Sunday, March 15, 2026

Joseph of Old and His Partners

The Bible states that Joseph in Genesis married Asenath daughter of Potipher. This Potipher is not Joseph's first master but rather a priest in Egypt. Nevertheless, various writers have paired Joseph with Potipher's daughter--like Snow White and her wicked stepmother, Asenath and Potipher's wife are in competition for Joseph. 

At least one version puts Joseph with Potipher's wife--after Potipher dies, of course, and she has undergone various trials. 

From The Torah.com which tells
 the story of Joseph and Asenath.
There's a great many possibilities, in fact, since Joseph is the original guy-who-pulled-himself-up-by-his-ability-to-interpret-and-plan. A potential father-in-law could be supportive or cautious. 

However, the relationship, no matter how romantic, will always pale in the face of the more powerful and important relationships: Joseph and his brothers. The wife might inspire Joseph; she might witness the events. But it's hard to see any inherent drama in the relationship--

Which hasn't stop writers from trying!