Joseph was brought down to Egypt and purchased by Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard. Though he was a slave, the Lord was with him, and Joseph prospered. His master saw that everything Joseph touched succeeded, so Joseph found favor in his sight and became his personal attendant. Soon Potiphar entrusted his entire household to Joseph's care, and the blessing of the Lord rested on everything Potiphar had — in the house and in the field.
Joseph was handsome and well-built, and in time Potiphar's wife cast longing eyes on him. "Come, lie with me," she said. But Joseph refused:
"My master has withheld nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do such a wicked thing and sin against God?"
Day after day she pressed him, but Joseph would not yield. One day, when none of the servants were in the house, she caught hold of his cloak and said again, "Lie with me!" Joseph tore himself away, leaving his cloak in her hand, and fled outside.
When she saw that he had left his cloak, she called her household servants and accused him: "This Hebrew was brought here to make sport of us! He came to lie with me, but I cried out. Look—he ran, leaving his cloak beside me!" She kept the cloak until her husband returned, and she told him the same story.
Potiphar burned with anger and cast Joseph into the prison where the king's prisoners were confined. But even there the Lord was with Joseph, showing him steadfast love. Joseph found favor with the warden, who placed all the prisoners under his charge. And just as in Potiphar's house, whatever Joseph did, the Lord made it prosper.