What does Genesis 39:15 mean?
For the sake of honor and integrity, Joseph has spurned the sexual advances of his master's wife (Genesis 39:6–10), even running away with his cloak still in her hand (Genesis 39:11–12). She's had enough of his rejection, and her lust turns to hateful revenge. She tells a manipulative lie to the other male servants in the household: Joseph came to rape me, and I screamed (Genesis 39:13–14). Her phrasing plays on natural resentment from slaves towards their master, as well as Joseph's racial background.Now she concludes her lie, saying Joseph ran away only because she screamed, and that he left his cloak lying where he took it off before attempting to rape her. Having passed along a false story to the servants of the household, Potiphar's wife will wait for her husband to return home. Joseph's situation seems dire: who will the master believe, his wife or a captive slave? How will he react to this supposed betrayal?