Re-constructing the image of Potiphar’s wife in genesis 39 for elimination of bias against wives in sexual relations

Abstract

The narrative in Genesis 39 has been interpreted with partiality, potraying the character of Potiphar‟s wife as adulterous and Joseph‟s as righteous and heroic.This view of Potiphar‟s wife could be used to portray women unfairly on sexual matters. Less attention has been paid on the other side of both Potiphar‟s wife and Joseph.This study examined the character of Potiphar‟s wife who is at the margins of condemnation as an immoral woman, adulterous or a seducer. It is hypothesized that a close reading of Genesis 39 narrative creates an in-depth and holistic understanding of the character of Potiphar‟s wife for elimination of bias against wives in sexual relations. Hence, the aim of this study was to analyze recent scholarship on Potiphar‟s wife and Ancient Near East context, examine the characterization of Potiphar‟s wife in Genesis 39 and to reconstruct socially the image of Potiphar‟s wife. The researcher applied Narrative Criticism approach to exegete Genesis 39 with specific reference to Robert Alter‟s Convention of Characterization as the hermeneutical lens. The following findings were noted in the attempt to reconstruct the character of Potiphar‟s wife. First, it may be argued that Potiphar was a srs ((saris- eunuch) and a skimmer who purchased Joseph as a surrogate father in his well-planned fertility scheme. Joseph‟s overstated xlcm (masliah- prosperity) is indirect characterization revealing Potiphar as a non-performer and irresponsible man. Potiphar‟s wife is characterized as a daring and brave woman who as a neglected woman devised a way to reclaim attention and also to access resources (power) in the household that had been taken away from her. The study revealed that deceptiveness was not largely a negative characteristic rather a technique used by women such as Potiphar‟s wife in the Ancient Near East world to contest the oppressive patriarchal systems.The study also revealed that she was an honest and trustworthy wife; her husband believed her testimony without any doubt.Finally, Potiphar‟s wife was just an active accomplice of propagating the garment motif theme in the Jacob‟s cycle.