Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife, as imagined by Italian painter Guido Reni, 1575-1642 ... Joseph serves in Jewish culture as a role model for overcoming temptation and forbidden urges, ...

In the book of Genesis, Joseph works for an Egyptian master, Potiphar, and has control over all of his master’s worldly goods. He’s handsome and young — and Potiphar’s wife desire’s him.

Joseph here expresses gratitude to Potiphar for all he has done for him, and for putting him in charge of the household. How, then, can he even consider perpetrating such a horrible act of betrayal?