INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 41 In this chapter are related Pharaoh's dreams, which his magicians could not interpret, Genesis 41:1, upon which the chief butler now remembering Joseph, recommended him to Pharaoh as an interpreter, having had an happy experience of him as such himself, Genesis 41:10, whe... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS AT THE END OF TWO FULL YEARS,.... It is not a clear case, as Aben Ezra observes, from whence these years are to be reckoned, whether from the time of Joseph's being put into prison, or from the time that the chief butler was taken out of it; the latter seems more probable, and be... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, BEHOLD, THERE CAME UP OUT OF THE RIVER SEVEN WELL FAVOURED KINE, AND FATFLESHED,.... Seven cows or heifers, sleek, fat, and plump, goodly to look at; these seemed in the dream, as if they came out of the river, because they were fed with the fruits of the earth, which the overflowing of the riv... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, BEHOLD, SEVEN OTHER KINE CAME UP AFTER THEM OUT OF THE RIVER, ILL FAVOURED, AND LEANFLESHED,.... Thin and haggard, their bones stuck out, having scarce any flesh upon them, and made a wretched figure: AND STOOD BY THE [OTHER] KINE; and looked so much the worse, when compared with them: UPON T... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE ILL FAVOURED AND LEANFLESHED KINE DID EAT UP THE SEVEN WELL FAVOURED AND FAT KINE,.... So it seemed in the dream as if this was done, was very strange and surprising that animals should devour one another; and especially that tame ones, cows or heifers, should eat those of their own species,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SLEPT, AND DREAMED THE SECOND TIME,.... He fell asleep again quickly, and dreamed another dream the same night, and to the same purpose, being much of the like kind with the former: AND, BEHOLD, SEVEN EARS OF CORN CAME UP UPON ONE STALK, RANK AND GOOD; which were very uncommon even in those... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, BEHOLD, SEVEN THIN EARS, AND BLASTED WITH THE EAST WIND,.... Which is very fatal to corn, to dry, burn, smite, or blast it; and especially to the corn in Egypt, whither it blew from the desert of Arabia: these SPRUNG UP AFTER THEM; after the seven full ears, in the same place the other did, or... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SEVEN THIN EARS DEVOURED THE SEVEN RANK AND FULL EARS,.... So it appeared to Pharaoh in his dream, which must be very amazing to behold, and unaccountable how it should be: AND PHARAOH AWOKE, AND, BEHOLD, [IT WAS] A DREAM; not a real fact, but a dream; yet not a common dream, but had some i... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS IN THE MORNING, THAT HIS SPIRIT WAS TROUBLED,.... With the thoughts of his dreams; they were uppermost in his mind; he was continually thinking of them; it was as if he had always the same images before him now awake, as well as when asleep, and therefore could not be easy withou... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SPAKE THE CHIEF BUTLER UNTO PHARAOH,.... When the magicians and wise men could not interpret his dreams, he was in distress of mind on that account: SAYING, I DO REMEMBER MY FAULTS THIS DAY; which some interpret of his forgetfulness of Joseph and his afflictions, and of his ingratitude to him,... [ Continue Reading ]
PHARAOH WAS WROTH WITH HIS SERVANTS,.... Not with all of them, but with the butler and the baker. Aben Ezra observes here, that Pharaoh was not the proper name of this king, but a title of office, and signifies the king; for it cannot be thought that the butler would use such freedom in his presence... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WE DREAMED A DREAM IN ONE NIGHT, I AND HE,.... In one and the same night: WE DREAMED EACH MAN ACCORDING TO THE INTERPRETATION OF HIS DREAM; they both dreamed exactly what should befall them, as it was interpreted to them; the dreams, the interpretation of them, and the events, answered to each... [ Continue Reading ]
AND [THERE WAS] THERE WITH US A YOUNG MAN,.... Who was in the prison with them, had the care of them, and waited upon them; he was then about twenty eight years of age; for it was two years ago he speaks of, and Joseph was thirty when he stood before Pharaoh, Genesis 41:46: AN HEBREW SERVANT TO THE... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS, AS HE INTERPRETED TO US, SO IT WAS,.... The event answered to the interpretation, and showed it to be right; this is frequently hinted and repeated, to show the exactness and certainty of the interpretation given, in order to recommend Joseph to Pharaoh the more: ME HE RESTORED... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN PHARAOH SENT AND CALLED JOSEPH,.... Sent messengers to him to come to him directly, ordered the captain of the guard, or keeper of prison, to loose him, and let him free, see Psalms 105:20; AND THEY BROUGHT HIM HASTILY OUT OF THE DUNGEON; that is, out of the prison house; which, as Jarchi says... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PHARAOH SAID UNTO JOSEPH,...., Immediately, upon his being introduced to him: I HAVE DREAMED A DREAM, AND [THERE] IS NONE THAT CAN INTERPRET IT; that he could yet meet with; none of his magicians or wise men, who made great pretensions to skill in such matters: AND I HAVE HEARD SAY OF THEE, [T... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JOSEPH ANSWERED PHARAOH, SAYING, [IT IS] NOT IN ME,.... Which expresses his great modesty, that he did not arrogate such skill and wisdom to himself; declaring that he had no such power and abilities in and of himself, to interpret dreams; what he had was a gift of God, and wholly depended upon... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PHARAOH SAID UNTO JOSEPH,.... Relating both his dreams in a more ample manner, though to the same purpose, than before related: IN MY DREAM, BEHOLD, I STOOD UPON THE BANK OF THE RIVER; the river Nile, where he could have a full sight of what were after presented to his view.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, BEHOLD, THERE CAME UP OUT OF THE RIVER SEVEN KINE,.... Cows or heifers, Genesis 41:2; the account of them is the same here as there, and of the place where they fed, only the words are transposed.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, BEHOLD, SEVEN OTHER KINE,.... Here some addition is made: these are said not only to be VERY ILL FAVOURED, AND LEANFLESHED, Genesis 41:3, but POOR, thin, meagre, exhausted of their flesh and strength through some disease upon them, or want of food: and it follows, what was not before expresse... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LEAN AND THE ILL FAVOURED KINE,.... The same as previously described; Genesis 41:4.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THEY HAD EATEN THEM UP,.... Or "were come into their bowels" k, into their inward parts, their bellies, being swallowed and devoured by them: IT COULD NOT BE KNOWN THAT THEY HAD EATEN THEM: or were in their bellies, they seemed never the fuller nor the fatter for them: BUT THEY [WERE] STI... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAW IN MY DREAM,.... Falling asleep again quickly, he dreamed a second time; and this dream being of a like kind with the former, and so small a space between them, they are represented as one, and this is the continuation of it: AND, BEHOLD, SEVEN EARS, c. Genesis 41:5.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, BEHOLD, SEVEN EARS WITHERED,.... Here a new epithet of the bad ears is given, and expressed by a word nowhere else used, which Ben Melech interprets, small, little, according to the use of the word in the Misnah; Aben Ezra, void, empty, such as had no grains of corn in them, nothing but husk or... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE THIN EARS DEVOURED THE SEVEN GOOD EARS,.... Genesis 41:7; AND I TOLD [THIS] UNTO THE MAGICIANS; just in the same manner as he had to Joseph: BUT [THERE WAS] NONE THAT COULD DECLARE [IT] UNTO ME; the meaning of it; what all this should signify or portend.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JOSEPH SAID UNTO PHARAOH, THE DREAM OF PHARAOH [IS] ONE,.... Though there were two distinct dreams expressed under different images and representations, yet the meaning, sense, and signification of them were the same; one interpretation would do for both: GOD HATH SHOWED PHARAOH WHAT HE [IS] AB... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SEVEN GOOD KINE [ARE] SEVEN YEARS,.... Signify seven years, and these years of plenty, as appears from the antithesis in Genesis 41:26: AND THE SEVEN GOOD EARS [ARE] SEVEN YEARS; signify the same: THE DREAM [IS] ONE; for though the seven good kine were seen in one dream, the seven good ears i... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SEVEN THIN AND ILL FAVOURED KINE THAT CAME UP AFTER THEM [ARE] SEVEN YEARS,.... Signify other seven years, and these different from the former, as follows: AND THE SEVEN EMPTY EARS BLASTED WITH THE EAST WIND SHALL BE SEVEN YEARS OF FAMINE: or there will be seven years of famine that will an... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS [IS] THE THING WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN UNTO PHARAOH,.... As an interpretation of his dreams: WHAT GOD [IS] ABOUT TO DO, HE SHEWETH UNTO PHARAOH: the events of fourteen years with respect to plenty and sterility.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THERE COME SEVEN YEARS OF GREAT PLENTY THROUGHOUT ALL THE LAND OF EGYPT. Not only a sufficiency but an abundance, even to luxury, as when the Nile rose to sixteen cubits, as Pliny observes m; which, though a natural cause, was owing to God, and that it should thus overflow for seven years su... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE SHALL ARISE AFTER THEM SEVEN YEARS OF FAMINE,.... Which might be occasioned by the river Nile not rising so high as to overflow its banks, as, when it did not rise to more than twelve cubits, a famine ensued, as the above writer says n; and it must be owing to the overruling providence of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE PLENTY SHALL NOT BE KNOWN IN THE LAND, BY REASON OF THAT FAMINE FOLLOWING,.... That is, before it would be over; otherwise the former plenty was in some measure known by the stores of provisions laid up in the seven years of it, and which were brought forth when the famine became very pressi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FOR THAT THE DREAM WAS DOUBLED UNTO PHARAOH TWICE,.... Or was repeated to him under different figures and images: [IT IS] BECAUSE THE THING [IS] ESTABLISHED BY GOD; by a firm decree of his, and is sure, and will most certainly be accomplished; of which Pharaoh might be assured, and to assure hi... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THEREFORE LET PHARAOH LOOK OUT A MAN DISCREET AND WISE,.... Of good judgment and conduct, of abilities equal to the execution of a scheme hereafter proposed: it can scarcely be thought consistent with the great modesty of Joseph that he meant himself, or that indeed, he ventured to give any advi... [ Continue Reading ]
LET PHARAOH DO [THIS],.... Appoint such a person; who as a sovereign prince could do it of himself: AND LET HIM APPOINT OFFICERS OVER THE LAND; not Pharaoh, but the wise and discreet governor he should set over the land, who should have a power of appointing officers or overseers under him to manag... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LET THEM, GATHER ALL THE FOOD OF THOSE GOOD YEARS THAT COME,.... That is, let the under officers collect together the fifth part of all fruits of the land during the seven years of plenty: AND LAY UP CORN UNDER THE HAND OF PHARAOH; as his property, and only to be disposed of by his orders; for... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THAT FOOD SHALL BE FOR STORE TO THE LAND,.... A deposit in the said cities, to be brought forth and used in a time of public distress; the Targum of Jonathan is, it "shall be hidden in a cave in the earth:'' AGAINST THE SEVEN YEARS OF FAMINE WHICH SHALL BE IN THE LAND OF EGYPT: and so be a sup... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE THING WAS GOOD IN THE EYES OF PHARAOH,.... He approved of the advice Joseph gave, and of the scheme and plan which he proposed: AND IN THE EYES OF ALL HIS SERVANTS; his nobles, ministers of state and courtiers, all highly commended and applauded it; and it was with the general and unanimous... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PHARAOH SAID UNTO HIS SERVANTS,.... That were about him, and with whom he was consulting about a proper person to be over this affair of gathering in the fruits of the earth in the time of plenty, and laying them up against a time of famine: CAN WE FIND [SUCH AN ONE] AS THIS [IS], IN WHOM THE S... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PHARAOH SAID UNTO JOSEPH,.... After his servants had agreed to his being the man: at least Pharaoh had declared his mind that he should be the person; which if any of them disliked, as probably might be the case of some through envy, and as desirous of the post themselves, yet durst not make any... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALL BE OVER MY HOUSE,...., Have the care of his domestic affairs, and be the principal man in his palace and court: AND ACCORDING UNTO THY WORD SHALL ALL MY PEOPLE BE RULED; not only in his family, but in his whole kingdom; whatever he ordered and commanded them to do, they should it, or "al... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PHARAOH SAID UNTO JOSEPH,.... He continued speaking to him for the greater confirmation of what he had said, and for further explanation of it: SEE, I HAVE SET THEE OVER ALL THE LAND OF EGYPT; not merely as the corn master general, to take care of a provision of corn in time of plenty, against... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PHARAOH TOOK OFF HIS RING FROM HIS HAND, AND PUT IT UPON JOSEPH'S HAND,.... Which, as it was expressive of the interest he had in his royal favour, so was a token of that high office and great dignity to which he was promoted: thus among the Romans, in later times, when anyone was put into the e... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE MADE HIM TO RIDE IN THE SECOND CHARIOT WHICH HE HAD,.... By which it appeared that he was next to Pharaoh, but not above him; as kings were wont to have more chariots than one, those were distinguished by first, second, c. being of greater state the one than the other, see 2 Chronicles 35:24:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PHARAOH SAID UNTO JOSEPH, I [AM] PHARAOH,.... Or I am king, which the word Pharaoh signifies, as Josephus z says; and that this is not a proper name, but a title of office, seems plain from these words; and the sense either is, that though Pharaoh had raised Joseph to such high honour and dignit... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PHARAOH CALLED JOSEPH'S NAME ZAPHNATHPAANEAH,.... Which, according to the paraphrase of Onkelos, signifies one to whom hidden things are revealed; or, as Jonathan, a revealer of secrets; and so most of the Jewish writers explain it; and which seems to be given him from his interpreting Pharaoh's... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JOSEPH [WAS] THIRTY YEARS OLD WHEN HE STOOD BEFORE PHARAOH KING OF EGYPT,.... Interpreting his dreams, and had such honour conferred upon him as to be made his prime minister; from whence it appears that Joseph had now been thirteen years in Egypt, partly in Potiphar's house, and partly in priso... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN THE SEVEN PLENTEOUS YEARS THE EARTH BROUGHT FORTH BY HANDFULS. Such as the gatherers take up in their hands when reaped, in order to bind up in sheaves: now such was the fruitfulness of the land during the seven years of plenty, that either one stalk produced as many ears as a man could hold... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE GATHERED UP ALL THE FOOD OF THE SEVEN YEARS,.... That is, of plenty; not all the fruits of the earth, or all that was eatable, but the corn, as in Genesis 41:49; and not all of that the earth produced, but the fifth part of it, as he proposed, which he bought with Pharaoh's money, and therefo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JOSEPH GATHERED CORN AS THE SAND OF THE SEA, VERY MUCH, UNTIL HE LEFT NUMBERING,.... At first he took an account of the quantities that were bought and laid up, how much there was in each granary, until it amounted to so much, that there was no end of numbering it; it was like the sand of the s... [ Continue Reading ]
AND UNTO JOSEPH WERE BORN TWO SONS,.... The word for "born" is singular; hence Ben Melech conjectures that they were twins: and this was BEFORE THE YEARS OF FAMINE CAME; or "the year of famine" q; the first year: WHICH ASENATH, THE DAUGHTER OF POTIPHERAH PRIEST OF ON, BARE UNTO HIM; which is obser... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JOSEPH CALLED THE NAME OF THE FIRSTBORN MANASSEH,.... Which signifies forgetfulness, as the reason of it shows: FOR GOD, [SAID HE], HATH MADE ME FORGET ALL MY TOIL, AND ALL MY FATHER'S HOUSE; all his toil and labour in Potiphar's house, and especially in the prison; and all the injuries his bre... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE NAME OF THE SECOND CALLED HE EPHRAIM,.... Which signifies fruits or fruitfulness; and being of the dual number, may intend both his spiritual and temporal fruitfulness God had blessed him with: FOR GOD HATH CAUSED ME TO BE FRUITFUL IN THE LAND OF MY AFFLICTION; in the land of Egypt, where h... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SEVEN YEARS OF PLENTEOUSNESS THAT WAS IN THE LAND OF EGYPT WERE ENDED. Perhaps quickly after the birth of Ephraim, Joseph's second son; since the account follows upon that, and it is certain that he was born before the years of famine began, Genesis 41:50; some connect the words, "moreover w... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SEVEN YEARS OF DEARTH BEGAN TO COME, AS JOSEPH HAD SAID,.... In the interpretation of Pharaoh's dreams; as soon as the seven years of plenty were over, there were quickly some appearances of the famine coming on; as particularly the river Nile not flowing to its usual height at the season of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN ALL THE LAND OF EGYPT WAS FAMISHED,.... Their old stock and store eaten up, and the inhabitants ready to starve with hunger: THE PEOPLE CRIED TO PHARAOH FOR BREAD; as their common father, and knowing that he had stores of provision laid up in all cities against this time: AND PHARAOH SAID... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE FAMINE WAS OVER ALL THE FACE OF THE EARTH,.... Not over the whole world, but the land of Egypt; all the inhabitants of it were pinched with it, rich and poor; it reached all parts and all sorts of men: AND JOSEPH OPENED ALL THE STOREHOUSES; in the several cities throughout the land where he... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL COUNTRIES CAME INTO EGYPT TO JOSEPH FOR TO BUY [CORN],.... All the neighbouring nations (Syria, Arabia, Palestine, Canaan, c.), when they heard there was corn there for money, came from all parts for it, and were glad to get it at such expense and trouble: BECAUSE THAT THE FAMINE WAS [SO] S... [ Continue Reading ]