“And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.”
River; or the branch of the Nile which ran to Tanis, his capital. There were seven principal canals, and this was the most to the east, except that of Pelusium. (Calmet)
“And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed ; and they fed in a meadow.”
Marshy. Hebrew Achu; a word which the Septuagint and Siracides (Ecclesiasticus xl. 16, ) retain. (Du Hamel)
“And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed ; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river.”
Very bank; to shew that the Nile had not inundated far, and that consequently a great famine would prevail, as the fertility of Egypt depends greatly on the overflowing of the Nile. “When the river rises 12 cubits, sterility pervades Egypt; when 13, famine is still felt. Fourteen cubits bring joy, 15 security, 16 delight. It has never yet been known to rise above 18 cubits.” (Pliny, Natural History v. 9.) This successive depression of the waters was an effect of God’s judgments, which no astrologers could foretel. (Tirinus)
“And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. rank: Heb. fat”
Another dream of the same import, (ver. 25,) to convince Pharao that the event would certainly take place, ver. 32. Thus Daniel had a double vision, Daniel vii. 2, 3. — One stalk. It was of the species which Pliny (Natural History xviii. 10,) calls ramosum, branchy. What would strike Pharao the most was, that the last ears should devour the former ones. (Calmet)
“And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them.”
Blasted with the eastern wind, blowing from the deserts of Arabia, Osee xiii. 15. (Menochius)
“And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.”
Rest. Hebrew adds, “and behold a dream” sent by God, like Solomon’s, 3 Kings iii. 15. The king’s mind was quite full of what he had seen.
“And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt, and all the wise men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.”
Interpreters: chartumim is probably an Egyptian word; denoting magicians, priests, and interpreters of their sacred books, hieroglyphics, &c. King Ptolemy consulted them. (Tacitus, Hist. iv.)
“Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:”
My sin against your majesty, and my ingratitude towards Joseph. (Calmet)
“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.”
Servant. Chap. xxxix. 4. He waited also upon the prisoners of rank, chap. xl. 4. (Haydock)
“Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. brought: Heb. made him run”
Shaved him. The Egyptians let their hair grow, and neglected their persons, when they were in mourning or in prison. But on other occasions they cut their hair in their youth. (Herodotus ii. 36; iii. 12.) It was not lawful to appear in court in mourning attire. (Esther iv. 2; Genesis l. 4.) (Calmet)
“And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.”
Without, &c. The interpretation does not proceed from any natural acquirement, but from God alone. (Chaldean) (Tirinus) — The Samaritan and Aquila read, “Without me God will not give,” &c. See Matthew x. 20.
“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;”
The land of Egypt, and the adjacent countries.
“Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. officers: or, overseers”
Fifth part. This was a tax laid upon all the Egyptians, (Calmet) unless Pharao paid for what corn was laid up. (Haydock) — This quantity would be sufficient, as the people would be content with a smaller allowance during the famine; and the environs of the Nile would produce something, though not worth mentioning, chap. xlv. 6. (Menochius)
“And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?”
God. Hebrew, of the gods Elohim. Pharao was probably an idolater.
“Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. be ruled: Heb. be armed, or, kiss”
Obey. Hebrew Yishak; which may signify also “kiss” you, or their hand, in testimony of respect; or “shall be fed, governed, and led forth,” &c. He made him master of his house, and ruler, &c. (Psalm civ. 21; Wisdom x. 14.)
“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; fine: or, silk”
His ring, the sign of power. Thus Alexander appointed Perdiccas to be his successor. (Curtius x. 5.) Assuerus gave his authority to Aman and to Mardocheus, Esther iii. and viii. — Silk, or fine cotton; shesh (or ssoss). See byssus, Exodus xxv. 4. — Chain, with which the president of the senate in Egypt, or the chief justice, was adorned. The three chief officers among the Chaldees wore chains, Daniel v. 7, 16. (Calmet)
“And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. Bow: or, Tender father: Heb. Abrech”
Second chariot. On public occasions, the king was followed by an empty chariot, (2 Paralipomenon xxxv. 24,) or the chariot here spoken of, was destined for the person who was next in dignity to the king. (Calmet) — That all, &c. Hebrew, “crying Abroc,” which Aquila explains in the same sense as the Vulgate. Others think it is an exclamation of joy, (Grotius) like huzza! (Haydock) or it may mean father of the king, or tender father, chap. xlv. 8.
“And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.”
Pharao, or the king. This is the preamble to the decree for the exaltation of Joseph, which subjected to him the armies and all the people of Egypt.
“And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. Zaphnathpaaneah: which in the Coptic signifies, A revealer of secrets, or, The man to whom secrets are revealed priest: or, prince”
The saviour of the world. Tsaphenath pahneach. (Challoner) — In the Coptic language, which is derived from the Egyptian, Psotemphane is said to mean the saviour of the world. St. Jerome supposed this word was not Hebrew; and therefore he added, in the Egyptian tongue, though he knew it might be interpreted in Hebrew “a revealer of secrets.” (q. Heb.) — Putiphare. Whether this person be the same with his old master, cannot easily be decided. Most people think he was not. See St. Chrysostom, 63. hom. — Priest. None were esteemed more noble in Egypt. — Heliopolis. Hebrew On, “the city of the sun,” built on the banks of the Nile, about half a day’s journey to the north of Memphis.
“And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.”
Sheaves. The straw would serve to feed the cattle, and would hinder the corn from spoiling for 50 years, if kept from the air. (Varro.; Pliny, Natural History xviii. 30.) (Calmet)
“And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father's house. Manasseh: that is, Forgetting”
Manasses. That is, oblivion, or forgetting. (Challoner) — Father’s house, or the injuries received from my brethren. (Haydock)
“And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. Ephraim: that is, Fruitful”
Ephraim. That is, fruitful, or growing. (Challoner) — Being in the plural number, it means “productions.” — Poverty; where I have been poor and afflicted, though now advanced in honour. (Haydock)
“And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread.”
[55]. World. Round about Egypt; such as Chanaan, Syria, &c. (Menochius) — There was. The Syriac and some Latin copies, read not, &c.: there was a famine. We must adhere to the Vulgate and Hebrew.
“And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.”
All provinces in the neighbourhood: for the stores laid up would not have supplied all mankind even for a few months. (Calmet)