Women Of Egypt Cutting Their Hands
Historical events mentioned in Quran are not an ‘exhaustive narrative’ of history, rather, the underlying purpose of mentioning of such events is completely different. Therefore, the exact timeline of events and the exhaustiveness of their details cannot in every case be inferred with perfection. There could also be a possibility that some related discussion between the wife of Aziz and other women has been skipped ( discussion related to the event, not to the underlying purpose of mentioning it in Quran ), or, it could’ve to do to do with the customs of those times. Those women must’ve heard of Yousaf(AS) beauty but hadn’t seen him, so wife of Aziz could’ve challenged those women according to customs of that time, since they made a claim that it was so easy to lure a slave, how about they do it and prove it in accordance with the prevalent knife custom. Again! the possibilities are endless.
I think 12:31-32 makes it clear that it was out of astonishment. 12:50 mentions treachery which would be rumours I think