בראשית, פרק ל״ט, פסוק כ״א

Even at the absolute lowest point of his life, locked away in a place of suffering and iron chains, Joseph is not abandoned by divine providence. The Divine Presence descends directly into the dark depths of exile and captivity to remain by his side [צאינה וראינה, אלשיך]. Despite the profound sorrow of his situation, Joseph maintains his good spirit, supported steadily by God's watchfulness [ביאור יש״ר]. This dungeon marks the ultimate bottom that Joseph had to reach, and from this very moment, God begins to shower His kindness upon him [רש ר הירש].

The kindness Joseph experiences in this environment is entirely supernatural. By its very nature, a prison is a harsh place completely devoid of grace, filled with criminals and wrongdoers [העמק דבר]. Yet, God extends a special kindness, treating Joseph as an entirely innocent man [מלבי״ם]. Bathed in the Divine Presence, Joseph absorbs this heavenly grace and becomes a radiating source of it to everyone around him [אור החיים]. There is a distinct dynamic at play between the one who gives kindness and the one who receives grace: God first draws the kindness of all onlookers toward Joseph, making him universally accepted and favored, much like a beautiful and graceful bride [רש״י, שד״ל].

This general favor then narrows into highly specific divine intervention concerning the prison warden. While some attribute the warden's fondness to Joseph's natural charm and innate ability to win over strangers [ביאור שטיינזלץ], the primary approach among commentators is that this is a literal miracle. Unlike his former master who was a nobleman, the prison warden is a naturally cruel and merciless man, hardened by his constant interactions with violent criminals. God directly intervenes, implanting Joseph's grace into the eyes of this ruthless warden so that he recognizes Joseph's goodness despite his own harsh nature [אברבנאל, מלבי״ם, אור החיים]. As a reflection of the oppressive Egyptian society, anyone granted even a fraction of authority is immediately elevated to the status of a commanding officer [רש ר הירש]. Joseph's miraculous favor takes place within a formidable setting, a facility dedicated to the king's captives that was built as a strong, round tower without corners to completely isolate its inmates [אבן עזרא, מחוקקי יהודה].