Holly Bible - KJV with Concise Commentaries by Z Selam - HTML preview
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wrath which imprisoned him God made to turn to his praise, in order to which Providence so disposed that he should be shut up among the king's prisoners, the state-prisoners. Potiphar, it is likely, chose that prison because it was the worst; for there the iron entered into the soul (Ps 105:18), but God designed to pave the way to his enlargement. He was committed to the king's prison, that he might thence be preferred to the king's person. Note, Many an action of false imprisonment will, in the great day, be found to lie against the enemies and persecutors of God's people. Our Lord Jesus, like Joseph here, was bound, and numbered with the transgressors.
20 And Joseph’s master took him, and put him into the prison, a place
where the king’s prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison.
21 But the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave
him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.
Joseph owned and righted by his God, who is, and will be, the just and powerful patron of oppressed innocence. Joseph was at a distance from all his friends and relations, had not them with him to comfort him, or to minister to him, or to mediate for him; but the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, Ge 39:21. Note,
(1.) God despises not his prisoners, Ps 69:33. No gates nor bars can shut out his gracious presence from his people; for he has promised that he will never leave them.
(2.) Those that have a good conscience in a prison have a good God there. Integrity and uprightness qualify us for the divine favour, wherever we are. Joseph is not long a prisoner before he becomes a little ruler even in the prison, which is to be attributed, under God,
[1.] To the keeper's favour. God gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. Note, God can raise up friends for his people even where they little expect to find them, and can make