XLI. JOSEPH INTERPRETS PHARAOH’S DREAMS HE IS MADE GOVERNOR OF EGYPT, AND MARRIES THERE. (1) PHARAOH DREAMED. — After two years spent in the prison, the time has now come for Joseph’s elevation to power; and it is to be noticed that this was not brought about by those arts by which men usually atta... [ Continue Reading ]
KINE. — The cow was regarded by the Egyptians as the symbol of the earth, and of agriculture; and naturally both the kine and the ears of wheat rose out of the river, because as no rain falls in Egypt, its fertility entirely depends upon the overflow of the Nile. The cows sacred to Isis were seven i... [ Continue Reading ]
SEVEN EARS... UPON ONE STALK. — The wheat cultivated in Egypt is called _triticum compositum,_ because it produces several ears upon the same stalk. The statement of Herodotus (ii. 36), that the Egyptians regarded it as disgraceful to feed upon wheat or barley, is disproved by the paintings in the t... [ Continue Reading ]
EAST WIND. — In Palestine the prevalent winds are those which blow from the west or east, and the latter, coming across arid deserts, is injurious to vegetation. In Egypt the winds generally are from the north or south, but the south-east wind, called Chamsin, blowing from the deserts of Arabia, has... [ Continue Reading ]
MAGICIANS. — The word used here probably means the “sacred scribes,” who were skilled in writing and reading hieroglyphics. But in ancient times the possession of real knowledge was generally accompanied by a claim to an occult and mysterious acquaintance with the secrets of the gods and of nature.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHAVED HIMSELF. — Herodotus (ii. 36) mentions that the Egyptians suffered their hair and beards to grow only when in mourning; whereas in Palestine the beard was regarded as a manly ornament. On Egyptian monuments only captives and men of low condition are represented with beards. In the prison,... [ Continue Reading ]
IN A MEADOW. — Heb., _in the marsh-grass,_ as in Genesis 41:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
POOR AND VERY ILL-FAVOURED AND LEANFLESHED. — Pharaoh, in his recital, describes his dreams at greater length than is the case in the narrative (Genesis 41:2), and also mentions the impressions made upon his imagination by what he had seen, as, for instance, that he had never beheld such lean cattle... [ Continue Reading ]
WITHERED. — This word occurs only in this place. Its meaning is _stony_, that is, the grains were shrivelled and hard like bits of grit.... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE UP THE FIFTH PART OF THE LAND. — Heb., _let him fifth the land,_ that is, exact a fifth part of the produce. It has been supposed that it had been usual in Egypt to pay to the king a tithe of the crop, and the doubling of the impost would not press very heavily on the people in these years of e... [ Continue Reading ]
IN WHOM THE SPIRIT OF GOD IS. — Joseph from the first declared that he neither claimed for himself, nor possessed any art of divination, but that “Elohim would answer (that which would be for) the peace of Pharaoh” (Genesis 41:16). And not only does Pharaoh now recognise the truth of Joseph’s words,... [ Continue Reading ]
OVER MY HOUSE. — The chief over the palace was in ancient times next in power to the sovereign, and under the Frankish kings the “major domi,” or mayor of the palace, first usurped the whole royal power, and finally Pepin, the son of Charles Martel, took the name of king as well as the reality. ACCO... [ Continue Reading ]
HIS RING. — Heb., _his signet ring._ As decrees became law when stamped with the royal signet, it was naturally the symbol of authority; and so with us, at the formation of a ministry the great seal is formally delivered into the hands of the highest legal personage in the realm, who is thus investe... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE SECOND CHARIOT. — The object of this procession was to display Joseph to the people as their new governor. The Pharaoh, probably, took the chief part in this parade, riding in the first chariot of state. BOW THE KNEE. — Heb., _abrech._ Canon Cook explains this as meaning _rejoice, be happy._... [ Continue Reading ]
ZAPHNATH-PAANEAH. — This word also is Egyptian, and, fortunately, there is no Hebrew word of similar sound to suggest a false meaning. Canon Cook shows that it means “food of life,” or “food of the living.” The LXX. have _Psonthom-phanek,_ which Jerome, on the authority of the Jews in Egypt, transla... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THE FOOD. — Probably besides the fifth paid as tax to the king, and out of which all the current expenses of the realm would have to be provided, Joseph bought corn largely during these years when it was at its cheapest.... [ Continue Reading ]
MANASSEH. — That is, _causing to forget._ Joseph has been blamed for forgetting “his father’s house,” but the phrase means that now that he was married and had a child, he ceased to suffer from home sickness, and became contented with his lot. He pined no longer for the open downs of Canaan as he ha... [ Continue Reading ]
EPHRAIM. — That is, _fruitfulness._ The dual ending probably intensifies the meaning.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DEARTH. — As the Nile at this early period was not assisted and regulated in its overflow by dams and canals, famines were much more common in Egypt than when subsequently the kings had done so much to provide against this danger. As, too, this dearth was “in all lands,” in Arabia, Palestine, Et... [ Continue Reading ]