Genesis 40
PATVer. I. A.ND all the earth. i.e. The inhabitants of the earth; as (1 Kings x. 24.) " all the earth" is explained; (2 Chron. ix. 23.) all the kings of the earth. Were of one language.] In the Hebrew, of one lip; which is one instrument of speech comprehending the restl Their mouth formed the same words. So it follows: And of one speech.] Or word, as the Hebrew hath it. Some distinguish these two so subtilly, as to say, they had not only the same language, but the same manner of * [chap. xr. pronunciation; which is often very different in the same language. The heathens themselves acknowledge there was but one language anciently, (see Josephus, and out of him Eusebius, lib. ix. Pracp. Evang. cap. 14, 15.) which, in all likelihood, was the same that had been from the beginning, which Adam himself spake. For Methuselah, the grandfather of Noah, lived some time with him, and spake, we may well suppose, the same language that he did. And wo cannot but think the same of Noah, who propagated it among his posterity till this time. But whether this was the Hebrew or no, wo cannot be certain. The Chaldeo paraphrasts, and the Hebrew w r riters, generally say it was; and most Christian wTiters have been of their opinion: insomuch that R. Gedaliah, upon these words, saith, ** the wise men among the Christians have searched what was the first tongue; and all the world confesses that from Adam to the flood they spate the holy language." Which it is not to be thought we have now entire and pure; but that a considerable part of it still remains in the Bible. As may be proved by no contemptible arguments; particularly this, that Shem, the son of Noah, was for some time cotemporary with Abraham, who descended from him; and in whose family continued the same language, which they both spake, unto Moses’s days. They that have fancied there were more languages than one, at this time, grounded their mistake upon those words, (Gen. x. 5. 20. 31.) where the sons of Noah are said to have had the -earth divided among them according to their tongues. Not considering that he speaks of this very division, of which he is going to give an account; and briefly mentioned there, (ver. 25.) For the thirteen sons of Joktan, immediately after, mentioned (who had their share in the division), were not in being when their uncle Peleg was born; as the most learned primate Usher hath demonstrated in his Annals, (A. M. 1757.) the meaning of dreams, but he that sent them? viz. God. This shews that God did sometimes admonish other nations (as we saw, xx. 6. xxxi. 24.) as well as the Jews by dreams: until they forgot (as Dr. Jackson judiciously speaks) that interpretations were from God, and laboured to find out an art of interpreting. Then they either ceased, or were so mixed with delusions, that they could not be discerned: or, if their events were in some sort foreseen, yetmen, being ignorant of God’s providence, commonly made choice of such means for their avoidance, as brought upon them the events which they feared. (Book i. on the Creed, chap. 9.)
Genesis 40:1
JUAD offended thtir lord. In the Hebrew is a word of the plural number for lord, viz. adonim; u ratione dignitatis," saith Bochartus; because of his high authority. And so it is used not only when he speaks of the king, but of greatmen; particularly of Joseph’s master, (xxxix.2.) Interpreters do but guess at their offence: which might as well be an attempt upon his life (by poison, or other ways), as any thing else.
Genesis 40:2
4s they journeyed from the east. He doth not speak of all the^posterity of Noah, who, after the flood, planted. in the east; much less Noah himself: but of a great colony of them, who, when the east was much peopled, chose to go westward. By the east, most understand Armenia, whero they suppose the ark rested, and Noah with his sons planted. But this hath great difficulty in it; for the mountains of Armenia lay north of Shinar, or Assyria,, and not east. Which Bochart solves in this manner: Assyria being divided into two parts, oiie on this side, the other on the further side of Tigris, they called. all that part beyond Tigris the east country, though a great part of it towards Armenia was really northward; and that part on this side they called west, though some of it lay to the south, (lib. i. Phaleg. cap. 7.) But there is no need of the help of this solution; the mountains of Ararat ruqning a long way eastward: from which, when Noah and his sons descended, they settled, it is likely, in countries which were very much eastward of Assyria. They found a plain.] They continued to dwell in the mountainous countries of tho east, where the ark rested, till they grew very numerous and wanted room; and then descended into the plain, and some of them went westwardly into the land of Shinar, that pleasant plain (as Mr. Mede fancies) where God, at the beginning, had placed the.first father of mankind, Adam." Shinar.] By this name we are to understand, not only that part of Assyria where Babylon stood, but all that country which bordered upon Tigris unto the mountains of Armenia; from whence Noah and his sons are supposed to have descended when the earth was dry, and not to have gone far from thence, at first, till they were multiplied; and then some of them came into this country, which Noah had inhabited before the flood. Thus Bochart, in the place before named. But there is no certainty the ark rested in Armenia; it might be further eastward, upon some other part of that long ridge of mountains called Ararat:* from whence they descended when the earth was dry, and dwelt in the lower grounds, which were warmer and more fruitful than the mountains. But that from the east mankind were propagated, is apparent from tho increase of arts and sciences; which, as Dr. Jackson observes, (book i. chap. 1G.) were in some measure perfected there (in times as ancient as any profane history can point us unto), and thence derived, as from a centre, to more remote parts of the world. The ripeness of literature, civil discipline, and arts, among the eastern people, before they did so much as bud forth in Greece or Italy (I may add Egypt either), is a demonstration, that these were the stock, and the other but slips or branches transplanted from thence. Nay, the state and grandeur of those eastern countries, before Greece or Italy, or any other western people, grew into the fashion of.a kingdom, shews, that the eastern people were the heirs of the world, and other nations but as colonies from them. Wroth against two of his officers.] They are called by the same name of dignity (viz. Saris) which we met withal before, (xxxvii. 36.) For in all courts such officers had a principal place, (see ver, 4.) Chief butler.] Or, cup-bearer to the king, (ver. 13.) He simply named the butler and l>aker in the foregoing verso: but now the schar (as the Hebrew word is), which in the next verse we translate captain, i. e. the principal officer of those kinds: which would incline one to think, that some under butler and baker were accused of a great fault, for which the head butler and baker were to answer: who, perhaps, were discovered to have ordered them to do what they did. Chief baker.] Who took care of all baked meats, and confections, &c. (ver. 17.)
Genesis 40:3
They said. one to another. i.e. Consulted together. Go to.] And stirred up one another to lay all their hands to this work. t Let us make brick.] In that low and fat soil there was no stone, as intimated in the next words, $ i and they had brick for stone." Nobody doubts but thus is a true translation of the Hebrew word labenah: for Herodotus, and Justin, and many others, describe the walls of Babylon as made of such materials. What chemar is (which was the cement to join the bricks together), doth not so plainly appear. We translate it slime; following herein a great many of the Hebrews; particularly Kimchi, who says it is mortar, made of sand and lime. But there is much reason to think it was that which the ancients called “Aaf&roc, a kind of pitch (as Kimchi himself acknowledges some understand it), which is described by authors as a very glewy thing, and’ therefore used by Noah, by God’s direction, about the ark. There was great plenty of it in Assyria, as Thcodoret here observes, from some fountains which vomited it up with the water. And so Strabo and Dion affirm, that it was very fit for this purpose; and Herodotus says expressly, that the walls of Babylon were cemented with it, and so do many otliers, both Greek and Roman authors, mentioned by Bochartus, (lib. i. Phaleg. cap. 13.) And it is very observable, that Arrianus saith, (lib. vii.) The temple of Belus, in the midst of the city of Babylon, of a vast bigness, was made of brick, cemented with asphaltus. He put them in ward, &c] To be kept close prisoners. In the house of the captain of the guard, &c] In that prison, of whic^i Potiphar had the chief custody. Who by this appears to have been such an officer as we call lieutenant of the Tower. Into the prison where Joseph was bound.] Into that very place where Joseph had been bound. For now he was at liberty, in the prison. •
Genesis 40:4
And tliey said, Go to now. At the first, perhaps, they spake only of building themselves houses; but now they laid their heads together, and.consulted to make a huge monument of their greatness. And the captain of the guard charged Joseph, &e.] By this it appears Potiphar’s anger was mitigated towards him (having heard the truth, it is likely, before this time), and was of the same mind with the under-keeper of the prison: who entrusted all in Joseph’s hand. * * * And he served them.] Attended upon them (which shews they’were great persons) to provide them what they wanted, &e. And they continued a seasdn.] The Hebrew word is, jamim, i. e. days: which frequently signifies a year; as hath been observed before, (xxiv. 55.)
Genesis 40:5
Each man according to the interpretation of his dream. Suitable to the office which he had held; and to the events which were shortly to befal them. Ver. G. Joseph came unto them in the morning.] To see that they were safe, and to know what they wanted. And behold, they were $dd.] It was very extraordinary, that they should both of them dream, in the same night, such dreams as had a great resemblance, one to the other; and seemed to import a great change in their condition: which made such a deep impression upon them, that they were solicitous to know the meaning.
Genesis 40:8
We have dreamed a dream, and there is no inter preter ofit.* i. e. Here in prison, we have not the opportunity of getting them interpreted. If they had been at liberty, there w r ere men in those countries who pretended to the skill of interpreting dreams, which for the mostpart were not to be regarded; but some dreams carried such lively representations in them, and so suitable to their present condition, and made likewise so great a commotion in their spirits, that they could not but attend to them: nay, think God had sent them, and therefore desire to know the meaning of them. Thus we find Achilles advising Agamemnon (in Homer’s Iliad, i.) to consult with the interpreters of their gods, for what offence they had sent the plague among them; saying, " To what priest, or to what prophet, shall we go?” *H koI 6v£tnoir6\ov, teal yap r ovap Ik Atoc tort v. Or to what vender of dreams? For even dreams come from Jupiter. Do not interpretations belong to God?] Who can shew
Genesis 40:12
TJie three brandies are three days:. i.e. Signify three days. So he understood their meaning to be, rather than months or years; because of the sudden budding, blossoming, knitting, and ripening of the grapes, (ver. 10.)
Genesis 40:13
Shall lift up thy head. i. e. Advance thee; or, as it is in the margin, reckon thee; number thee among his servants (as the phrase is used, Exod. xxxi. 12.) For there being a roll, or catalogue of all the officers of the court, with their several salaries, they were all called over on some certain day (it should seem, by ver, 20. before the king’s birth-day) and summoned to give their attendance. And then such as the king ^vas offended withal, were struck out, and punished according to their deserts; or pardoned, and graciously restored to their places. This exposition best agrees with the event, (ver. 20.) where the heads of both these officers are said to be lifted np: though one of them only was advanced to his former station.
Genesis 40:14
Bat think on me, when it shall be well with thee, &c. When my prediction is come to pass, I ask no other reward of thee, but that thou wilt be an instrument of delivering me from my imprisonment. Joseph was not only grown expert in interpreting dreams, (which he was not before he came into Egypt, xxxvii. G. &c.) but fully as? sured he knew the right meaning of them; as appears by this passage. And such kinds of predictions by dreams’ were frequently in" ancient times, among the heathen as well as among the Hebrews: though in after ages they grew rare in both.‘For (as Dr. Jackson admirably speaks, in the place beforenamed) the increase of wickedness in the world; multiplicity of business; solicitude of mind about worldly affairs; and men’s too much depending on politic devices to accomplish their ends; caused the defect of true dreams, and of other Divine admonitions, for the welfare of mankind.
Genesis 40:15
I was stolen. Carried away by violence, without the knowledge of my father; and sold for a slave. His brethren, in selling him, committed that crime, which the Latins call plagium. For, Qui hominem liberum vendit, plagiarius est. Out of the land of tJte Hebrews.] Some men would have it thought, that these words were added by Joshua, or some other, after Moses’s time: because Canaan was not called the land of the Hebrews in his days, much lessen Joseph’s. But they should have considered, that Joseph doth not call all the land of Canaan by this name; but only that part of it where Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, had very long lived, viz. about Hebron. There Abraham (who was the first that is called a Hebrew) settled with his family when he came out of Chaldea, (xiii. 17, 18.) There Isaac dwelt also, (xxxv. 27.) and Jacob, (xxxvii. 1. 14.) where it is said indeed, they were strangers, or sojourners, in this country: but they were strangers of great note and name (as Jacobus Altingius hath well observed), who were treated as princes, (xxiii. 6.) lived by their own laws; made leagues, not only with private men, but with cities and with kings: (xxi. 22, 23.xxvi. 28. xxxiv. 6.) and the fame of them could not but be spread abroad, both by the victory which Abraham got, in a battle, over several kings; and by the sacking of Shechem, which the neighbours durst not revenge. All which might well make that part of the country wherein they had resided for three generations be called the land of the Hebrews: where they were at first planted, by the consent of the natives; who were confederated with Abraham, (xiv. 13.) That they should put me into the dungeon.] Into which he was thrown at the first, as a great malefactor; for this was the lowest and darkest place in the prison, being under ground. So the Hebrew word commonly signifies, a pit, either with or without water in it: and thence, this part of a prison; which Boehartus well translates cryptam snbterraneam; and sometimes signifies a grave, (Psalm xxviii. 1. Hierbzoic. par. i. lib. iii. cap. 4.)
Genesis 40:16
The chief baker saw the interpretation was good. It was well the chief butler propounded his dream first, which had a good signification: for if this man had spoken first, the other, it is likely, would not have proposed his dream…. Three white baskets.] Or, as we now speak, three wiekeT baskets, and (as the margin hath it) the twigs so twisted, that they were full of holes; as ours many times are wrought.
Genesis 40:17
In the uppermost basket. They were set one upon another: in the lowermost of which, we may suppose, was bread; in the middlemost pies; and in the highest, the finer sort of pastes of all sorts, biscuit, tarts, &c.
Genesis 40:19
Lift up thy head. The same phrase, which was used of the other, (ver. 13.) but with this addition, from off thee. To signify, that his name should be called for another purpose; that he might not only have his name struck out of the roll, but his head struck off from his body. Though there is no necessity so to understand it; but only simply, that he should lose his life. And shall hang thee on a tree.] They that fancy his head was first cut off, will have the body only hanged on a gibbet! But it is more likely he was hanged by the neck, as malefactorfe are now among us upon a gallows. And tlie birds shall eat thy flesh.] He was left there, to be devoured by birds of prey.
Genesis 40:20
Pharaohs birth-day. Either the day on which he was born, or the day on which he came to the crown: which was natalis imperii, the birth-day of his empire. Both of them were wont to be celebrated with rejoicing and great feasts, in ancient time as well as now. (See the commentators upon Matt. xiv. 6.)
Genesis 40:21
And he gave the cup. His fault, we may suppose, was of a smaller nature; or, there was not evident proof against him; or, he had better friends, who interceded for him: so that he was not only pardoned, but restored to his office.
Genesis 40:22
But he hanged the chief baker. Ordered him to be hanged, being found guilty of what he was accused, &c.
Genesis 40:23
Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph,