Genesis 39:11

WEB

About this time, he went into the house to do his work, and there were none of the men of the house inside.

KJV

And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within.

Commentary

And it came to pass about this time,.... About a week, or a month, or rather a year, as Aben Ezra thinks, after she first began her solicitations to him. According to Josephus (r), it was a public festival, at which women used to attend; but she excused herself, pretending illness; and so Jarchi takes it to be some noted day at the idol's temple, to which all used to go; but she pretended she was sick, and could not go, knowing that Joseph would not be there, but at home, and therefore judged this a fit opportunity to attack him once more: and so it was: that Joseph went into the house to do his business: to inspect the accounts, as the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan paraphrase it, and settle them: and there was none of the men of the house there within; being all gone to the public festival, or however there were none in that part of the house where Joseph was. (r) Antiqu. l. 2. c. 4. sect. 3.