Legends of Old Testament characters, from the Talmud and other sourcesBaring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Religion
Legends of Old Testament characters, from the Talmud and other sources
Baring-Gould, S. (Sabine)
Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends
Now Joseph, being on his way through Egypt, sent down to the priest
Potipherah, to command him to bring his daughter before him. Thereupon
Potipherah was glad, and told his daughter that Joseph, the Strength of
God, was coming, and that she should become his wife. At this Asenath
was very indignant, and spoke angry words of Joseph, declaring that she
would be wife to no man, saving to a king’s son. Now, while she thus
spake, Joseph came, seated in the chariot of Pharaoh, which was all of
gold, drawn by four horses white as snow, with gilt reins. And Joseph
was dressed in a radiant tunic, with gold embroidery, and a robe of
crimson woven with gold hung from his shoulders, and a fillet of gold
was about his temples, and in his hand was an olive branch, full of
fruit.
Then Potipherah came with his wife, and did him homage. Joseph entered
the hall, and the doors were shut, and Asenath beheld him, and she was
troubled at what she had said of him, and thought, “This is the sun come
from heaven; I knew not before that Joseph was divine. What father hath
begotten so much beauty, or what mother borne so much light?”
Then Joseph said, “Who was that woman that was here, but hath gone?” for
Asenath had hastened to her chamber.
And Potipherah said, “My lord, my daughter is a maiden, and very modest;
she hath, till this day, seen no man save myself. If it please thee, she
shall come and salute thee.”
Then Joseph said, “If thy daughter be a maiden, I will treat her as a
sister.”
They brought her into his presence, and Potipherah said to her, “Salute
thy brother, who hateth women as thou hatest men.”
And Asenath said, “Hail, blessed of God, who giveth life to all!”
Then Potipherah bade his daughter kiss Joseph, but when she approached
him, he thrust forth his hand and said, “It becomes not the man
worshipping the living God to kiss an outlandish woman whose lips kiss
dumb idols.”
Asenath, hearing these words, fell into great grief and wept. Joseph had
compassion on her, and laid his hand on her head and blessed her, and
Asenath was glad because of his benediction. But she went to her couch
in the tower, and was ill with fear and pain, and she turned with
penitence from her idols, and renounced them, and cast them out of her
window.
Joseph ate and drank, and went his way, promising to return in eight
days. Then Asenath put on a black robe, and closed her door and prayed,
and cast her food to the dogs, and laid her head on the pavement, and
wept seven days.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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