The language of ivrit ( עברית ) Genesis 39, Post #1
Welcome to my Hebrew reading & language series.
Genesis 39:1-5
A new chapter starts today but we are going back to where we left off with Joseph as a slave. His brothers had thrown him into a pit and then instead of killing him, they sold him into slavery.
We pick up with Joseph arriving there and being bought by Potiphar who was the captain of Pharaoh's guards. Potiphar saw that YHVH was with Joseph and everything he did succeeded. Not only that, but Joseph's master knew it was this Hebrew God who was responsible for his success and he did not feel the need to ridicule or demean that same God - a good move! One should never look a gift horse in the mouth.
Potiphar quickly made Joseph the overseer of all that he had so that, one would imagine, all would be blessed. And it was.
I am not sure if I have mentioned this in the past, but whenever you see these at the end of a noun in Hebrew, it means "toward" that noun or "in the direction of" that noun. In this case, "he was brought toward Egypt" and the English interpretation shows a '-DIR' to let you know about the rule in Hebrew.
Look for the word Sham (there) followed by this structure in the Hebrew text below and think about what that means.
Today's reading
English
Now Joseph had been brought down to Egypt, and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, had bought him from the Ishmaelites who had brought him down there. YHVH was with Joseph, and he became a successful man, and he was in the house of his Egyptian master. His master saw that YHVH was with him and that YHVH caused all that he did to succeed in his hands. So Joseph found favor in his sight and attended him, and he made him overseer of his house and put him in charge of all that he had. From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, YHVH blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of YHVH was on all that he had, in house and field.
Hebrew
The story continues next week as Joseph is tempted...
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Thanks for reading.