And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river. Ver. 1. _At the end of two full years._] After the butler was restored; by whose intercession Joseph hoped to have been presently delivered, but was fairly deceived. So are all such sure to b... [ Continue Reading ]
And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow. Ver. 2. _There came up out of the river_] Nile; which, by overflowing, fatteneth the plain of Egypt, filling it with fruits; and so fitly deciphering the seven years of plenty. _a_ So far... [ Continue Reading ]
And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the [other] kine upon the brink of the river. Ver. 3. _Seven other kine came up out of the river._] These, by their leanness, portended drought and dearth, though they came up out of Nile a... [ Continue Reading ]
And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. Ver. 4. _Did eat up the seven, &c._] In famine is not only outward want, but a greedy dog-like appetite within (Bουλιμια, _appetitas caninus_), that an ordinary meal sufficeth not, Isa 9:20... [ Continue Reading ]
And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. Ver. 5. _And dreamed the second time._] Divine dreams use to be repeated, and to take deep impression, as this did. Gen 41:8 "Pharaoh's spirit was troubled"; Heb., _behammered._... [ Continue Reading ]
_And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them._ Ver. 6. _Blasted with the east wind._] Which is, _Ventus urens et exsiccans,_ saith Pliny: The property of this wind is to burn and blast the fruits. Ezekiel 17:10 _; Ezekiel 19:12_ _;_ Hos 13:15... [ Continue Reading ]
And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, [it was] a dream. Ver. 7. _Behold, it was a dream._] That is, It was but a dream, and no more; yet a divine dream: whereof, _See Trapp on "_ Gen 20:3 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but [there was] none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh. Ver. 8. _All the magicians._] Or, Natural philosophers,... [ Continue Reading ]
Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day: Ver. 9. _I do remember my faults this day._] _Oratio vere aulica,_ saith Pareus, - a right courtier's speech. He so relates the history of his imprisonment, that he takes all the blame thereof to himself; gives Phar... [ Continue Reading ]
Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard's house, [both] me and the chief baker: Ver. 10. _Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, &c._] It is wisdom in a man to confess his faults before the prince whom he hath offended; and to commend his clemency in pardon... [ Continue Reading ]
And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream. Ver. 11. _Each man according to the interpretation._] That is, no vain dream, but significant, and deserving an interpreter.... [ Continue Reading ]
And [there was] there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret. Ver. 12. _And he interpreted to us our dreams._] And well you requited him! But better late than neve... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged. Ver. 13. _As he interpreted to us, so it was._] Similiarily: as Christ foretold the two thieves with whom he suffered, so it happened; the one went to heaven, the other to hell. And so it sh... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved [himself], and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. Ver. 14. _And they brought him hastily._] Heb., They made him run: who haply knew not what this haste and hurry meant, but was betwixt ho... [ Continue Reading ]
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and [there is] none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, [that] thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. Ver. 15. _I have dreamed a dream, and there is none, &c._] So men send not for the minister till given up by the physi... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, [It is] not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace._ Ver. 16. It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh, &c.] This is the voice of all that have true worth in them: they are humble upon the knowledge of their perfections; they vilify and nullify themsel... [ Continue Reading ]
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river: Ver. 17. _And Pharaoh said unto Joseph._] Here begins Joseph's rise. Being in prison, be struck not fire, though he had a good brain: but waited till it came down from heaven to him, first in the butler's dream,... [ Continue Reading ]
And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow: Ver. 18. _See Trapp on "_ Gen 41:2 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Gen 41:3 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Gen 41:4 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness: Ver. 19. _See Trapp on "_ Gen 41:2 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Gen 41:3 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Gen 41:4 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine: Ver. 20. _See Trapp on "_ Gen 41:2 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Gen 41:3 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Gen 41:4 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they [were] still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke. Ver. 21. _See Trapp on "_ Gen 41:2 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Gen 41:3 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Gen 41:4 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh [is] one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he [is] about to do. Ver. 25. _The dream of Pharaoh is one._] One in signification, but diverse in respect of vision. Why it was doubled, Gen 41:32 Repetitions in Scripture are not tautologies, but serve to se... [ Continue Reading ]
The seven good kine [are] seven years; and the seven good ears [are] seven years: the dream [is] one. Ver. 26. _Seven good kine are._] _See Trapp "_ Gen 40:12 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; [it is] because the thing [is] established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. Ver. 32. _The dream was doubled._] _See Trapp on "_ Gen 41:25 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. Ver. 33. _Now therefore let Pharaoh, &c._] This was good counsel, and it proved best to the counsellor. The Jews injuriously charge him with ambitious self-seeking: so they did Noah, as is above noted, w... [ Continue Reading ]
Let Pharaoh do [this], and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. Ver. 34. _And take up the fifth part of the land._] For so much money as it is worth. The Egyptians might well spare it, and the king might as well buy it... [ Continue Reading ]
And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities. Ver. 35. _And let them gather all the food._] This text warranteth providence in laying up for a rainy day. Solomon sends us to school to the ant to learn... [ Continue Reading ]
And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine. Ver. 36. _For store._] He not only foretelleth Egypt's misery, but showeth the means to mitigate it. This is the right method, and must b... [ Continue Reading ]
And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. Ver. 37. _And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh._] The devil, no doubt, by the magicians and politicians of those times, did his utmost to hinder the king's purpose of preferring Joseph; as he did here for C... [ Continue Reading ]
And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find [such a one] as this [is], a man in whom the Spirit of God [is]? Ver. 38. _And Pharaoh said unto his servants._] He would resolve nothing without the advice of his Council. He was not like the Persian monarchs, who gave their peers no freedom nor libe... [ Continue Reading ]
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, [there is] none so discreet and wise as thou [art]: Ver. 39. _Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this._] Pharaoh at first took him for no other than a cunning soothsayer and conjecturer of dreams. Now he finds better worth... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. Ver. 40. _Thou shalt be over my house, &c._] Pharaoh prefers him, because he found good parts in him. They that bestow places of charge in church or commonwealth up... [ Continue Reading ]
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. Ver. 41. _See, I have set thee over all, &c._] So Antoninus, the emperor, made Pertinax, _a_ a lowly man, but well qualified, consul, which many murmured at. But he was afterwards became emperor; and finding the public t... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;_ Ver. 42. _And Pharaoh took off his ring._] Pliny therefore is mistaken, who thinks the use of rings came not up before the Trojan war. How ha... [ Continue Reading ]
And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him [ruler] over all the land of Egypt. Ver. 43. _Bow the knee._] Or, Tender father, because he was young in years, but old in wisdom, μειρακιογιρων, as Micarius was called. Not the anci... [ Continue Reading ]
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I [am] Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. Ver. 44. _I am Pharaoh._] Of a root (פרע) that signifieth to _make bare,_ because, say some, he was to be bared - that is, sifted and manifested by Joseph. _ Without thee... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over [all] the land of Egypt._ Ver. 45. _Zaphnath-paaneah._] That is, saith Jerome, the Saviour of the world. A high style; so the Greeks, when Flaminius,... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Joseph [was] thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt._ Ver. 46. _And Joseph was thirty years old._] This is mentioned, to show what wonderful graces he had attained at those years;... [ Continue Reading ]
And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. Ver. 47. _By handfuls._] _Manipulatim._ Every grain of corn yields a handful of increase. _a_ Thus God "filled their hearts with food and gladness"; Act 14:17 and so "left not himself without witness" amongst those infidels. _ a... [ Continue Reading ]
And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which [was] round about every city, laid he up in the same. Ver. 48. _And laid up the food in the cities._] He provided storehouses for every city; so they... [ Continue Reading ]
And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for [it was] without number. Ver. 49. _And Joseph gathered corn._] Against the future famine; mentioned also by Justin, lib. xxxvi., out of Trogus Pompeius. It happened, as Orosius computeth it, in the year before... [ Continue Reading ]
And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him. Ver. 50. _Asenath the daughter of Potipherah._] This was not Potiphar, Joseph's master. Joseph would not marry the daughter of such a housewife. _Partus fere siqu... [ Continue Reading ]
And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, [said he], hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house. Ver. 51. Manasseh: For God, said he, hath, &c.] He writes God's mercies to himself upon the names of his two children; that might be as so many monitors to thankfuln... [ Continue Reading ]
And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. Ver. 52. _See Trapp on "_ Gen 41:51 _"_ This Ephraim was afterwards, by Jacob, set before his older brother.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. Ver. 53. _And the seven years of plenteousness, &c._] All earthly felicities will determine; they are called "a sea of glass mingled with fire"; Rev 15:2 that is, with affliction. Henry VI, that had been the most poten... [ Continue Reading ]
And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. Ver. 54. _According as Joseph had said._] Joseph foresaw and foretold the famine, but caused it not: so God's prescience, &c. _ In all the land... [ Continue Reading ]
And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do. Ver. 55. _Cried to Pharaoh._] Though they knew he had deputed Joseph: so 1 Kings 6:27. Iσοθεοι ημεν; We should be as gods, if we had... [ Continue Reading ]
And the famine was over all the face of the earth: And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. Ver. 56. _Sold._] Heb., Brake, shivered, parcelled it out.... [ Continue Reading ]
And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy [corn]; because that the famine was [so] sore in all lands. Ver. 57. _All countries came to Joseph, &c._] Foreigners also should be relieved so much as may be. King Edward VI sent five thousand pounds to relieve Protestants beyond the seas. _a_... [ Continue Reading ]