Aggada -- Translations into English; Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends; Midrash -- Translations into English
And, behold, Joseph came from the field, and he was on the point of
entering the house to do his master's work, but when he reached the
place where Zuleika sat, and saw all she had done, he turned back. His
mistress, perceiving it, called out to him, "What aileth thee, Joseph?
Go to thy work, I will make room for thee, that thou mayest pass by to
thy seat." Joseph did as she bade him, he entered the house, took his
seat, and set about his master's work as usual. Then Zuleika stood
before him suddenly in all her beauty of person and magnificence of
raiment, and repeated the desire of her heart.[120] It was the first
and the last time that Joseph's steadfastness deserted him, but only
for an instant. When he was on the point of complying with the wish of
his mistress, the image of his mother Rachel appeared before him, and
that of his aunt Leah, and the image of his father Jacob. The last
addressed him thus: "In time to come the names of thy brethren will be
graven upon the breastplate of the high priest. Dost thou desire to
have thy name appear with theirs? Or wilt thou forfeit this honor
through sinful conduct? For know, he that keepeth company with harlots
wasteth his substance." This vision of the dead, and especially the
image of his father, brought Joseph to his senses, and his illicit
passion departed from him.[121]
Astonished at the swift change in his countenance, Zuleika said, "My
friend and true-love, why art thou so affrighted that thou art near to
swooning?
Joseph: "I see my father!"
Zuleika: "Where is he? Why, there is none in the house."
Joseph: "Thou belongest to a people that is like unto the ass, it
perceiveth nothing. But I belong to those who can see things."
Joseph fled forth, away from the house of his mistress,[122] the same
house in which aforetime wonders had been done for Sarah kept a captive
there by Pharaoh.[123] But hardly was he outside when the sinful
passion again overwhelmed him, and he returned to Zuleika's chamber.
Then the Lord appeared unto him, holding the Eben Shetiyah[124] in His
hand, and said to him: "If thou touchest her, I will cast away this
stone upon which the earth is founded, and the world will fall to
ruin." Sobered again, Joseph started to escape from his mistress,[125]
but Zuleika caught him by his garment, and she said: "As the king
liveth, if thou wilt not fulfil my wish, thou must die," and while she
spoke thus, she drew a sword with her free hand from under her dress,
and, pressing it against Joseph's throat, she said, "Do as I bid thee,
or thou diest." Joseph ran out, leaving a piece of his garment in the
hands of Zuleika as he wrenched himself loose from the grasp of the
woman with a quick, energetic motion.[126]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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