Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/315

Rh Joseph

were rightfully

in

Egypt

So now God

his.

tried

297

him by

In the house of his master, everything

tation.

a like temp-

was

entirely

charge; he might do with everything what he wished,

in his

which belonged to his master alone. It matters not what that one thing was. It suffices to know that, as the rabbis told, ofttimes Joseph was tempted to take it for his own. No one would have known the differThe battle was hard and long. ence, not even his master. As Joseph went about his tasks, the thing constantly enticed him, "Come and take me for your own no one will be the wiser; why not be happy while you may?" Often Joseph stretched out his hand but always something held him back. Now it was the image of his old father. And one

save

thing,





with

came

it

the

thought,

"O my

beloved

father,

should

wicked thing, how might I ever again look upon thy face? How wouldst thou be shamed, didst thou know Perhaps God that thy son had yielded to this temptation. may still, in His infinite love, bring me back to thee. But never will He do so, if I yield to this sin". Again it was the thought of the birthright of Abraham which had in some way descended from Jacob to him. "How can I beI

do

this

come

blessing

a

thought,

my

"if

unto

all

the

families

of

the

earth",

he

begin by wronging one single man, and he

kind master?

birthright

my

I

No;

I

can be worthy of

this

precious

only by remaining pure, and by doing good to

master,

even as

he

has

done good to me. my hands except

trusted me, and put everything in

He

has

this

one

thing, and I must be faithful". With thoughts like these The more he resisted and the Joseph resisted temptation. oftener he put temptation from him, the stronger he beit was to conquer, until at last the desire him completely. Then his natural instincts of goodness and love began to assert themselves openly, and he became ready and fit to live in accordance with the birthright of Abraham.

came, and the easier to

sin

left \n