Daf TB Sotah 36 continues to describe in great detail the aftermath of the Israelites crossing the Jordan River. It spends a lot of time where the 12 tribes were situated on the two mountains, Mt. Ebal and Mt. Gerizim, in order to affirm the blessings and the curses (see Joshua 8). Of course, Joseph was one of the 12 tribes. As usual, the Gemara gets sidetracked and goes into great detail about the episode of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife. Reading Genesis 39 about their encounter, you go away with the impression that Potiphar’s wife was the seductress and Joseph was the innocent victim of her attention. Rabbi Yoḥanan has a different take on the story which he shares.

Rav Ḥana bar Bizna says the stage for Rabbi Yoḥanan “Rav Ḥana bar Bizna says that Rabbi Shimon Ḥasida says: Joseph, who sanctified the name of Heaven in private, had one letter of the name of the Holy One, Blessed be He, the letter heh, added to his name (יהוֹסֵף-see Psalm 81:6-gg). Whereas in the case of Judah, who sanctified the name of Heaven in public [befarhesya] at the Red Sea during the exodus from Egypt, merited that his entire name is called by the name of the Holy One, Blessed be He, as the entire four-letter name of God can be found within Judah’s name (יְהוּדָה).” (Sefaria.org translation) 

According to Rabbi Yoḥanan, Joseph was a willing participant at first in this tryst. “What is the situation where Joseph sanctified God’s name in private? As it is written: “And it came to pass on a certain day, when he went into the house to do his work” (Genesis 39:11). Rabbi Yoḥanan says: This teaches that both Joseph and Potiphar’s wife stayed in the house, as they intended to perform a matter of sin. With regard to the phrase “when he went into the house to do his work,” Rav and Shmuel engage in a dispute with regard to its meaning. One says: It means that he went into the house to do his work, literally. And one says: He entered the house in order to fulfill his sexual needs with her.

“The verse continues: “And there was none of the men of the house there within” (Genesis 39:11). The Gemara asks: Is it possible that in such a large and important house like the house of that wicked man that no one was in there? The school of Rabbi Yishmael taught: That day was their festival day and they all went to their house of idol worship; and she told them that she was sick and could not go, as she said to herself: I have no day on which Joseph will attend to me like this day.

“The verse states: “And she caught him by his garment, saying: Lie with me” (Genesis 39:12). At that moment his father’s image [deyokeno] came and appeared to him in the window. The image said to him: Joseph, the names of your brothers are destined to be written on the stones of the ephod, and you are to be included among them. Do you desire your name to be erased from among them, and to be called an associate [ro’eh] of promiscuous women? As it is written: “But he who keeps company with harlots wastes his riches” (Proverbs 29:3), as he loses his honor, which is more valuable than wealth.

“Immediately: “And his bow abode [teishev] firm” (Genesis 49:24). Rabbi Yoḥanan says in the name of Rabbi Meir: This means that his bow, i.e., his penis, returned [shava] to its strength, as he overcame his desire.” (Sefaria.org translation)

I believe that Jacob’s image appearing before Joseph was his conscience at work. He knew what he was doing was wrong and how this would hurt and disappointed his father. Committing adultery is a grievous sin. We may not be tempted to commit adultery; however, there are lots of other since large and small that tempt us. Unlike Joseph, we too often we succumb to temptation. Oscar Wilde once quipped, “I can resist everything except temptation.”

I like the story about the man who sends a check to the IRS well after he filed his taxes on April 15. In his note with the check, he writes, “If I still can’t sleep, I’ll send more money.” Franklin P. Jones once said, “Insomnia gets most of the blame that conscience deserves.” A Yiddish proverb gives us good advice, “Be the master of your will and slave to your conscience.” That advice will save us from many a sleepless night.