In this third volume of Thomas Mann’s monumental retelling of the biblical story, Joseph in Egypt follows Joseph after he is sold by his jealous brothers to Ishmaelite traders.
They bring him to Egypt, where he’s eventually purchased by Potiphar. Joseph's intelligence, charisma, and integrity soon earn him Potiphar’s trust, and he rises to become the overseer of Potiphar’s household.
However, trouble arises when Potiphar’s wife, becomes infatuated with Joseph. After he repeatedly rejects her advances, she falsely accuses him of attempting to seduce her. As a result, Joseph is imprisoned.
The novel delves deeply into themes of fate, identity, divine providence, and the blending of mythologies — particularly Egyptian and Hebrew — as Joseph's story moves toward his ultimate rise to power.