Then commanded Poti-pherah that she should kiss Joseph; but as she drew
near Joseph set his hand against her breast and said--
"It is not meet that a man who worships the living God, and eateth the
bread of life and drinketh from the chalice without corruption, should
embrace the strange woman, who bows down before deaf and dumb idols;
who serves them with the kisses of her mouth; is anointed with their
reprobate oil, and eats an accursed bread, and drinks unsanctified wine
from their table."
_Of the penitence of Asenath, and of the consolation of an
angel; how he came from Heaven to the chamber of Asenath,
and spake with her and sweetly comforted her._
When Asenath heard Joseph speak these words she was sore vexed, even
unto tears; wherefore Joseph took pity upon her and blessed her, laying
his hand upon her head. Asenath rejoiced greatly at the benediction.
She sought her bed, sick with fear and joy, and renounced the gods
before whom she bowed, and humbled herself to the ground. So Joseph ate
and drank, and when he rose to go Poti-pherah prayed him to tarry till
the morrow; but he might not, and parted, having promised to return
within eight days.
Then Asenath put on sad raiment, such as she wore at the death of her
brother, and went clothed in a garment of heaviness. She closed the
doors of her chamber upon her and wept. Moreover she flung forth all
her idols by the window set towards the north; all the royal meat she
gave to the dogs; she put dust upon her head, lay upon the ground, and
lamented bitterly for seven days.
But the eighth morning, at the hour when the cock crows and the dogs
howl at the breaking of the day, Asenath looked forth from the window
giving to the east, and saw a star shining clear, and the heavens open,
and there appeared a great light. She fell to earth with her face in
the dust, and a man descended from the heavens and stood by her head,
calling on her by her name. But Asenath answered nothing, because of
the greatness of her fear. Then the man called her a second time,
saying, "Asenath! Asenath!" and she replied--
"Lord, here am I. Tell me whom thou art."