Discovery BoxGenesis 18:3 
Context18:3 He said, “My lord, 1 if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by and leave your servant. 2
Genesis 18:27
Context18:27 Then Abraham asked, “Since I have undertaken to speak to the Lord 3 (although I am but dust and ashes), 4
Genesis 21:29
Context21:29 Abimelech asked Abraham, “What is the meaning of these 5 seven ewe lambs that you have set apart?”
Genesis 24:25
Context24:25 We have plenty of straw and feed,” she added, 6 “and room for you 7 to spend the night.”
Genesis 26:16
Context26:16 Then Abimelech said to Isaac, “Leave us and go elsewhere, 8 for you have become much more powerful 9 than we are.”
Genesis 26:27
Context26:27 Isaac asked them, “Why have you come to me? You hate me 10 and sent me away from you.”
Genesis 27:11
Context27:11 “But Esau my brother is a hairy man,” Jacob protested to his mother Rebekah, “and I have smooth skin! 11
Genesis 39:7
Context39:7 Soon after these things, his master’s wife took notice of 12 Joseph and said, “Have sex with me.” 13
Genesis 44:5
Context44:5 Doesn’t my master drink from this cup 14 and use it for divination? 15 You have done wrong!’” 16
Genesis 44:28
Context44:28 The first disappeared 17 and I said, “He has surely been torn to pieces.” I have not seen him since.
Genesis 47:25
Context47:25 They replied, “You have saved our lives! You are showing us favor, 18 and we will be Pharaoh’s slaves.” 19
1 tc The MT has the form אֲדֹנָי (’adonay, “Master”) which is reserved for God. This may reflect later scribal activity. The scribes, knowing it was the
2 tn Heb “do not pass by from upon your servant.”
3 tn The Hebrew term translated “Lord” here and in vv. 30, 31, 32 is אֲדֹנָי (’adonay).
4 tn The disjunctive clause is a concessive clause here, drawing out the humility as a contrast to the
5 tn Heb “What are these?”
6 tn Heb “and she said, ‘We have plenty of both straw and feed.’” The order of the introductory clause has been rearranged in the translation for stylistic reasons.
7 tn Heb The words “for you” are not in the Hebrew text, but are implied.
8 tn Heb “Go away from us.”
9 sn You have become much more powerful. This explanation for the expulsion of Isaac from Philistine territory foreshadows the words used later by the Egyptians to justify their oppression of Israel (see Exod 1:9).
10 tn The disjunctive clause is circumstantial, expressing the reason for his question.
11 tn Heb “And Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, ‘Look, Esau my brother is a hairy man, but I am a smooth [skinned] man.’” The order of the introductory clause and the direct discourse has been rearranged in the translation for stylistic reasons.
12 tn Heb “she lifted up her eyes toward,” an expression that emphasizes her deliberate and careful scrutiny of him.
13 tn Heb “lie with me.” Here the expression “lie with” is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.
sn The story of Joseph and Potiphar’s wife has long been connected with the wisdom warnings about the strange woman who tries to seduce the young man with her boldness and directness (see Prov 5-7, especially 7:6-27). This is part of the literary background of the story of Joseph that gives it a wisdom flavor. See G. von Rad, God at Work in Israel, 19-35; and G. W. Coats, “The Joseph Story and Ancient Wisdom: A Reappraisal,” CBQ 35 (1973): 285-97.
14 tn Heb “Is this not what my master drinks from.” The word “cup” is not in the Hebrew text, but is obviously the referent of “this,” and so has been supplied in the translation for clarity.
15 tn Heb “and he, divining, divines with it.” The infinitive absolute is emphatic, stressing the importance of the cup to Joseph.
16 tn Heb “you have caused to be evil what you have done.”
17 tn Heb “went forth from me.”
18 tn Heb “we find favor in the eyes of my lord.” Some interpret this as a request, “may we find favor in the eyes of my lord.”
