ASENATH

ASENATH (Heb. אָסְנַת; meaning in Egyptian, "she belongs to, or is the servant of, [the goddess] Neith"), daughter of Poti-Phera, the high priest of On (Heliopolis). Asenath, at Pharaoh's instance, married Joseph (Gen. 41:45, et al.). She bore Joseph two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, during the seven years of plenty (41:50; 46:20). For the rabbinic attitude to Asenath, see *Joseph (in aggadah).

bibliography:

W. Spiegelberg, Aegyptologische Randglossen zum Alten Testament (1904), 18–19; J. Vergote, Joseph en Egypte (Fr., 1959), 148 ff.; N.M. Sarna, Understanding Genesis (1966), 221. add. bibliography: D. Redford, Egypt, Canaan, and Israel in Ancient Times (1992), 424; V. Aptowitzer, in: huca, 1 (1924), 239–306.

[Nahum M. Sarna]

Asenath. Daughter of the Egyptian high priest of On and wife of Joseph. Her two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, were the patriarchs of their eponymous tribes.

Asenath

Egyptian woman of the Bible. Dau. of Potipherah, priest of On or Heliopolis; m. Joseph (Gen. 41:45); children: Manasseh and Ephraim.

See also Women in World History.

Asenath

Egyptian woman of the Bible. Daughter of Potipherah, priest of On or Heliopolis; married Joseph (Gen. 41:45); children: Manasseh and Ephraim.