In the first of the seven years of great plenty Pharaoh sent forth
Joseph to lay up corn, and gather food within the cities. So Joseph
went out over all the land of Egypt, and came in the country of
Heliopolis, where lived Poti-pherah, the priest, and chief counsellor
of the great King. His daughter, Asenath, was the fairest of all the
virgins of the earth; and seemed rather to be a daughter of Israel than
an Egyptian. But Asenath was scornful and proud, and a despiser of men.
No man of all the sons of men had seen her with his eyes, for she
lodged within a strong tower, tall and wide, near by the habitation of
Poti-pherah, the priest. Now high upon this tower were ten chambers.
The first chamber was fair and great, and was builded of marble blocks
of divers colours; the walls were of precious stones set in a chasing
of gold, and the ceiling thereof was golden. There stood the gods of
the Egyptians in metal of silver and gold, and Asenath bowed before
them and offered sacrifice, every day of all the days. The second
chamber was the habitation of Asenath, and was adorned cunningly with
ornaments of gold and silver, with costly gems, and with arras and
stuffs most precious. In the third chamber was brought together the
wealth of all the world, and in that place also were set the aumbries
of Asenath. Seven virgins, her fellows, lodged in the seven other
chambers. They were very fair, and no man had spoken with them, nor any
male child.
The chamber of Asenath was pierced with three windows; the first,
which was very wide, looked towards the east, the second looked towards
the south, and the third was set towards the north. Here was spread a
couch of gold, covered with a purple coverlet, embroidered with golden
thread, and hemmed with jacinths. There slept Asenath, with no
bed-fellow, neither had man sat ever upon her bed. About this house was
a goodly garden, closed round with a very strong wall, and entered by
four iron gates. Each door had for warders eighteen men, very mighty
and young, well armed and full of valour. At the right side of the
garden sprang a fountain of living water, and near by the fountain a
cistern which gave of this water to all the trees of the garden, and
these trees bore much fruit. And Asenath was queenly as Sarah, gracious
as Rebecca, and fair as Rachel.
_How Joseph rebuked Asenath because she worshipped idols._
Joseph sent a message to Poti-pherah that he would come to his house.
So Poti-pherah rejoiced greatly, saying to his daughter, "Joseph, the
friend of God, enters herein. I would give thee to him as his wife."