In Potiphar's House: The Interpretive Life of Biblical Texts - Softcover

[A] masterful literary study of ancient biblical exegesis...Kugel makes a compelling case for the existence in antiquity of a broad intercommunal communication regarding the meaning of biblical texts...While the formulation and modes of transmission of such a tradition remain a mystery, the rich literary evidence assembled here will give many historical scholars food for thought. -- Martin S. Jaffe "Religious Studies Review"

In this study of early biblical interpretation, James Kugel examines a series of exegetical stories that elaborate on the Joseph narrative in Genesis. These stories - which appear in such diverse sources as rabbinic midrash, early Christian writings, liturgical poetry, and the Qur'an - often contain details of whole incidents not found in the Bible itself. In tracing the development and function of these tales, Kugel reveals a dynamic interpretive process: the living, changing significance of texts through generations of discussion, analysis and application.