Rembrandt, Joseph Accused of Potiphar's Wife, 1655The most interesting thing I learned in church today was the possibility that Potiphar may have been a eunuch. This definitely puts an interesting twist on the story of Joseph and Potiphar's wife, since Mrs. Potiphar may have had sexual needs that were unfulfilled (and consequently turned to Joseph). Or perhaps she wanted children.
Anyhow, it seemed a little strange to me that a eunuch would have a wife. So, after church I decided to research about Potiphar and the history of Egyptian eunuchs. (J laughed when I told him my research project.) Some have assumed that eunuchs were in charge of guarding harems or the bedchamber of the queen (which would ensure that there would be no sexual intercourse between the women and eunuch). However, Frans Jonckheere has an interesting argument (see halfway down the page of that link) that the word saris (the Hebrew word used to describe Potiphar) not only refers to eunuchs, but can also be interpreted as "chief." Now, I realize that Egyptian officers in high positions may have been eunuchs too, but it can't be concretely proven that all officers were eunuchs.
It's also interesting to note that Martin Luther argued that the Hebrew word saris means "keeper of the king's bedchamber" (i.e. "chamberlain") instead of "keeper of the queen's bedchamber."1
Anyhow, as soon as our Sunday School teacher brought up the idea of eunuchs and Potiphar, this was my initial thought:
Andrew Lloyd Webber completely miscast the role of Potiphar. He shouldn't be a baritone or a bass, he should be a castrato.
Ha ha! Can't you just imagine a castrato tenor "letting out a mighty roar" and singing, "Joseph, I'll see you rot in jail, The things you have done are beyond the pale" (see 3:42 of this clip). Ha!
1 Mickey Leland Mattox, Defender of the Most Holy Matriarchs: Martin Luther's Interpretation of the Women of Genesis in the Enarrationes in Genesin, 1535-1545 (Boston: Brill Academic Publishers, 2003), 236. Available online here.
Anyhow, it seemed a little strange to me that a eunuch would have a wife. So, after church I decided to research about Potiphar and the history of Egyptian eunuchs. (J laughed when I told him my research project.) Some have assumed that eunuchs were in charge of guarding harems or the bedchamber of the queen (which would ensure that there would be no sexual intercourse between the women and eunuch). However, Frans Jonckheere has an interesting argument (see halfway down the page of that link) that the word saris (the Hebrew word used to describe Potiphar) not only refers to eunuchs, but can also be interpreted as "chief." Now, I realize that Egyptian officers in high positions may have been eunuchs too, but it can't be concretely proven that all officers were eunuchs.
It's also interesting to note that Martin Luther argued that the Hebrew word saris means "keeper of the king's bedchamber" (i.e. "chamberlain") instead of "keeper of the queen's bedchamber."1
Anyhow, as soon as our Sunday School teacher brought up the idea of eunuchs and Potiphar, this was my initial thought:
Andrew Lloyd Webber completely miscast the role of Potiphar. He shouldn't be a baritone or a bass, he should be a castrato.
Ha ha! Can't you just imagine a castrato tenor "letting out a mighty roar" and singing, "Joseph, I'll see you rot in jail, The things you have done are beyond the pale" (see 3:42 of this clip). Ha!
1 Mickey Leland Mattox, Defender of the Most Holy Matriarchs: Martin Luther's Interpretation of the Women of Genesis in the Enarrationes in Genesin, 1535-1545 (Boston: Brill Academic Publishers, 2003), 236. Available online here.
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4 comments:
I am so glad you did this research. Today was the first time I heard the eunuch theory as this story was discussed.
that is way interesting. that thought is pretty humorous indeed!
Best post I've read all day. I love the way your mind thinks and I love that you educate the rest of us.
Did you read the part in that article about castration with teeth? Oh my!
I shall never listen to "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat" the same way again. It's on my iPod as we speak!
HA! That's really great.
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