parsha bit: Vayeshev
Dec. 22nd, 2005 09:18 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cellioRabbi Shimon the Pious taught that when Potiphar's wife tried to seduce Yosef, he was ready to go along with it. But at the last minute, he saw a vision of his father, who he knew would disapprove, and this gave him the strength he needed to resist sin and flee. (Sotah 36b)
I originally found a secondary source that was "based" on this but didn't sound quite right to me -- but it cited Sotah, so I was able to look it up and find what was really there versus the other source's interpretation.
In the talmudic discussion, someone suggests that it's even worse than this and that Yosef planned the rendezvous with Mrs. Potiphar, waiting for a day when all the men were away. (Where were they? Celebrating an idolatrous festival. Mrs. Potiphar begged off, thinking this was her chance to get Yosef.) You can find some unusual stuff by browsing talmud.
I originally found a secondary source that was "based" on this but didn't sound quite right to me -- but it cited Sotah, so I was able to look it up and find what was really there versus the other source's interpretation.
In the talmudic discussion, someone suggests that it's even worse than this and that Yosef planned the rendezvous with Mrs. Potiphar, waiting for a day when all the men were away. (Where were they? Celebrating an idolatrous festival. Mrs. Potiphar begged off, thinking this was her chance to get Yosef.) You can find some unusual stuff by browsing talmud.