Chapter 41

1
am 2289, bc 1715

two full years Shenathayim yamim, "two years of days," two complete solar revolutions; as a month of days is a full month. Gen 29:14

that Pharaoh Gen 20:3, Gen 37:5-10, Gen 40:5; Judg 7:13-14; Esth 6:1; Job 33:15-16; Dan 2:1-3; Dan 4:5-18, 7:1-8:27; Matt 27:19

the river Gen 31:21; Exod 1:22, Exod 4:9; Deut 11:10; Isa 19:5; Ezek 29:3, Ezek 29:9


2
there came Gen 41:17-27

a meadow Or, rather, "on, or among the reeds or sedges;" for so achoo is generally supposed to denote (see note on Job 8:11); so called, according to Mr. Parkhurst, from its fitness for making ropes, or the like, to connect or join things together, from achah, to join, connect. Thus the Latin juncus, a bulrush, a jungendo, from joining, for the same reason. He supposes it to be that sort of reed growing near the Nile which Hasselquist describes as "having scarce any branches, but numerous leaves, which are narrow, smooth, channelled on the upper surface, and the plant about eleven feet high. The Egyptians make ropes of the leaves."


3
ill favoured Gen 41:4, Gen 41:20-21


4
So Pharaoh awoke 1Kgs 3:15


5
seven ears A species of wheat, which grows in Egypt, bears, when perfect, seven ears on one stalk, as its natural conformation. It differs from ours in having a solid stem, or at least a stem full of pith, in order to yield sufficient nourishment and support to so great a weight as the ears which it bears.

rank Heb. fat, Deut 32:14


6
blasted Ezek 17:10, Ezek 19:12; Hos 13:15


7
a dream Gen 20:3, Gen 37:5


8
his spirit Gen 40:6; Dan 2:1-3, Dan 4:5, Dan 4:19, Dan 5:6, Dan 7:28, Dan 8:27; Hab 3:16

the magicians of Egypt The word here used (chartummim) may mean no more than interpreters of abstruse or difficult subjects; especially of dreams and visions, which formed a considerable part of the ancient pagan religion; and the Egyptian priests were the first who professed this art. The word may be of affinity with, or derived from, the Persian chiradmand, wise, learned, judicious, intelligent, from chirad, understanding, judgment, and mand, endowed with. They seem to have been such persons as Josephus calls sacred scribes; or professors of sacred learning. Exod 7:11, Exod 7:22, Exod 8:7, Exod 8:18-19, Exod 9:11; Lev 19:31, Lev 20:6; Deut 18:9-14; Isa 8:19; Isa 19:3, Isa 29:14, Isa 47:12-13; Dan 1:20, Dan 2:2, Dan 4:7, Dan 5:7, Dan 5:11; Acts 17:18

the wise men Matt 2:1; Acts 7:22

but there Gen 40:8; Job 5:12-13; Ps 25:14; Isa 19:11-13, Isa 29:14; Dan 2:4-11, Dan 2:27-28; Dan 5:8; 1Cor 1:19, 1Cor 3:18-20


9
I do remember Gen 40:1-3, Gen 40:14, Gen 40:23


10
Pharaoh Gen 39:20, Gen 40:2-3

captain Gen 37:36


11
Gen 40:5-8


12
servant Gen 37:36, Gen 39:1, Gen 39:20

interpreted Gen 40:12-19


13
me he restored Gen 40:12, Gen 40:20-22; Jer 1:10; Ezek 43:3


14
sent 1Sam 2:7-8; Ps 105:19-22, Ps 113:7-8

and they brought him hastily Heb. made him run, Exod 10:16; 1Sam 2:8; Ps 113:7-8; Dan 2:25

he shaved 2Sam 19:24; 2Kgs 25:29; Esth 4:1-4, Esth 5:1; Isa 61:3, Isa 61:10; Jer 52:32-33


15
I have heard Gen 41:9-13; Ps 25:14; Dan 5:12, Dan 5:16

that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it or, when thou hearest a dream, thou canst interpret it


16
It is not Gen 40:8; Num 12:6; 2Kgs 6:27; Dan 2:18-23, Dan 2:28-30, Dan 2:47, Dan 4:2; Acts 3:7, Acts 3:12; Acts 14:14-15; 1Cor 15:10; 2Cor 3:5

peace Gen 37:14; Luke 19:42


17
Gen 41:1-7


18
Jer 24:1-3, Jer 24:5, Jer 24:8


21
eaten them up Heb. come to the inward parts of them, Ezek 3:3; Rev 10:9-10

still Ps 37:19; Isa 9:20


23
withered or, small

thin Gen 41:6; 2Kgs 19:26; Ps 129:6-7; Hos 8:7, Hos 9:16, Hos 13:15

blasted All the mischief done to corn or fruit by blasting, smutting, mildew, etc. are attributed to the east wind (see parallel passages). In Egypt it is peculiarly destructive, because it comes through the parched deserts of Arabia, often destroying vast numbers of people. The destructive nature of the Sam, Simoom, Smoom, or Samiel, is mentioned by almost all travellers. When this pestilential wind advances, its approach is indicated by a redness in the air. The principal stream of the blast always moves in a line of about 20 yards in breadth, and 12 feet above the surface of the earth; but its parching influence pervades all places to a considerable distance. The only means of preservation from its noxious influence is to lie flat, with the face upon the ground, till the blast be over. Camels and other animals instinctively perceive its approach, and bury their mouths and nostrils in the ground. It rarely last more than seven or eight minutes, but so poisonous are its effects, that it instantly suffocates those who are unfortunate enough to inhale it.


24
I told this Gen 41:8; Exod 8:19; Dan 4:7


25
God Gen 41:16; Exod 9:14; Josh 11:6; Ps 98:2; Isa 41:22-23, Isa 43:9; Dan 2:28-29; Dan 2:45, Dan 2:47; Amos 3:7; Matt 24:40; Mark 13:23; Eph 1:17; Rev 4:1


26
are or, signify, Gen 41:2, Gen 41:5, Gen 41:29, Gen 41:47, Gen 41:53, Gen 40:18; Exod 12:11; 1Cor 10:4

good ears are seven Gen 40:12

the dream is one Gen 2:24; Exod 26:6; 1John 5:7


27
seven years of famine 2Sam 24:19; 2Kgs 8:1


28
What God Gen 41:16, Gen 41:25


29
Gen 41:26, Gen 41:46, Gen 41:49


30
seven years Gen 41:27, Gen 41:54; 2Sam 24:13; 1Kgs 17:1; 2Kgs 8:1; Luke 4:25; Jas 5:17

shall be Gen 41:21, Gen 41:51; Prov 31:7; Isa 65:16

consume Gen 47:13; Ps 105:16


31
the plenty It is well known, that in Egypt there is scarcely any rain, the country depending for its fertility upon the overflowing of the Nile; and that the fertility is in proportion to the duration and quality of the overflow, in order to saturate the land and prepare for the seed. Pliny has given a scale, by which the plenty or dearth may be ascertained; which may be considered as perfectly correct. The ordinary height of the inundations is 16 cubits. When the waters are lower than this standard, they do not overflow the whole ground; when above this standard they are too long in running off. In the first case, the ground is not saturated; by the second, the waters are detained so long on the ground that seed-time is lost. The province marks both. If it rise only 12 cubits, a famine is the consequence; at 13 hunger prevails; 14 produces general rejoicing; 15 perfect security; and 16 all the luxuries of life.

grievous Heb. heavy, 1Sam 5:6; Isa 24:20


32
doubled Gen 37:7, Gen 37:9; Job 33:14-15; 2Cor 13:1

it is because Num 23:19; Isa 14:24-27, Isa 46:10-11; Matt 24:35

established by or, prepared of, Isa 30:33; Matt 25:34, Matt 25:41; Mark 10:40; 1Cor 2:9; Rev 9:15


33
therefore Dan 4:27

look out Exod 18:19-22; Deut 1:13; Acts 6:3


34
officers or, overseers, Num 31:14; 2Kgs 11:11-12; 2Chr 34:12; Neh 11:9

and take Job 5:20; Ps 33:19; Prov 6:6-8, Prov 22:3, Prov 27:12; Luke 16:5


35
gather Gen 41:48-49, Gen 41:56, Gen 45:6-7

hand Exod 4:13


36
that the Gen 47:13-25

perish not Heb. be not cut off, Gen 41:30


37
the thing Ps 105:19; Prov 10:20, Prov 25:11; Acts 7:10

good Josh 22:30; 2Sam 3:36; 1Kgs 21:2


38
in whom Num 27:18; Job 32:8; Dan 4:6, Dan 4:8, Dan 4:18, Dan 5:11, Dan 5:14, Dan 6:3


39
Gen 41:16, Gen 41:25, Gen 41:28, Gen 41:33


40
Thou shalt Gen 39:4-6, Gen 45:8-9, Gen 45:26; Ps 105:21-22; Prov 22:29; Dan 2:46-48, Dan 5:29, Dan 6:3

be ruled Heb. be armed, or kiss, 1Sam 10:1; Job 31:27; Ps 2:12


41
Gen 41:44, Gen 39:5, Gen 39:22; Esth 10:3; Prov 17:2, Prov 22:29; Dan 2:7-8, Dan 4:2-3, Dan 6:3; Matt 28:18; Phil 2:9-11


42
his ring Esth 3:10, Esth 3:12, Esth 6:7-12, Esth 8:2, Esth 8:8, Esth 8:10, Esth 8:15, Esth 10:3; Dan 2:46-47, Dan 5:7, Dan 5:29; Luke 15:22

fine linen or, silk, Ezek 27:7

a gold chain Prov 1:9, Prov 31:22, Prov 31:24; Song 1:10; Ezek 16:10-11; Dan 5:7, Dan 5:16, Dan 5:29; Luke 19:16-19


43
and they Esth 6:8-9

Bow the knee or, Tender father, Gen 45:8, Heb. Abrech, Phil 2:10

ruler Gen 42:6, Gen 42:30, Gen 42:33, Gen 45:8, Gen 45:26; Acts 7:10


44
lift up his hand Exod 11:7


45
Zaphnathpaaneah Which in Coptic signifies a revealer of secrets, or, the man to whom secrets are revealed. Jerome says this name signified in Egyptian, Savatorem mundi, "the Saviour of the world;" and Psotem-phaneh, in Coptic, is certainly "salvation of the world," from CΩT, for σωτηρια G4991, salvation, em, the sign of the genitive case, and ΦΕΝΕΗ, world. If this interpretation be correct, Pharaoh must have meant Egypt by the world, or which Joseph might be justly termed the Saviour. We know that the Romans called their empire Universis Orbis-Orbis Terrarum, "all the world:" the Chinese say the same of their empire at the present day, and the phrase is used in the East: Nadir Shah is described on his coins as "Conqueror of the World," i.e., Persia. See the same phraseology applied to Syria, Palestine, etc. Luke 2:1; Acts 11:28

priest of or, prince, Gen 14:18; Exod 2:16 *marg. 2Sam 8:18, 2Sam 20:26 *Heb:

On Gen 46:20; Ezek 30:17, Aven


46
years Gen 37:2; Num 4:3; 2Sam 5:4; Luke 3:23

he stood 1Sam 16:21; 1Kgs 12:6, 1Kgs 12:8; Prov 22:29; Dan 1:19; Luke 21:36; Jude 1:24


47
From am 2289, bc 1715, to am 2296, bc 1708, handfuls. Gen 26:12; Ps 72:16


48
Gen 41:34-36, Gen 47:21


49
Gen 22:17; Judg 6:5, Judg 7:12; 1Sam 13:5; Job 1:3; Ps 78:27; Jer 33:22


50
unto Joseph Gen 46:20, Gen 48:5

Asenath Gen 41:45, Gen 46:20

priest or, prince, 2Sam 8:18


51
called am 2292, bc 1712, Gen 48:5, Gen 48:13-14, Gen 48:18-20; Deut 33:17

Manasseh: i.e. Forgetting, Gen 41:30; Ps 45:10; Isa 57:16

forget Ps 30:5, Ps 30:11; Prov 31:7; Isa 65:16


52
am 2293, bc 1711

called he Gen 29:32-35, Gen 30:6-13, Gen 50:23

Ephraim i.e. Fruitful, Gen 48:16-19, Gen 49:22; Isa 40:1-2

the land Ps 105:17-18; Amos 6:6; Acts 7:10


53
am 2296, bc 1708, Gen 41:29-31; Ps 73:20; Luke 16:25


54
the seven Gen 41:3-4, Gen 41:6-7, Gen 41:27, Gen 45:11; Ps 105:16; Acts 7:11

according Gen 41:30

and the dearth Gen 42:2, Gen 42:5-6, Gen 43:1, Gen 45:11, Gen 47:13


55
famished 2Kgs 6:25-29; Jer 14:1-6; Lam 4:3-10

Go unto Gen 41:40-41; Ps 105:20-22; Matt 3:17, Matt 17:5; John 1:14-16; Phil 4:19; Col 1:19


56
the face Isa 23:17; Zech 5:3; Luke 21:35; Acts 17:26

all the storehouses Heb. all wherein was

sold Gen 42:6, Gen 47:14-24


57
all countries Gen 42:1, Gen 42:5, Gen 50:20; Deut 9:28; Ps 105:16-17

in all lands Gen 41:54, Gen 41:56


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