Genesis 41

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 41:34

Let Pharaoh do this ,.... Appoint such a person; who as a sovereign prince could do it of himself: and let him appoint officers over the land ; not Pharaoh, but the wise and discreet governor he should set over the land, who should have a power of appointing officers or overseers under him to manage things according to his direction: and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years ; not the officers appointed, but the appointer of them, the chief... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 41:35

And let them, gather all the food of those good years that come ,.... That is, let the under officers collect together the fifth part of all fruits of the land during the seven years of plenty: and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh ; as his property, and only to be disposed of by his orders; for as it was to be purchased with his money, it was right that it should be in his hands, or in the hands of his officers appointed by him, as the Targum of Jonathan: and let them keep food... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 41:36

And that food shall be for store to the land ,.... A deposit in the said cities, to be brought forth and used in a time of public distress; the Targum of Jonathan is, it"shall be hidden in a cave in the earth:" against the seven years of famine which shall be in the land of Egypt : and so be a supply to the inhabitants of the land, when they should be sore pressed with a famine, and know not what to do, nor where to go for food: that the land perish not through the famine ; that is,... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 41:37

And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh ,.... He approved of the advice Joseph gave, and of the scheme and plan which he proposed: and in the eyes of all his servants ; his nobles, ministers of state and courtiers, all highly commended and applauded it; and it was with the general and unanimous consent of all agreed that it should be put into execution: but then the next question, and the thing to be considered, was, who was a person fit to be engaged in such an affair? read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 41:38

And Pharaoh said unto his servants ,.... That were about him, and with whom he was consulting about a proper person to be over this affair of gathering in the fruits of the earth in the time of plenty, and laying them up against a time of famine: can we find such an one as this is , in whom the Spirit of God is ? if we search among all the ranks and degrees of men throughout the kingdom, let them be of what character they will, we shall never find a man like this, who appears to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 41:39

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph ,.... After his servants had agreed to his being the man: at least Pharaoh had declared his mind that he should be the person; which if any of them disliked, as probably might be the case of some through envy, and as desirous of the post themselves, yet durst not make any opposition to it: forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this ; the interpretation of his dreams, what would be hereafter for fourteen years to come, what was advisable to be done for the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 41:40

Thou shall be over my house ,...., Have the care of his domestic affairs, and be the principal man in his palace and court: and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled ; not only in his family, but in his whole kingdom; whatever he ordered and commanded them to do, they should it, or "all my people shall kiss" F19 ישק "osculabitur", Montanus, Junius, & Tremellius, Piscator, Schmidt. , that is, either their hand at the sight of him, or meeting him, in token of... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 41:41

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph ,.... He continued speaking to him for the greater confirmation of what he had said, and for further explanation of it: see, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt ; not merely as the corn master general, to take care of a provision of corn in time of plenty, against a time of scarcity, but as a viceroy or deputy governor over the whole land, as appears by the ensigns of honour and dignity bestowed on him; of which in the following verses. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 41:42

And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand ,.... Which, as it was expressive of the interest he had in his royal favour, so was a token of that high office and great dignity to which he was promoted: thus among the Romans, in later times, when anyone was put into the equestrian order, a ring was given to him F23 Plin. Nat. Hist. l. 33. c. 1. ; for originally none but knights were allowed to wear rings; and it was sometimes used to design a successor in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 41:43

And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had ,.... By which it appeared that he was next to Pharaoh, but not above him; as kings were wont to have more chariots than one, those were distinguished by first, second, &c.; being of greater state the one than the other, see 2 Chronicles 35:24 , and they cried before him, bow the knee ; that is, his guard that attended him, when he rode out in his chariot, called to the people, as they passed along, to bow the knee to... read more

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