Genesis 41:2-7

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

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 41:1-57

- Joseph Was Exalted1. יאר ye'or, “river, canal,” mostly applied to the Nile. Some suppose the word to be Coptic.2. אחוּ 'āchû, “sedge, reed-grass, marsh-grass.” This word is probably Coptic.8. חרטמים charṭumı̂ym, ἐξηγηταὶ exēgētai, ἱερογραμματεῖς hierogrammateis, “sacred scribes, hieroglyphs.” חרט chereṭ “stylus,” a graving tool.43. אברך 'abrēk “bend the knee.” In this sense it is put for הברך habrēk imperative hiphil of ברך bārak. Those who take the word to be Coptic render it... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 41:2

Genesis 41:2. There came out of the river A just and proper emblem this, because both the fruitfulness and barrenness of the land of Egypt depended, under God, on the increase or diminution of the waters of that river. Well-favoured kine, and fat-fleshed Signifying plenty of grass, whereby they had been thus fed, and promising milk and flesh-meat in abundance. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 41:5

Genesis 41:5. Seven ears of corn on one stalk These also were fit emblems of the thing intended, especially as the fertility of that country did chiefly consist in its producing abundance of corn. read more

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

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Genesis 41:1-57

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 41:2

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Genesis 41:5

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