Genesis 41

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 41:1-45

Joseph before Pharaoh, or from the prison to the throne. I. THE DREAMS OF THE MONARCH . 1. His midnight visions . Two full years have expired since the memorable birthday of Pharaoh which sent the baker to ignominious execution, but restored the butler to the favor of his royal master. Slumbering upon his bed, the king of Egypt seems to stand among the tall grass upon the banks of the Nile. First seven well-formed and full-fleshed heifers appear to climb up one after the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 41:1-57

The tried man is now made ready by long experience for his position of responsibility and honor. He is thirty years old. He can commence his public ministry for the people of God and the world. Pharaoh's dreams, the kine and the ears of corn, like those of the butler and baker, have their natural element in them; but apart from the Spirit of God Joseph would not have dared to give them such an interpretation. Even had his intelligence penetrated the secret, he would not have ventured on a... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 41:2

And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well-favored kine and fat-fleshed . According to Plutarch and Clement of Alexandria, the heifer was regarded by the ancient Egyptians as a symbol of the earth, agriculture, and the nourishment derived therefrom. It was therefore natural that the succession of seven prosperous years should be represented by seven thriving cows. That they appeared ascending from the river is explained by the circumstance that the Nile by its annual inundations... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 41:3

And, behold, seven other kind came up after them out of the river, ill. favored and lean-fleshed . The second seven cows, "evil to look upon," i.e. bad in appearance, and "thin (beaten small, dakoth , from dakak , to crush or beat small) of flesh," also proceeded from the river, since a failure in the periodical overflow of the Nile was the usual cause of scarcity and famine in Egypt. And stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river. The use of the term lip, שָׂפָה , for... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 41:4

And the ill-favored and lean fleshed kine did eat up the seven we favored and fat kine —without there being any effect to show that they had eaten them ( Genesis 41:21 ). So (literally, and) Pharaoh awoke. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 41:5

And he slept and dreamed the second time (that same night): and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank ( i.e. fat) and good . This clearly pointed to the corn of the Nile valley, the triticum compositum, which Bears seven ears upon one stalk. The assertion of Herodotus, that the Egyptians counted it a disgrace to live on wheat and barley (2.36), Wilkinson regards as incorrect, since "both wheat and barley are noticed in Lower Egypt long before Herodotus' time ( ... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 41:6

And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them —literally, burnt up of the east, קָדִים being put poetically for the fuller רוּחַ קָדִים . It has been urged that this displays a gross ignorance of the nature, of the climate in Egypt (Bohlen), since a wind directly east is rare in Egypt, and when it does occur is not injurious to vegetation; but, on the other hand, it is open to reply read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 41:7

And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank ( i.e. fat) and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream —manifestly of the same import as that which had preceded. The dream was doubled because of its certainty and nearness ( Genesis 41:32 ). read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 41:8

And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; or, rather, his mind was agitated, ἐταράχθη ἡ χυχὴ αὐτοῦ ( LXX .), pavore perterritus (Vulgate), the ruach being the seat of the senses, affections, and emotions of various kinds (cf. Daniel 2:1 ; Daniel 4:5 , Daniel 4:19 )— and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt ,—the חַרְטֻמִּים , from חָרַט (unused), to engrave, whence חֶרֶט , a stylus (Gesenius), or from חוּר , to see or... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 41:9-13

Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day :—literally, my faults (sc. am) remembering today; but whether he understood by his faults his ingratitude to Joseph or his offense against Pharaoh commentators are not agreed, though the latter seems the more probable— Pharaoh was wroth with his servants ,—literally, broke out against them ( vide Genesis 40:2 )— and put me in ward in the captain of the guard's house ,—literally, put me in... read more

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 41:1-45

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 41:1-57

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 41:2

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 41:3

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 41:4

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 41:5

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 41:6

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 41:7

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 41:8

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 41:9-13

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