Page:Judaism and Islam, a prize essay - Geiger - 1898.pdf/129

 JOSEPH. Ill

being alluded to in one other passage, 1 Joseph forms the theme of almost the whole of the twelfth Sura, 2 which is named after him. This Snra contains the narrative given us in Genesis, 3 with many abbreviations it is true, but also with many additions and alterations, which must be pointed out. We must first mention the additions which are derived from Jewish legend. Among these is the statement that Joseph was inclined towards Potiphar's wife, but that a sign warned him from her. 4 The Rab- binical comment on the words " He went into the house to do his work" 5 runs as follows : 6 " Both intended to commit sin '" and on the words t( She caught him by his garment saying, ' Lie with me/ " Eabbi Yohdnan remarks, " Both had got on to the bed, when the form of his father appeared to Joseph at the window and said: "Joseph, Joseph, one day the names of thy brethren will be graven on the stones of the Ephod, also thine ; wilt thou that it shall be effaced?" 7 The fable that the Egyptian women

1 Sura XL. 36. s Sura XII, 4108.

3 Genesis, xxxvii. 9 86 and chapters, xxxix to xlvi.

4 Sura XII. 24, &>J $ Jfj ^1 Sfjj ^> ^

5 Genesis, xxxix. 11. 6 Sotah, XXXYI. 2.

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7 Elpherar in his comment on the verse quoted gives some of these particulars :

" It is said on the authority of Ben ' Abbas that he said he had undone his girdle and approached her wifch a sinful pnrpose." j$$\ ^ 8i\^S JU