Observations Upon the Old Testament, Genesis · Chapter 41
CHAP. XLI.
Verse 1. TWo full yeares] After that, ch. 40. 19. There is no certainty how long Joseph was in prison, in what yeare first put in. He waited patiently upon God in long afflictions for his deliverance.
by the river] Nilus, or some river drawn from it, Deut. 11. 10, 11. This waters Egypt, and makes it fruitful without raine, Zech. 14. 18.
V. 2. Out of the river] Out of Nilus comes plenty and dearth, according to the heights of the rising of it. Plin. nat. hist. l. 5. c. 9.
Kine] Kine and corne are the two chief sustenances of man.
V. 5. Seven cares of corne upon one stalk] Signe of great plenty.
V. 6. Blasted with the East-winde] Strong and drying to blast the fruits, Ezech. 17. 10. 19. 12.
V. 7. A dream] That stuck by him: dreames the occasion of his fall; and dreames the occasion of his rising.
V. 8. His spirit was troubled,] Ch. 40. 6. Dan. 2. 1, 3. Gods Power to scare men, even Kings, with dreames, Job 7. 17.
Magicians] Exod. 7. 11. Dan. 2. 2. 5. 7. strong illusions of Satan, that wrought men to such deceits, and strong conceits of the power of Magicians, Dan. 2. 2, 4, 5. If Atheists confesse a devil and devillish divinations, there must needs be a God and divine revelations.
wise men] Mat. 23. 34. Philosophers among the Greeks, Acts 17. 18.
none that could interpret] So, Dan, 2. 10. 5. 8. Thus God maketh the wisdome of their wise men perish, Esay 29. 14. 44. 25. 19. 11, 12, 13.
V. 9. I do remember my faults this day] Courtier-like complements to prevent suspition in the King, lest he should think he grudg'd as unjustly punished in his imprisonment. This was rather to please Pharaoh, then to pleasure Joseph. Gods Providence in it, that he mentions not Joseph, till the Magicians had been tried.
V. 13. Me he restored] He, that is, the regal Majestie restored me.
V. 14. Brought him hastily] Psal. 105. 20. Dan. 2. 25. The wicked seek to the Prophets and People of God in their necessity.
dungeon] There haply he was then, as overseeing the rest in that place.
shaved himself] Polled himself in a seemly sort. He had let his haire grow, it seems, in signe of sorrow, as, 2 Sam. 19. 24. Mephibosheth did. Now he trims himself; being to go before the King. To shave all haire away were unseemly, Jer. 41. 5. 2 Sam. 10. 4, 5. The middle way is commanded the Priests, Ezech. 44. 20.
raiment] His prison-weeds, Esther 4. 2.
V. 16. Not in me] Dan. 2. 28.
an answer of peace] So Joseph wished, hoped, and haply foresaw. It is an apprecation of such an answer, as might quiet his troubled minde concerning his dream.
V. 21. Still ill-favoured] Such are wicked men, Esay 9. 20. The godly otherwise, Psal. 37. 19. neither earing nor harvest, ch. 45. 6.
V. 26. Are] Signifie, Joseph before a Dreamer, now an Interpreter.
V. 32. Doubled] Here God teacheth the reason, why things are sundry times repeated in the Scriptures.
V. 33. Let Pharaoh look out] Meanes must be used. Joseph gives this counsel not rashly, but by the guidance of Gods Spirit, by this meanes and occasion to fulfil that, ch 37. 7, 9.
V. 34. Officers] Overseers, Bishops, so the Bishops of the Army, Numb. 31. 14. 2 Kings 11. 16. Bishops of the works, 2 Chron. 34. 12, 17. So among the Priests and Levites, Numb. 4. 16. Nehem. 11. 9, 14. So, 1 Tim. 3. 1, 2.
the fifth part] Likely other great men would be buyers and storers, by Josephs example. Thus counsels he to provide against the time of want, as in the example of the Pismire, Prov. 6. 6, 7, 8. Luke 16 9. This fifth part was for the King, ch. 47. 14. Taken up most likely by way of tribute partly, and partly by purchase; and upon his charge put into his granaries. The other foure parts were abundantly sufficient in those yeares of plenty.
V. 37. Was good] Acts 7. 10. Prov 20. 12. Psal. 105. 22.
V. 38 The Spirit of God is] Dan. 4. 6. 5. 11. This Pharaoh grounds upon his Prophetical interpretation. He speaks as an Heathen, naming gods plurally. So, chap. 31. 53.
V. 40. Over my house] Psal. 105. 21 So, Dan. 2. 46, 47. 5. 29. So, 1 Kings 8. 3. 2 Kings 18. 18. Luke 12. 42. Men fitly and fully qualified and gifted should be made Officers, Numb. 11. 17. Acts 6. 3.
according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled] Hebr. is, At thy mouth shall all my people kisse. That is, at thy Commandment. (So, Job 39. 30. Numb. 9. 20. Luke 19. 22. Gen. 24 57.) they shall kisse or apply the hand to the mouth. (as, Job 31. 27.) in signe of honour and obedience, as, Psal. 2. 12. so Samuel kissed Saul, 1 Sam. 10. 1. 1 Kings 10. 18. Hos. 13. 2. Prov. 24. 26. Thus Joseph was honoured and ou…horized, Psal. 105. 22. Acts 7. 10. they kissed the commands that came from his lips, which imports a submission, and that rather of affection and delight then of compulsion and fear.
V. 41. See I have set thee] See, respecting the ornaments and ceremonious signals, whereby this honour was conferred unto him. Thus God bringeth low, and lifteth up. &c 1 Sam. 2. 7, 8. Psal. 113. 7, 8.
V. 42. Took off his ring] An Ensigne of honour and authority, Esther 3. 10. and 8 2. Luke 15. 22. Hereby to publish under the Kings seale such Orders and Commands as Joseph would.
of fine linnen] Egypt was famous for fine linnen, Prov. 7. 16. Ezech. 27. 7. it signifies also bysse or silk, Ex. 25. 4. Apoc. 19. 8, 14. The weare of great personages, Prov. 31. 22. Ezech. 16. 10. Luke 16. 19.
a gold chaine] Prov. 1. 9. Ezech. 16. 11. Thus, Dan. 5. 7, 16, 29.
V. 43. Second chariot] 2 Chron. 35. 24. As Mordecai riding on the Kings horse, Esther 6. 8. Thus Joseph the second man in the Kingdome, Daniel made the third, Dan, 5. 29.
Bow the knee] Abrech. kneel down, as to the father of the King, ch. 45. 8.
V. 44. I am Pharaoh] I am King, and will be; and assure as I am Pharaoh, so sure without thee, thy advice, and authority, not the least thing shall be done in matter of Government; no man shall do anything, or go any whither.
V. 45. Zaphnath-Paaneah] A Revealer of secrets, Dan. 1. 7. Gen. 17. 5.
of Poti-pherah Priest of Ou] To distinguish him from that Potiphar, ch. 37. 36. 39. 1. who dwelt in Memphis the royal City.
Priest] Or Prince, Exod. 2. 16. 18. 1. Both offices concurred in one person, as was the manner of those times and places. See Annotat. on chap. 14. 18. This name given to the sonnes of David, 2 Sam. 8. 18. and expounded, 1 Chron, 18. 17.
of Ou] Called also Aven, Ezech. 30 17. in Greek Heliopolis, the City of the Sun, perhaps now Damiata. Josephs marriage here cannot be an example or rule to us, except where all reasons, and circumstances, and warrants are alike, by reason of the prohibitions and perils set down in Scripture. The Israelites forbidden to marry with the Canaanites, Exod. …4. 16. Deut. 7. 3, 4. 1 Rings 11. 1. Nehem. 13. 26. Forbidden to Christians, 2 Cor. 6. 14, &c. But for Joseph there was no other in the land, and he might not desert his charge and dignity, whereto God had called him for the preservation of his Church, to go seek a wife elsewhere: neither know we what instinct or dispensation he might have from God. As the like might be in Esthers marrying with Ahashuerus.
V. 46. Thirty yeares old] At this age Jesus Christ entered into his publick Ministery; so John Baptist; so the Levites, Numb 4. 3. And David began his reign, but not Ezekiel his Prophecie. This notation of Josephs age, here gives much light to many passages in this history of Jacob and his sonnes; there are thirteen yeares since he was sold ch 37. 2.
V 51. And all my fathers house] My injuries and molestations there; not his filial affection, whereby he might haply privily enquire in the thirteen yeares afore, and afterwards also of his fathers welfare, ere his brethren came down, and yet wait for the most fit opportunity of fulfilling the dream.
V. 54. In all lands] Round about, as Canaan, Arabia, &c. So, Luke 2. 1.
V. 55. Cried to Pharaoh] As the woman, 2 Kings 6 26. Joseph would do but as Pharaoh directed.
V. 56. Sold] Prov. 11 26.
V. 57. And all countreys] Neighbouring. to Joseph] Ch. 45. 5. 50. 20. Psal 105. 16, 17.