Genesis 39:2

2. The Lord was with Joseph The holy covenant God of Israel was not absent from his faithful servant. He ever encampeth round about them that fear him.

A prosperous man Making to prosper whatever he undertook. Compare the Psalmist’s description of the blessed or happy man. Psalms 1:3.

He was in the house of his master First as a house-servant, then overseer of all his possessions . Genesis 39:4-6. Potiphar quickly discerned Joseph’s integrity and pious attention to all his affairs . He probably did not concern himself about the religious ideas of his slave, or learn from him any special doctrines of Jehovah . He doubtless adhered to his own Egyptian idolatries. But in Genesis 39:2-6 the sacred historian shows that the integrity and prosperity of Joseph were due to the divine providence which favoured the faithful son of Israel.

“The great pictures of Egyptian civilization which are found in the monumental sepulchres, abound in representations of overseership in the house and in the field. Workmen are represented as engaged in various kinds of labour, such as gardening, farming, fishing, while the overseer watches and directs, and keeps the record of the work with a reed pen in a papyrus register. Division and subdivision of labour, and minute supervision, had at this time been carried to a high degree in this home of science and civilization. Great native talent as well as integrity is displayed in this sudden rise of a shepherd-lad, sold as a slave into such a land as Egypt. We see here unmistakable signs of superior abilities, which serve to explain the previous envy of his brethren. A man so clearly born to command must have displayed something of his power and the natural bent of his genius in early youth.” Newhall.