Chasing Lovers: Sexual Longing, Attraction and Eroticism as Narrative Drivers in Joseph and Aseneth

This study argues that sexual longing, attraction and eroticism fundamentally shape the narrative dynamics of Jos. Asen. Chaps. 1-21. Focusing on one of the most narratively developed Greek recensions (F, W, G - i. e., family f), it demonstrates that sexuality is not peripheral, but central to driving the plot forward. It explores explicit sexual imagery, symbolic settings and narrative tension generated through the protagonists' repeated negotiation and transgression of spatial, social and sexual boundaries. Rather than secondary elements, erotic themes structure the depiction of Aseneth's transformation and subsequent union with Joseph. Consequently, Jos. Asen. is best understood as a Jewish adaptation of Greek romantic literature, with eroticism and sexual dynamics providing the primary narrative impetus that frames theological and ethical concerns within the text.