C E¹ 39:1-40:23. His humiliation. E² 41:1-57. His exaltation.
E¹ c 39:1,2. In Potiphar's house. d 39:3-6-. Confidence of Potiphar. e 39:-6-18. Chastity of Joseph. c 39:19,20. In Prison. d 39:21-23. Confidence of Jailor. e 40:1-23. Wisdom of Joseph.
2: And the Lord (Yahaveh) was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous
man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.
3: And his master saw that the Lord (Yahaveh) was with him, and that the Lord (Yahaveh) made all that he did to prosper in his hand.
4: And Joseph found grace in his sight, and he served him (=became his personal servant): and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand. (Hand put for care which it takes)
5: And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the Lord
(Yahaveh) blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the Lord (Yehovah) was upon all that he had in the
house (=at home or abroad), and in the field.
6: And Potiphar left (a homonym, the other meaning "to help") all that he had in Joseph's hand; and Potiphar knew (knowing put for carring for) not anything he had, save the bread which he did eat. (He knew and cared for that, as the Egyptians might not eat with Hebrews-43:32)
e f -6,7. Potiphar's wife. Request. g 8-10. Joseph's Refusal, and Reason. f 11,12-. Potiphar's wife. Request repeated. g -12-20. Joseph's flight, and consequences.
And Joseph came to be goodly person, and well favoured.
(Exactly what is said of his mother-29:17)
7: And it came to pass after these things, that his
master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph (Egyptian women were not secluded as the Syrian women were, this is shown by Egyptian paintings of the period); and she said, "Lie with me."
8: But he refused (Joseph, now reckoned the firstborn-1 Chron.:5:2: thus by this chastity shames the unchastity of Rueben the firstborn before), and said to his master's wife, "Behold, my master knows not what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand (=care);
9: There is none greater in this house than I; neither has he kept back any thing from me but you, because you are his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin
against God (Elohim)?"
10: And it came to pass, as she spoke to Joseph day by
day, that he listened not to her, to lie by her, or to be
with her.
11: And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business (Pictures of an Egyptian house are extant which show the store-room at the back of the house); and there was none of the men of the house there within.
12: And she caught him by his garment (cp. 37:31,32. That to cover the sin of his brethren; this to cover the sin of Potiphar's wife), saying, "Lie with me:"
and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him
out.
13: And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth,
14: That she called to the men of her house, and spoke to them, saying, "See, he has brought in an Hebrew to us to
mock us; he came in to me to lie with me, and I cried with
a loud voice:
15: And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and
fled, and got him out."
16: And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord
came home.
17: And she spoke to him according to these words, saying, "The Hebrew servant, which you have brought to us, came in to me to mock me:
18: And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and
cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out."
19: And it came to pass, when his master heard the words
of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, "After this
manner did your servant to me;" that his wrath was kindled.
20: And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the
prison (=the house of the fortress), a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the house of the fortress.
21: But the Lord (Yehovah) was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the the house of the fortress.
22: And the governor of the house of the fortress
committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in
the house of the fortress; and whatsoever they did there,
he was the doer of it.
23: The governor of the house of the fortress looked not
to any thing that was under his hand; because the Lord (Yehovah) was
with him, and that which he did, Yahaveh made it to
prosper.
h Introduction. 1-8. His fellow prisoners and their dreams.e i l 9-11. The Butler's dream. m 12,13. Its Interpretation. k 14,15. Joseph's request (made). i l 16,17. The Baker's dream. m 18-22. Its Interpretation. k 23. Joseph's request (forgotten).
1: And it came to pass after these things, that the butler (=the cupbearer) of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. (A Papyrus, in the National Library Paris-19th dynasty, gives the names of similar office-Djadja, the chief; and mentions "114,064
loaves made in the white fortress"-See Records of the
Past)
2: And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers,
against the chief of the cupearers, and against the chief
of the bakers.
3: And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was
bound.
4: And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.
(perhaps a year)
5: And they dreamed an (important) dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison.
6: And Joseph came in to them in the morning, and looked
upon them, and, behold, they were sad. (Anytime we are unable to interpret, or understand something we are sad. Where does all wisdom and understanding come from?)
7: And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in
the ward of his lord's house, saying, "Why do you look so
sadly today?"
8: And they said to him, "We have had a significant
dream, and there is no interpreter of it." And Joseph said
to them, "Do not interpretations belong to Elohim? tell me
them, I pray you."
9: And the chief butler (=the cupbearer) told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, "In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;
10: And in the vine were three branches: and it was as
though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the
clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes:
11: And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand: and I took the
grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh's cup (a religious ceremony, connected with the worship of Horus, portrayed in Egyptian paintings. Existance of vines in Egypt has been denied by critics; but now they are seen depicted in paintings. In the cup was honey, or some other liquid, with which the grape juice was mixed), and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand."
12: And Joseph said to him, "This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:
13: Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up your head (=restore you to favor. For this is the highest honor that the cupbearer could have), and restore you to your place: and you shall deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when you were his butler.
14: But think on me when it shall be well with you (cp. Luke 23:42), and show kindness, I pray you, to me, and make mention of me to Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:
15: For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the
Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon."
16: When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was
good, he said to Joseph, "I also was in my dream, and,
behold, I had three white baskets on my head:
17: And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head."
18: And Joseph answered and said, "This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days: 19: Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up your head from off you (cp. this with v.13), and shall hang you on a tree; and the birds shall eat your flesh from off you."
20: And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday (These were observed with great ceremony and state. Critics have supposed it to be only a Persian custon. The Rosetta stone contains a decree concerning the keeping of the birthday feast of Ptolemy Epiphanes. Other evidence is forthcomming), that he made a feast to all
his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief
cupbearer and of the chief baker among his servants.
21: And he restored (cp. v.13, and see 41:13) the chief cupbearer to his cupbearing again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand:
22: But he hanged (cp. v.19, and see 41:13) the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.
23: Yet did not the chief cupbearer remember Joseph, but
forgot him. (Used for great emphasis. Cp. Amos 6:6)
n¹ 1-36. Prediction. n² 37-57. Fulfilment.
n¹ o 1-4. Dream of the kine. p 5-7. Dream of the ears. q 8-16. Interpretaton sought. o 17-21-. Dream of the kine. p -21-24. Dream of the ears. q 25-36. Interpretation given.
1: And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the Nile river.
2: And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine (the cow was the emblem of Isis. In the Egyptian "Book of he Dead", Osiris is represented as a ull, accompanied by seven cows-British Museum. This was the basis of the dream and gave it such significance and mystery) and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow (=among the rushes, or reeds, 'ahu, probably an Egyptian word)
3: And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the Nile river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.
4: And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up
the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.
5: And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears (unknown to us; but common in Egypt with the Triticum compositum) of corn came up upon one stalk, fat and good.
6: And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them. (In Egypt the prevailing winds are N. and S., in Palestine E. and W. The wind here is Chamsin, whch is S.E., and is a blighty wind. Hebrews had only 4 quaters. Had it said here S., it would have meant nothing, but E. conveys the nature of the wind, especially as evil was supposed to come from the E. and good from the W., as in other countries.)
7: And the seven thin ears devoured the seven fat and
full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a
dream.
8: And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of
Egypt (Priests were divided into 4 classes; and 5 priests chosen from them were the king's counsillors), and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them to Pharaoh.
9: Then spoke the chief cupbearer to Pharaoh, saying, "I
do remember my faults this day:
10: Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in
ward in the captain of the guard's house, both me and the
chief baker:
11: And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we
dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his
dream.
12: And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew,
servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and
he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to
his dream he did interpret.
13: And it came to pass, accoding as he interpreted to us, so it was; me (=Joseph declared) I should be restored , and him (Joseph declared) he (would be) hanged."
14: Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily (=they made him run) out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself (the beard was a disgrace in Egypt; shaving a disgrace in Palestine), and changed his clothing, and came in to Pharaoh.
15: And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a significant dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of you, that you can understand a dream to interpret it."
16: And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, "It is not in me: Elohim shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace."
17: And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "In my dream, behold, I
stood upon the bank of the river:
18: And, behold, there came up out of the river seven
kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed among the reeds:
19: And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:
20: And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine:
21: And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill
favoured, as at the beginning.
So I awoke.
22: And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good:
23: And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted
with the east wind, sprung up after them:
24: And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this to the magicians; but there was none that could
declare it to me."
25: And Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dream of Pharaoh is
one: God (Elohim) has showed Pharaoh what he is about to do.
26: The seven good kine are seven years (this explains and confirms the hieroglphic inscription by Wilou at Sehel [first cataract]. It is refered to in another inscription in the tomb of Baba, at El-Kab, translated by Brugsch-History of Egypt,i,304. In July 1908, Brugsch Bey discovered inscriptions which tell how "for seven successive years the Nile did not overflow, and vegetation withered and failed; that the land was devoid of crops, and that during these years, famine and misery devestated the land of Egypt." The date given is 1700 B.C., which cannot be earlier, therefore, than the last year of the famine. The last year of the seven years of plenty was 1708 B.C., according to Ussher [Gen41:52], with which the inscription agrees); and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.
27: And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears
blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine.
28: This is the thing which I have spoken to Pharaoh: What Elohim is about to do He shows to Pharaoh.
29: Behold, there come seven years of great plenty
throughout all the land of Egypt:
30: And there shall arise after them seven years of
famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land
of Egypt; and the famine shall consume the land; (i.e. the people of the land)
31: And the plenty shall not be known in the land by
reason of that famine following; for it shall be very
grievous.
32: And for that the dream was doubled to Pharaoh twice;
it is because the thing is established by God (Elohim) (a double witness), and Elohim
will shortly bring it to pass.
33: Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.
34: Let Pharaoh do this (=take action), and let him appoint officers
over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of
Egypt in the seven plenteous years.
35: And let them gather all the food of those good years
that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and
let them keep food in the cities.
36: And that food shall be for store to the land against
the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of
Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine."
n² r¹ 37-46. Joseph's Exaltation. s¹ 47-49. Dream of ears fulfilled. r² 50-52. Joseph's Fruitfulness. s² 53-56-. Dream of kine fulfilled. r³ -56,56. Joseph's Authority.37: And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.
1715 B.C.
40: You shall be over my house, and according to your word (=mouth, mouth put for the commands uttered by it) shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater (cp.45:8) than you."
41: And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." (Apepi only recently ruled over all. Before this he had reigned with hs father and grand-father. So the Monuments)
42: And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put
it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine
linen, and put a gold chain about his neck;
43: And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, "Bow the knee:" (This is not Heb. "tender father", but Egyptian. Abrek=bend or bow the knee. A commandstill used in Egypt to make camels kneel. According to Sumerian title="The Seer". This would demand prostration) and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.
44: And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without you shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt."
45: And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnath-paaneah (This too, is not Heb., but Egyptian. Zap=abundance; nath=of; pa=the; aneh=life. The whole name=abundance of life, or, of food for the living); and he gave him to wife Asenath (=worshipper of Neith) the daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On (the Egyptian priest of on="City of the sun", called in Heb. Aven and Bethshemesh-Jer.43:13, and in Greek, Heliopolis. It was the University of Old Egypt). And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.
46: And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before
Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the
presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of
Egypt.
47: And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought
forth by handfuls.
48: And he gathered up all the food (food put for corn) of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities (There in the public square of Memphis, stood two obelisks where the grain was stored, and there are no other two obelisks in the world like them. One of them is Cleopatra's Needle, standing today on the Thames Embankment in London; and the other stands in Central Park, New York City. It was presented by Ishmael, Khedive of Egypt, to the United States and brought to New York by Mr. H.C.Vanderbilt in 1880-Tracing Our Ancestors by Frederick Haberman): the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same.
49: And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.
50: And to Joseph were born two sons before the years of
famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah
priest of On bare to him.
51: And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh (=forgetting, or forgetful): "For Elohim, said he, "has made me forget all my toil (=worry), and all my father's house."
52: And the name of the second called he Ephraim (=double fruitfulness): "For Elohim has caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction."
53: And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.
1707-1701 B.C.
54: And the seven years of dearth began to come (1 of 13 famines, see 12:10), according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.
55: And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the
people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said to all
the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph; what he says to you, do."
56: And the famine was over all the face of the earth:
And Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold to the
Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt.
57: And all countries came to Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all neigboring
lands.
D F t 42:1,2. Commission to buy corn. u z 3. Journey. a 4. Benjamin left. v 5. Arrival. w 6-24. Meeting with Joseph. x 25,26. Dismissal. y 27-38. Return. F t 43:1,2. Commission to buy corn. u a 3-15-. Benjamin taken. z -15-. Journey. v -15. Arrival. w 16-34. Meeting with Joseph. x 44:1-45:24. Dismissal. y 45:25-28. Return.
3: And Joseph's ten brethren went down to buy corn from the Egyptians.
4: But Benjamin, Joseph's brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, "Lest perhaps mischief befall him."
5: And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came: for the famine was in the land of Canaan.
6: And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth. (Cp.37:7,8)
7: And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange to them, and spoke roughly to them; and he said to them (each step in Joseph's treatment must be noted, all tending to one end: v.12: to bringthem back to the pit at Dothan, convict them of their sin, and compel their confession of it That climax is not reached till v.21. Judah's word voice it, 44:18-34), "where do you all come from?" And they said, "From the land of Canaan to buy food."
8: And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him.
9: And Joseph remembered the dreams which he dreamed of them (cp. 39:5,9), and said to them, "You all are spies; to see the nakedness of the land you all are come."
10: And they said to him, "No, my lord, but to buy food are your servants come.
11: We are all one man's sons; we are true men, your servants are no spies."
12: And he said to them, "No, but to see the nakedness of the land you all are come."
13: And they said, "Your servants are twelve brothers, the sons of one man in the land of Canaan; and, behold, the youngest is this day with our father, and one is not."
14: And Joseph said to them, "That is it that I spoke to you, saying, 'You all are spies:'
15: Hereby you all shall be proved (Joseph, from his high position, could make very strict inquiry): By the life of Pharaoh you all shall not go forth for this reason, except your youngest brother come to this place.
16: Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and you all shall be kept in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or else by the life of Pharaoh surely you all are spies."
17: And he put them all together into ward three days. (Step 2: to alarm)
18: And Joseph said to them the third day, "This do, and live; for I revere (or love) Elohim:
19: If you all are true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go you all, carry corn for the famine of your houses:
20: But bring your youngest brother to me; so shall your words be verified, and you all shall not die." And they did so.
21: And they said one to another, "We are verily guilty concerning our brother (the treatment begins to take effect), in that we saw the anguish of his soul (anquish emphasised), when he besought us, and we would not hear; therefore is this distress come upon us."
22: And Reuben (see 37:21) answered them, saying, "Did not I speak to you, saying, 'Do not sin against the child;' and you all would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required."
23: And they knew not that Joseph understood them; for he spoke to them by an interpreter.
24: And he turned himself about from them, and wept; and returned to them again, and communed with them, and took from them Simeon (probably because of his cruel nature-34:25, cp. 49:5-made him the devisor of the evil), and bound him before their eyes.
25: Then Joseph commanded to fill their sacks with corn, and to restore every man's money into his sack (The 3rd step), and to give them provision for the way: and thus did he to them.
26: And they laded their asses with the corn, and departed from that place.
27: And as one of them opened his sack to give his ass provender in the inn, he espied his money; for, behold, it was in his sack's mouth.
28: And he said to his brethren, "My money is restored; and, lo, it is even in my sack:" and their heart failed them, and they were afraid, saying one to another, "What is this that Elohim has done to us?"
29: And they came to Jacob their father to the land of Canaan, and told him all that befell to them; saying,
30: "The man, who is the lord of the land, spake roughly (cp. v.7) to us, and took us for spies of the country.
31: And we said to him, 'We are true men; we are no spies: (Heb.=have never proved spies)
32: We sre twelve brethren, sons of our father; one is not (and this is all hey have to say of Gen.37:28!), and the youngest is this day with our father in the land of Canaan.'
33: And the man, the lord of the country, said to us, 'Hereby shall I know that you all are true men; leave one of your brethren here with me, and take food for the famine of your households, and be gone:
34: And bring your youngest brother to me: then shall I know that you all are no spies, but that you all are true men: so will I deliver you your brother, and you shall traffick in the land.' "
35: And it came to pass as they emptied their sacks, that, behold, every man's bundle of money was in his sack: and when both they and their father saw the bundles of money, they were afraid.
36: And Jacob their father said to them, "Me have you all bereaved of my children: Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and you all will take Benjamin away: all these things are against me."
37: And Reuben spoke to his father, saying, "Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to you: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to you again."
38: And he said, "My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which you all go, then shall you all bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave."