישׁ עִבְרִי לְצַחֵק בָּהּ, כִּי אָמְנָם לֹא חָרָה אַפּוֹ עַל יוֹסֵף בָּזֶה, שֶׁהֶאֱמִין יוֹתֵר לְדִבְרֵי יוֹסֵף, אֲבָל נְתָנוֹ בְּבֵית הַסֹּהַר לְהַרְאוֹת שֶׁהֶאֱמִין לָהּ לִכְבוֹדָהּ, וְנִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בְּיוֹסֵף בְּבֵית הַסֹּהַר כְּאָמְרוֹ: "וַיִּפְקֹד שַׂר הַטַּבָּחִים אֶת יוֹסֵף אִתָּם" (בראשית מ:ד).