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James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 41:1-8

"And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river. And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, well-favored and fat-fleshed: and they fed in the reedgrass. And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, and lean-fleshed, and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river. And the and lean-fleshed kine did eat up the seven well-favored and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. And he slept and dreamed a second... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 41:1-8

The "magicians" were "men of the priestly caste, who occupied themselves with the sacred arts and sciences of the Egyptians, the hieroglyphic writings, astrology, the interpretation of dreams, the foretelling of events, magic, and conjuring, and who were regarded as the possessors of secret arts (vid. Ex. vii. 11) and the wise men of the nation." [Note: Keil and Delitzsch, 1:349.] Divination tries to understand the future, and magic seeks to control it. God withheld the Egyptian diviners from... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 41:1-57

The Dreams of Pharaoh and the Advancement of Joseph1. Pharaoh] It is believed that a dynasty of Asiatic (perhaps Bedouin) conquerors, known as the Hyksôs or Shepherd kings, were now in power in Egypt. Their rule lasted for 500 years, until 1700 or 1600 b.c., when a native Nubian dynasty from Thebes expelled the invaders. The court was at Zoan on the eastern frontier of Egypt. The elevation of Joseph to an almost royal position, and the welcome extended to his kinsmen, were natural at the hands... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 41:2

(2) Kine.—The cow was regarded by the Egyptians as the symbol of the earth, and of agriculture; and naturally both the kine and the ears of wheat rose out of the river, because as no rain falls in Egypt, its fertility entirely depends upon the overflow of the Nile. The cows sacred to Isis were seven in number, and in a copy of the Ritual of the Dead, Mr. Malan (p. 192) found a picture of the seven sacred cows with the divine bull.In a meadow.—Heb., in the marsh-grass. The word occurs only in... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Genesis 41:1-57

Joseph the Optimist Genesis 41:33 Neither the personality nor the public position of Joseph accounts for his effect on posterity. His peculiarity is not that he rises to a pinnacle of earthly splendour. It is that his splendour has come out of his dungeon. I. The portrait of Joseph is a philosophical picture the earliest attempt to delineate a theory of the universe in the form of the narrative. Joseph is made the spokesman of the new evangel. He comes before us as the advocate for optimism.... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Genesis 41:1-57

PHARAOH’S DREAMSGenesis 41:1-57"Thus saith the Lord, that frustrateth the tokens of the liars and maketh diviners mad; that confirmeth the word of His servant, and performeth the counsel of His messengers; that saith of Cyrus, He is nay shepherd, and shall perform all My pleasure."- Isaiah 44:25; Isaiah 44:28.THE preceding act in this great drama-the act comprising the scenes of Joseph’s temptation, unjust imprisonment, and interpretation of his fellow-prisoners’ dreams-was written for the sake... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Genesis 41:1-46

CHAPTER 41 Joseph’s Exaltation 1. Pharaoh’s dreams (Genesis 41:1-7 ) 2. Joseph brought from the prison (Genesis 41:8-15 ) 3. Joseph’s humility (Genesis 41:16 ) 4. The revealer of secrets (Genesis 41:17-32 ) 5. Joseph’s wise counsel (Genesis 41:33-36 ) 6. Pharaoh’s answer (Genesis 41:37-40 ) 7. Joseph’s exaltation and marriage (Genesis 41:41-46 ) All is so simple that little comment is needed. The dreams impressed Pharaoh, because the cow was a sacred animal, the emblem of Isis.... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 41:1-57

DREAMS SENT BY GOD TO PHARAOH Joseph remained in prison two full years longer, a further time of learning in humiliation the practical lesson of self-discipline. But he was under God's eye, and at the right time God sent two dreams to Pharaoh of such a character that he was greatly stirred by them. No doubt he had had many other dreams, but these were so outstanding that he could not ignore them. In the first dream seven cows came up out of the Nile river, beautiful and well nourished, and... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Genesis 41:1-57

JOSEPH ’S HISTORY DISPENSATIONAL ASPECT OF JACOB’S HISTORY Following F.W. Grant in the Numerical Bible, the life of Jacob gives as its lesson the story of that discipline by which the Spirit of God brings us from weakness to power, from nature’s strength to that wholesome weakness in which alone is strength. But for this, natural strength must be crippled, which is provided for in two ways: in allowing us to realize the power of another nature (Esau) and in the direct dealing of God with our... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Genesis 41:1-57

Joseph's Elevation Gen 41:46 Joseph was about seventeen years of age when he went out, at his father's request, to make inquiry concerning the well-being of his brethren. We find from the text that he was now thirty years old. Think of thirteen years being required for the fulfilment of a dream! The Lord counteth not time as men count it. He sitteth upon the circle of eternity. He seems to be always at leisure: though doing everything, to be doing nothing. A thousand years in his sight are... read more

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