Have you ever wondered why Potiphar's wife was so insistent on having an affair with Joseph? A word study answers the question.
And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh's, and captain of the guard. (Genesis 37:36)
This seemingly incidental verse reveals much. Keyed to the word officer is the following note from page 37 of The Dake Annotated Reference Bible:
Heb. cariyc, to castrate; a eunuch; valet of females' apartments and thus a minister of state, chamberlain (39:1; 40:2, 7; 1 Sam. 8:15; 1 Ki. 22:9; 2 Ki. 8:6; 24:12-15; 25:19; 1 Chr. 28:1; 2 Chr. 18:8). It is translated chamberlain 13 times (2 Ki. 23:11; Esther 1:10-15; 2:3, 14, 15, 21; 4:4-5; 6:2, 14; 7:9) and eunuch 17 times (2 Ki. 9:32; 20:18; Isa. 39:7; 56:3-4; Jer. 29:2; 34:19; 38:7; 41:16; 52:25; Dan. 1:3-18). This may explain the unfaithfulness of Potiphar's wife (39:10-13). In the East many eunuchs had wives and even harems where they kept many women, but they bore no children.