5. the Lord blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake,
&c.--It might be--it probably was--that a special, a miraculous
blessing was poured out on a youth who so faithfully and zealously
served God amid all the disadvantages of his place. But it may be
useful to remark that such a blessing usually follows in the ordinary
course of things; and the most worldly, unprincipled masters always
admire and respect religion in a servant when they see that profession
supported by conscientious principle and a consistent life.
made him overseer in his house--We do not know in what capacity
Joseph entered into the service of Potiphar; but the observant eye of
his master soon discovered his superior qualities and made him his
chief, his confidential servant (compare
Eph 6:7;
Col 3:23).
The advancement of domestic slaves is not uncommon, and it is
considered a great disgrace not to raise one who has been a year or two
in the family. But this extraordinary advancement of Joseph was the
doing of the Lord, though on the part of Potiphar it was the
consequence of observing the astonishing prosperity that attended him
in all that he did.
JFB.
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