Powerplay in Potiphar's house: The interplay of gender, ethnicity, and *class in Genesis 39

Popularly known as "the seduction of Joseph," Genesis 39 is a familiar segment of the Joseph Story (Gen 37-50). As Gen 39 involves a Hebrew slave in an Egyptian household, contemporary interpreters tend to mention issues of gender, ethnicity, and class, but most fail to address the interplay of these elements within the text. My thesis argues that the interplay of gender, ethnicity, and class has a significant and underappreciated role in the interpretation of Gen 39.;Chapter one discusses some of the possible reasons for inattention to interplay among interpreters of Gen 39. I explain how reading Gen 39 within the context of the Joseph Story and treating Joseph as a model of ethical conduct contribute to this inattention to categories of difference. Also, in chapter one, I describe my methodological approach. My overall reading strategy involves a feminist approach based on the concept of "intersectionality," which I refer to as "interplay." As well, I draw on contemporary literary theory, particularly narrative criticism with its attention to characterization.;Chapter two highlights the treatment of gender, ethnicity, and class within the history of interpretation of Gen 39. I discuss ancient Jewish and Christian interpretations, as well as contemporary interpretations, including literary, feminist, and explicitly contextual approaches. By noting their role within the history of interpretation, chapter two illustrates the importance and relevance of these categories and their interplay in Gen 39.;Drawing on material from Mesopotamian, Egyptian, and biblical sources, chapter three examines material culture and various genres of literature. I give examples of gender differences, class divisions, and ethnic distinctions and their interaction. Chapter three demonstrates that gender, ethnicity, and class functioned as meaningful conceptual categories of difference in the ancient Near East. In doing so, it shows my usage of these categories is not an imposed modern concern.;Having shown that ancient and contemporary interpreters engage issues of difference and that ancient societies regard the interplay of categories of difference as meaningful, chapter four provides an exegetical reading of Gen 39. Using a combination of feminist and literary methods, my reading explores the web of relationships in Gen 39. I focus on the interactions between characters in order to demonstrate the fluid and relational qualities of gender, ethnicity, and class. In doing so, I illustrate the insufficiency of these categories as isolated identity markers and underscore the importance of their interplay. As a result, my reading demonstrates the multidimensional power dynamics of this text.;In chapter five, I summarize the results of this project and discuss its implications, especially for feminist biblical studies.