Genesis 42

Genesis 42:1-6

fied in a meadow. 3. And behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill-favoured, and lean-flethed; and stood by the other kine, upon the brink of the river. 4. And the ill-favoured and lean-flethed 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 of corn came up upon one stalk, rank, and good. 6. And behold, seven thin ears, and blatted with the eaft-wind, sprung up after them. 7. And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank 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, and all the wife-men thereof: and Pharaoh told them his dream; but there was none that could interpret them unto Pharaoh.

When Joseph began to despair of his friend at court, to cease from man, and trust in God, then shall his deliverance be accomplished. Two long years had he lain in the house of his prison, when God works not only for his enlargement, but his preferment. Pharaoh’s dreams trouble him. Though strange the rovings of his fancy, he felt an impression he could not get rid of: the remembrance was flung upon his mind, and the magicians are called to give the interpretation in vain. Note, (1.) The nature of dreams is among the secret things. Though not utterly to be overlooked, yet not superannually to be attended to. (2.) When patience hath had her perfect work, God can furnish easily the means for the deliverance of his servants.

9. ¶ Then spake the chief butler unto 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 butler. 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, as he interpreted to us, so it was: me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged. 14. ¶ 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. 15. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou can’t understand a dream to interpret it. 16. And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.

We had in the foregoing chapter the fulfilling of the dreams which Joseph had interpreted: in this and the following chapters we have the fulfilling of the dreams which Joseph himself had dreamed, that his father’s family should do abyssiness to him. We have in this chapter, 1. The humble application of Jacob’s Son to Joseph,

to buy corn, ver. 1—6. 2. The frigid Joseph put them into, for their trust, ver. 7—20. 3. The conviction they were now under of their son concerning Joseph long before, ver. 21—24. 4. Their return to Canaan with corn, and the great distress their good father was in, upon the account they gave him of their expedition, ver. 25, ad finem.

1. NOW when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? 2. And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live and not die. 3. ¶ And Joseph’s ten brethren went down to buy corn in Egypt. 4. But Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren: for he said, Left peradventure 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 o’er the governor over the land, and he is seen 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.

The famine now began to be sensibly felt in Canaan. That land of promise had hitherto proved a land of dearth to every succeeding patriarch. Now, it is good to have the creature embittered, that we may be led to look to a better country, that is, an heavenly. Jacob understanding there was corn in Egypt, reproves his sons for their delay and dissonance, and hastens them on their journey. Note. When difficulties overtake us, we must not lie down and despond, or waist the time in useless debate, but exert our most vigorous efforts for relief. At his command, all except Benjamin immediately set off, and arriving safely, are introduced to the governor, and with profound obedience bow before him. And now the dream begins to be accomplished. Note. God’s counsels will take effect in their own time.

7. And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them; and he said unto them, Whence come ye? 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, and said unto them, Ye are spies; so see the nakedness of the land you are come. 10. And they said unto him, Nay, my lord, but to buy food are thy servants come. 11. We are all one man’s sons: We are true men, thy servants are no spies. 12. And he said unto them, Nay, but to see the nakedness of the land you are come. 13. And they said, Thy servants are twelve brethren, 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 unto them, That is it that I spake unto you, saying, Ye are spies. 15. Hereby ye shall be proved: by the life of Pharaoh ye shall not go forth thence, except your youngest brother come hither. 16. Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye 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 ye are spies. 17. And he put them all together into ward, three days. 18. And Joseph said unto them the third day, This do, and live: for I fear God. 19. If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses. 20. But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so.

Genesis 42:7-20

Little thought the sons of Jacob who this great man was. Joseph is now forgotten with his dreams; and though alive, never could they imagine to find him there. But Joseph knew them, though unknown; and as he had hitherto no doubt been kept by divine direction from sending to inform them of his estate, he will, by concealing it still, make the accomplishment of his dreams more remarkable. His rough address, his imprecation terrifies them, and his deeds still more. Their deep humiliations before him restrain not his severity; they are bound and committed to fast custody as spies, that they might remember themselves in the house of their prison, and repent over their own inhuman conduct; while their exculpation also informed him of those circumstances of his family, that, without discovering himself, he could not else have enquired

Genesis 42:9-16

Pharaoh’s dream reminds the butler of his obligations. Hereupon, 1. He acknowledges his faults, whether so long in forgetting Joseph, or as a compliment to Pharaoh’s clemency in forgiving them; and then proceeds to give the character of Joseph, and the experience he had of his sagacity and wisdom. Note, (1.) It is good to remember our sins, when God hath forgiven and forgotten them. (2.) If we have been negligent of our duty, it is time to remember, and return to it. Better late than never. (3.) God’s providence orders all in the best time and manner for his people. Joseph’s preferment depended on this delay.

2. Pharaoh’s battle to have Joseph’s interpretation. A dream had brought him a slave into Egypt, and now a dream carries him to the king’s presence and favour.

3. Joseph’s humble reply to Pharaoh’s question. He describes the power to God, and wishes, as if bred a courtier, (for true religion breeds genuine country) Pharaoh’s peace and prosperity in the interpretation. Note, Great gifts and great graces must be adorned with deep humility; then they are doubly amiable and excellent.

4. And Pharaoh said unto 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, fat-flethed, and well-favoured: and they fled in a meadow. 19. And behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor, and very ill-favoured, and lean-flethed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for basheth. 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 blatted with the eaft wind, sprung up after them. 24. And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it unto me. 25. ¶ And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26. The seven good kine are seven years: 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 blatted with the eaft-wind, shall be seven years of famine. 28. This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do, he sheweth unto 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. 31. And the plenty shall not be known in the land, by reason of that famine following: for it shall be very iggrious. 32. And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass.

Genesis 42:17-32

Pharaoh relates, and Joseph interprets to his full satisfaction. The dreams are one, to confirm the certainty of their fulfilment. They predict seven years of plenty, and seven years of famine, which should succeed them: famine to seven, as should confirm the whole produce of the former years. Note, (1.) The greatest plenty is often succeeded by the greatest penalty; careful economy therefore in wife and prelates. (2.) All our worldly comforts are like the abundance of Egypt; the evil days come, when we shall no longer have pleasure to them. How solicitous should we then be to secure a more enduring portion. (3.) What God hath decreed, will shortly come to pass; for time is swift, and death and eternity next, even as the door.

33. Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wife, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34. 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. 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 thine 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. 37. ¶ And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. 38. And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is? a man in whom the Spirit of God is? 39. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wife as thou art. 40. 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. 41. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 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: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt. 44. 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. 45. And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnaath-pazneah; and he gave him to wife Afenath the daughter of Poti-pharah: perish of On: and Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.

Genesis 42:33-45

1. Joseph adds to his interpretation his advice, both evidencing his consummate wisdom, to improve the years of plenty, and, under faithful inspection, to lay up provision against the years of famine. Note, (1.) There is a day coming, which we shall have abundant need to provide against. All the graces we can get will be no more than we shall need. (2.) Pro-

Heb. Coma in the inward parts of them.

John Chaff (2.) Provision for approaching danger must be immediate. We, who have so little time to spend, have none to lose.

2. Pharaoh is highly pleased with the advice, and resolves on the spot to follow it. He extols the wisdom of Joseph, and from conviction of the superiority of his genius, advances him to the honourable post of governor of the whole land. To him the trust is committed, to provide against the famine he predicts. He is solemnly inflated. The ring from his finger, and his second chariot bellowed on Joseph, proclaim the favour of the king, and the dignity of the minister; whilst they cry before him, flow the knee. And to all his other honours are added, a noble alliance with the daughter of Poti-pherah, and a new name, Zephnath-paaneah. The reveder of fecrets. What a change hath a day brought forth! the morning saw him a prisoner in distress; the noon beheld him apparelled as a king, and chief of all the land of Egypt. Patient suffering will certainly one day thus be crowned with glory. Note. (1.) It is as honourable to the prince, as happy for the people, when they are preferred, in whom the spirit of God is. (2.) Herein Joseph resembles the Lord of Glory; exalted from his prison of death to the right hand of God, the concerns of heaven, and earth are intruded to him alone, and angels, principalities, and powers bow before him.