Genesis 41:8-32

Joseph as Interpreter

8. his spirit was troubled Compare the effect of the dreams in Genesis 40:6; Daniel 2:1-3.

all the magicians or, as R.V. marg., sacred scribes. The Heb. ḥartummimused in this chapter and Exodus 7-9 probably designates the priestly class, which was credited with the knowledge of all sacred mysteries, cf. Genesis 41:24; Exodus 7:11, &c. LXX renders by ἐξηγηταί = "interpreters," Lat. conjectores. The rendering "magicians" represents "possessors of occult knowledge or magic." The same Heb. word is used in Daniel 2:2, probably in imitation of this passage; but it does not occur elsewhere. Possibly the word is derived from a root meaning "to cut" or "engrave," from which came ḥeret, "stylus" or "pen." Cf. Tacitus, Hist. iv. 83, Ptolemaeus … sacerdotibus Aegyptiorum, quibus mos talia intellegere, nocturnos visus aperit.