Joseph enters Potiphar’s household as a slave, but his work prospers. Potiphar notices his success and eventually places him in charge of the entire household.

Potiphar’s wife begins urging Joseph to sleep with her.

Joseph refuses. He explains that Potiphar has entrusted everything to him and that such an act would be both a betrayal of his master and a sin against God.

She continues pressing him day after day, but Joseph will not agree.

One day Joseph enters the house to work when no other servants are present. Potiphar’s wife grabs his garment and again demands that he sleep with her.

Joseph leaves the garment in her hand and runs outside.

She then uses the garment as evidence for a false accusation, telling the household and later Potiphar that Joseph tried to assault her.

Potiphar becomes angry, and Joseph is placed in prison.

Yet the chapter repeats its earlier pattern. God is with Joseph in prison, the prison keeper favors him, and Joseph is eventually entrusted with responsibility over the other prisoners.

The false accusation appears to push Joseph farther from the dreams of his youth, but the prison will become the place where his path eventually connects with Pharaoh’s court.