Joseph's mistress, having tried in vain to make him a criminal, now
endeavours to represent him as one; so to be revenged on him for his
virtue. Now was her love turned into the utmost rage and malice, and
she pretends she cannot endure the sight of him whom awhile ago she
could not endure out of her sight. Chaste and holy love will continue,
though slighted; but sinful love, like Amnon's to Tamar, is easily
changed into sinful hatred. 1. She accused him to his fellow servants
(v. 13-15) and gave him a bad name among them. Probably they envied him
his interest in their master's favour, and his authority in the house;
and perhaps found themselves aggrieved sometimes by his fidelity, which
prevented their purloining; and therefore they were glad to hear any
thing that might tend to his disgrace, and, if there was room for it,
incensed their mistress yet more against him. Observe, When she speaks
of her husband, she does not call him her husband, or her lord, but
only he; for she had forgotten the covenant of her God, that was
between them. Thus the adulteress (Prov. vii. 19) calls her husband the
good man. Note, Innocence itself cannot secure a man's reputation. Not
every one that keeps a good conscience can keep a good name. 2. She
accused him to his master, who had power in his hand to punish him,
which his fellow servants had not, v. 17, 18. Observe, (1.) What an
improbable story she tells, producing his garment as an evidence that
he had offered violence to her, which was a plain indication that she
had offered violence to him. Note, Those that have broken the bonds of
modesty will never be held by the bonds of truth. No marvel that she
who had impudence enough to say, Lie with me, had front enough to say,
"He would have lien with me." Had the lie been told to conceal her own
crime it would have been bad enough, yet, in some degree, excusable;
but it was told to be revenged upon his virtue, a most malicious lie.
And yet, (2.) She manages it so as to incense her husband against him,
reflecting upon him for bringing this Hebrew servant among them,
perhaps at first against her mind, because he was a Hebrew. Note, It is
no new thing for the best of men to be falsely accused of the worst of
crimes by those who themselves are the worst of criminals. As this
matter was represented, one would have thought chaste Joseph a very bad
man and his wanton mistress a virtuous woman; it is well that there is
a day of discovery coming, in which all shall appear in their true
characters. This was not the first time that Joseph's coat was made use
of as a false witness concerning him; his father had been deceived by
it before, now his master.