On Joseph (Memra 5)

Fifth Memra on Joseph Fifth Memra on Joseph When his mistress consumed his garments and he fell into the house of prisoners, a foul desire, together with chastity, descended to the arena. Come, let us be astonished at that victory full of wonder. The radiant Joseph stood with the Egyptian woman in the contest. The spectators and the arena gave praises to the victor. Thus far his story ran as it was told, and the word ceased, while he was being magnified in the struggle. In the midst of the contest, the memra left him as he was contending. Let us now speak of how he emerged with victory, that wonder was the image which Joseph was forming for purity. Let us learn and see in which of the contests he attained beauties. By what power did he subdue desire from his members, and what was the cause by which he stood for victory? This is pressing, that it may be revealed because of the separation of the pain of desire, in what manner and how it was with Joseph. The love of the Lord filled the youth abundantly, and nothing else that dwelt in him was lacking. Opposite the image of divinity, his companion was fixed, and he did not release his vision from it, lest he be corrupted. He gave no place to blind fortune in his wisdom, that it might stand between him and greatness and cast him from it. The events of the world did not obscure his vision from him, lest sin enter secretly and he not perceive it. The youth stood as a watchman, brightly vigilant over the furnace.

When iniquity was far off, he saw it and fled from it. Above, he was bound, all his vision was to beware, for he was a watchman, lest sin enter the place. He was vigilant over the prison, that he might see himself; he was awake every day. And when he heard the stirring of iniquity, the cunning one set snares. He made himself a guard for the standing of the wise one, lest the imprisoned one, through one of the chosen, fall upon his freedom. And when he had seized the gate of his soul from evil things, he opened it to the world, and went out from it without injury. And because of this, when the sinful woman pressed him, the chaste one cast bolts and arranged a barrier above his gates. Within, in humility, all his treasures were sealed for him, and he placed the seals of holiness upon all his gates. For one who opens the gates of his soul before evil things, it is difficult for iniquity to be hindered from entering without being received. And because of this, when pain enters through the open gate, how will the soul contend with it, and where will it overcome it? But the soul turned to the wall of vigilance; it is all pierced, and evil pains disturb it. For when he is outside, the raging iniquity does not see him; when he enters, she is stained by his purity. For from afar, she is not caught in the snare of lust; when she falls into weariness, she seeks to cast out from him. For one who casts his vision and looks brightly,

He was teaching from the accounts, while not yet having sinned. From afar he saw sin and fled from it. He put on armor and went out to meet it and fought it. Joseph was vigilant in the prison, even when sin was far from him, he saw it and fled. He closed the door on iniquity that came upon him from his place, and he entered into himself and left evil outside the door. If from a distance you see sin and flee from it, it is weak before you; but when it comes to your door, if you have seen it, if you then turn your back to it until it enters you, it will seize your place and overcome you by its force. Sin in its place has power of strength, and when it seizes the soul, it is ruined and does not flee. A vigilant soul holds the doors so that it does not enter, and sits in peace in its virginity, undisturbed. Joseph was pure and kept away from evils, and from afar he saw evil and fled from it. The scent of iniquity struck him from a distance, and he began to flee, so that the fire of that impurity would not reach his place. He was a watchman of the senses, knowing how to distinguish, so that wherever the scent of iniquity was, he fled from it. From Egypt the scent of death struck him, and because he sensed the scent in his nostrils, he let go of the cup. He accepted that he be sent and go out from the prison, and the scent of iniquity did not turn within his entrails.

He did not remove his yoke from that contest, the chosen contest that had come forth to be kindled when it was not her own. That arena of heroism for him who looked behind, that youth would conquer desire within the prison. The chaste one surrounded that victor within the heat, and though he was tempted, he gave no hand to sin. A troubled prison in a constricted place reached him from tranquility, and concerning what was destined before the time, he conquered the downfall. Draw near, hearers, and see the arena full of wonder: a youth who offers opposition to a woman within the prison, a mistress who seeks a pretext for the servant and does not find it, a boy who repels his master's wife and does not look at her. Base desire was being proclaimed from youth, and the holiness of the heart had taken root in the place of youth. The boy was confined within the chamber with ferocity, and concerning what was brave in her place, he cut off her shame and fled from her. The Egyptian hour came upon him, the burning one within her heat, and concerning what was destined, that he would guard his treasure and not be ensnared. In the place of the hidden one from the seers, he saw God, and he feared to commit iniquity in secret, for in him he looked. Within closed doors, he shut out that one who looked behind entirely, for he looked in secret and in revelations. He did not wish to sow thorns in secret, for he knew that it would be a sacrifice for which evil seed would be scattered. He did not accept that closed bars would conceal his iniquity.

He was discerning, for that one who sees all was within and without. His vision did not deceive him in the youth, for he was wise, that he might sin in secret, and to that secret one he would flee in wickedness. He would bring his virgin wife into the darkness to be constrained for him, and he fled to the clear light of the one who loved him. Sin in secret has power to cut off its own, and because of enticements, that distinguished one fled to the market. He seized his garments, and he knew that the garment was heavy. He struck his stature and cast off his clothing, as if it were nothing, and he was stripped, yet the garment was not a separation for him. Not in a habit did he fast, that he might please the seekers. The hunt of God was bound, the companion of truth who loves. Not in the habit of externality, when he was tested, did he fast. Joseph fasted and cast off his clothing, when he was fasting, as if it were nothing, that which he left behind was the hunt of foolishness. The youth was cunning and was discerning like a wise man, that all that he had within and without was not his own. For that trial of the soul, he struck, that it might not be loosed, and to the Egyptian woman he gave a garment that might not be torn. She asked for something and took another something. The youth stripped the garment from her flesh, how many times it was degraded. The arm of Joseph was delivered in athletic contest, and he ascended victorious from the arena in excellence. And when he was weary from one contest, he stood in another, that of the wicked one who opened his mouth against the true one.

The troubled waves were disturbing him with their changes, and he who knew would knock, but would not sink. The chaste one had a blemish in him, and gave him a hand of self-control. And from the service with God he did not stumble. His wife loved him and sought to increase his chastity. And he who was chaste cried out in the voice of holiness. And when this time of the chaste one was completed, the tyrant was roused to seize his own with a loud voice. She saw that her master Joseph was betrayed by the deed, and she opened her mouth in falsehood against the innocent one. The desire turned to wrath full of murder, and the place of guilt took hold of her to be used by him. He used her in another order, wickedness. Both when loving and when hating, her deed was murder. She saw that she was justified and raised her voice and wept because of Joseph, who had not fallen into her snare to laugh at her. She heaped up against the blameless one words of falsehood, until the master of the youth came and she went out to meet him. Her mouth was filled with falsehood against the innocent one, and she began to speak thus: "How vigilant and unyielding he is! To me, the servant, the Hebrew boy who serves you, if his chastity were fitting, he would have cast me into the house, and you also. The youth is corrupt, and by his chastity he leads you astray. And every day he seeks a pretext to laugh at you. Against me he has inflamed himself, that the youth might be bold in his corruption.

I raised my voice and he cast off his garment and went out to the street. To what end does this swimmer, whose masters are his own, become your servant? If I had known your place, I would have considered it a sin. If it were not that the chaste one was a guard and the vigilant one was a father, from this side he was loosed, a true bond. If truth were not preserved by me after my partnership, the servant whom I separated from you by the affliction you caused me. If there were love of a man and the desire of his wife, behold, this corruption was working in his masters. If my freedom were not overcome by the free women, he cast a sword into the house as he supposed, to kill this one who bears an evil name with prices. He drives out the licentious one of the free woman from her house, desiring to humble her. But he does not go out nor enter, being a father, within your door, that I might see before me a contemptible man, not being able, a father. A great injustice was being spoken with a loud voice. Tyranny in the guise of righteousness, which has no end. The beautiful youth was accused and the accuser was silent and did not speak. And she whose secret was strong, her voice in shamelessness, conceals truth from the beholders and from the hearers, and covers truth, and the faces of falsehood are revealed. The just one is confounded, and there is no place for righteousness. The innocent one is guilty, and the head of guilt is raised. It was also fitting that Joseph be guilty, though he was innocent, so that in this matter the image of the son would be obscured. It was pleasing to him that he be accused, though he was true.

that he might not fall from that beauty of the son of God. The great falsehood, like Egypt, against the true one. The knowledge of the people was known, the lie in falsehood. The great daughter of Shem was like the daughter of Ham, that despicable one, and falsehood learned from her concerning the Savior. The Hebrew cried out like Egypt, guilty of death, and the Lord was silent in the likeness of Joseph when he was questioned. In the great falsehood, thirst was upon Pilate, who condemned the innocent one in knowledge, unjustly. Egypt cried out in stubbornness against her partner, that they might drive away that pure one like a reprobate in anger. All truth was hidden from the Egyptian, for he did not know that Joseph was wronged when he was accused. The evil falsehood, when it perceived the just one in knowledge, was not ashamed to stop its wrongdoing from the true one. It did not bear that the knowledge of the unjust one was like the Savior. And everything that was wronged in him was revealed, whether that one was a separator. In the sufferings of the son, all the pains were revealed, and in his blows, their afflictions were comforted. And when the falsehood was mixed with the true ones, the wrongdoing of the son revealed to them their mysteries secretly. Joseph was entangled in knowledge unjustly, and upon his being led astray, the image of the son remained for him. Guilty when innocent, and his persecution was a loss when he was true. He resembles his Lord, for all the oppression was completed in him. For the anger of his Lord was indeed kindled against him, against the youth.

By these words of falsehood that were spoken, that shameless one was troubled before the hearers, for this Diya was a seer of God. His lord was angry and sent his seal also in this prison. And Diya, of whom it was spoken concerning the Messiah, accomplished her falsehood in that true one. To the prison he cast him; in injustice he was struck. But the form of Mar’ac did not escape from the bones. Also in the prison his beauty shone upon the prisoners. Upon the condemned one, that he might be imprisoned without folly, like that one who in the house of the dead, a free man dwelt. The Lord cast grace and mercy upon him in the prison. For that entry of Mar’ac into Sheol was depicted in him. In that freedom full of beauties, Joseph was. Also in the prison he spread beauty to the prisoners who were. By himself the solitary one entered the house of the condemned, and performed a sign in vanity upon their faces. The imprisoned were seen in Joseph from the afflictions, and the dead in Mar’ac were perceived upon the resurrection. In Joseph, who was condemned, a type was emboldened, that a free man was imprisoned with the condemned and did not deny him. In that living one all the condemned were seen, that when he was innocent, he went among the guilty into prison. The prison was a tomb for Joseph, and he proclaimed there that as he descended in purity into Sheol among the condemned.

Behold, in the prison of Egypt, Joseph, while he did not understand, like a servant he said that his lord was in Sheol, while he was alive, all was in the pure prison of the condemned, while he was true, and in the grave, alive, of the slain, while he was living. Behold, in the house of the dead, that free man, as it was said to Joseph, seems in his freedom to set free the prisoners. The Egyptian hour would imprison Joseph, while he did not understand. Sin decreed to kill his lord, while he was innocent. And Joseph did not cease from the good in the prison, nor did his lord become vain in the grave from hopes. Imprisoned and setting free wisely those who were imprisoned, to his lord, who seemed dead, and giving life to those who were dead. That Egyptian woman desired Joseph, and she was pure; she imprisoned him unjustly because he was unwilling for her will. Sin again was ashamed of the lord and was put to shame; she crucified him on a tree because he was pure from her mixture. The victory of the lord, however, did not abandon even in his death, nor did Joseph leave freedom in the prison. Come, see Joseph, while he was doing to those who were imprisoned, and look at the Messiah, while he was preaching to those who were dead. This light shone from him upon the Hebrew, and the prison was illuminated by him through his wisdom. The death of the lord was a light in him in all forms, and she was changing her beauties towards him with all times.

He was conveying the mystery to the mystery along the entire path of Egypt, his splendors being arranged one after another. The prisoners marveled at him, how wisely he conducted himself, and the chief of the prisoners made him overseer over the prisoners. The administration was in the hand of the beautiful Joseph, for everything that he thought or did was blessed. And the Lord did not leave that true one in captivity, but gave him mercy and cast grace upon the unjust one. These were the wise men of gold, the good and chosen, and in the prisons, like a firstborn, they were being tormented. But God both pursued and preserved, for through discipline wisdom was being learned. When he handed over one of the wise men to the great abyss, he turned and sought from him his abyss of high degrees. While being pursued, he preserved them in the lands, and if he had wished, he could also have made them not be pursued; he left them to be pursued while he loved that he might increase the pursuit for himself, for the true one cast him from the ship into the sea, like Jonah, without pity, and turned his preservation in the heart of the seas like a beloved. He drove the youths into captivity to Babylon, as if without compassion, and freed the wise men from the robbery and showed his love. He sent forth a hand and cast Daniel into the pit, and without hesitation enslaved the lions before him. He cast Abraham from the house of his fathers into the land of Canaan.

And when the king was troubled for you, your seed was to inherit her, he sold Isaac and raised him up high on the chariot, and when the sword was about to reach his neck, the ram saved him, while Jacob was humbled in hired service, and he gave him the fleeces of the flock and established him in wages. Hardship and toil befell them along with the flock, but he did not cease and leave them without shepherds. With great weariness he taught them, and with trials, that the soul has something by which it may be found from the flocks. But he did not remove his shepherdship from their side, lest when he departed from them, they would be troubled. How many trials passed over Joseph, the chosen one, and the Lord did not leave him to be despised when he was being healed. He was a slave, and he commanded his masters; he was enslaved, and he managed the house of his masters. He entered the prison, and authority was given to him; bound and distributing, the Lord was with him wherever he went. For Joseph entered the prison and ruled, being humbled in one place and in another being honored again; bound like a slave, and like a free man he commanded. He entered the prison, and authority ran with him; from servitude he learned wisdom through spiritual things, and through commands he understood assistance. This is the path of the former and also of the latter, and glory and humiliation are found in it, as one who guides in it.

There is within her both the inward and the praise of him who spreads out wisely, he is the heart and makes all wise; and where he drives away evil cares, he desires to strike, that by rebellion he might sleep, he looks away from the true ones; and where he placed his governance, he wished to confirm, that by trust her vigil for the self without dispute; when the care awakens in the self, its blow strikes the neck, it sinks, seeks the praise that clarifies her; he who sees clearly arranged the forms in the self, so that when he is dark in them, that which is not from her flees; and again he sees that she is painted for the dispute, by his fingers he places something and encourages her; there is again where the secret self is in the beauties, and he strikes her so that she awakens, she guards the wealth that is upon her; there is again when the love of glory seeks to be adorned, and awakens the neck against the honored ones, and strikes the look, so that praise and inward are this path, and glory and neck are borne in it as it is written; with this he spreads out beautifully like God, so that whatever he does, he seeks profit for those who love him; he gave to Joseph that he might be ruler in the house of the Egyptians, and increased his blow, and also hastened for him the headship of his head in labor and in forms of a scheme, scheme of a broad thought, he seeks from freedom, he brought in the judgment, and also the judge places upon him, that he might drag his spirit in the judgment, lest it be injustice.

He made him a youth while preserving for him the primacy of what the youths who toil had encountered in him; he would purify and examine. Falsehood was stirred up in him and would not cover him, so that what he was guarding for the upright ways might be true. Concerning the deception by this means, he became wise, so that he would command that the wicked one should hunt the imprisoned. He cast him into a pit while the chariot was hiding him, so that in his greatness he would remember the small one. He brought him in, while he was in the prison of servants, that he might learn to be perfect, so that he might be merciful to the master over his laborers. He preserved honor and diminished him in every way, so that when he was honored, he would do what was urgent and not be negligent. All the pains of the soul burn in all their remedies, so that nothing vain might enter into that greatness. By the order of servants, that free-born one was healed, so that he would be zealous to free all who were imprisoned. He resembled his master, who suffered and was healed by this means; he would help those who are healed, as it is written. The sea is his story, and how can I ascend from his waves? For the revealer casts me from wave to wave, that I might again descend into it. His wealth is great, and I am weak; I seek from his treasury, and I cannot bear his treasures, for they are many. One by one I take what is sufficient for my need. Blessed is the rich one who every day gives to those who ask him. The end of the homily of the holy Mar Jacob.