Genesis 41

1 two full years. Probably from the release of the chief cup-bearer.—Pharaoh. Some scholars think that this monarch belonged to one of the dynasties of “Shepherd-kings,” a race alien in blood and habits from Egyptians, and hated by them. This would account for his favour to Jacob hereafter. And see on xlvi. 34.

2 the river. “The Nile.” The cattle in Egypt are fond of immersing themselves in water, except the head, in the heat of the day.—in a meadow. Rather, “among the sedge, a favourite food of cattle in Egypt, both when green and when dried”; and so ver. 18. See Job viii. 11.

5 stalk. The wheat grown in Egypt (triticum compositum) has several ears clustered on one stalk. The symbolism of these dreams is very striking. Cows were the emblems of the Egyptian goddess of the earth and of its fertility. This depended upon the river Nile, from which they appear to come up.

6 east wind. Coming over the hot and sandy deserts of the Sinaitic peninsula.

13 restored. That is, “foretold my restoration.” So Jeremiah is said to “pull down” and “destroy” those nations whose downfall and destruction he foretold (Jer. i. 10).

14 shaved. The Egyptians (Herodotus, ii. 36) allowed the hair and beard to grow as a sign of mourning. Joseph shaved on liberation.

34 fifth. In ordinary times Egypt exports great quantities of corn, and a fifth part of the produce would suffice to provide for the years of famine.

40 according unto thy word, etc. Literally, “on thy mouth every one of my people shall kiss”; perhaps alluding to the custom of kissing the written mandates of a superior.

42 ring. Documents being at that time only sealed, and not signed, the bestowment of a signet-ring involved the control of the property or kingdom of him who gave it (Esth. iii. 10).—fine linen. Or, “cotton” (R.V. marg.); a description of fine muslin which formed the robe of honour.

43 knee. In the original, “Abrek,” an Egyptian word, “Bow down”; hence, “good luck! hail!”

45. Zaphnath-paaneah. Some take this as a compound Hebrew word, and signifying “a revealer of secrets”; or, “the man to whom secrets are revealed.” Most likely the name is Egyptian, and is rendered by some, “saviour of the world.” Brugsch translates it “prince of the life of the world.” Pharaoh naturalises Joseph by giving him an Egyptian name and an Egyptian wife.—priest. The priests being the highest caste of nobility and of state-officers in Egypt, it was natural that Pharaoh should connect Joseph with them. Probably, “Poti-pherah” means “he who belongs to (i.e., the priest of)” the Sun. The city “On” was called by the Greeks Heliopolis, or, “the City of the Sun,” and by the Hebrews afterwards Beth-shemesh, with the same meaning; Jer. xliii. 13. It was at Heliopolis that “Cleopatra’s Needle,” now on the Thames Embankment, once stood, and its twin obelisk is still to be seen at Heliopolis.

48 all the food. That is, every kind of food: ver. 34 showing that only the fifth part was to be actually taken.

51. Manasseh. “Causing forgetfulness.”

52. Ephraim. “Fruitfulness.”