Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge, by R.A. Torrey, [ca. 1880], at sacred-texts.com
Genesis Chapter 41
Overview
Gen 41:1, Pharaoh has two dreams; Gen 41:9, Joseph interprets them; Gen 41:33, He gives Pharaoh counsel, and is highly advanced, and married; Gen 41:46, The seven years of plenty; Gen 41:50, He begets children; Gen 41:53, The famine begins.
am 2289, bc 1715
two full years: Shenathayim yamim, "two years of days," two complete solar revolutions; as a month of days is a full month. Gen 29:14
that Pharaoh: Gen 20:3, Gen 37:5-10, Gen 40:5; Jdg 7:13, Jdg 7:14; Est 6:1; Job 33:15, Job 33:16; Dan 2:1-3; Dan 4:5-18, 7:1-8:27; Mat 27:19
the river: Gen 31:21; Exo 1:22, Exo 4:9; Deu 11:10; Isa 19:5; Eze 29:3, Eze 29:9
there came: Gen 41:17-27
a meadow: Or, rather, "on, or among the reeds or sedges;" for so achoo is generally supposed to denote (see note on Job 8:11); so called, according to Mr. Parkhurst, from its fitness for making ropes, or the like, to connect or join things together, from achah, to join, connect. thus the Latin juncus, a bulrush, a jungendo, from joining, for the same reason. He supposes it to be that sort of reed growing near the Nile which Hasselquist describes as "having scarce any branches, but numerous leaves, which are narrow, smooth, channelled on the upper surface, and the plant about eleven feet high. The Egyptians make ropes of the leaves.
ill favoured: Gen 41:4, Gen 41:20, Gen 41:21
So Pharaoh awoke: Kg1 3:15
seven ears: A species of wheat, which grows in Egypt, bears, when perfect, seven ears on one stalk, as its natural conformation. It differs from ours in having a solid stem, or at least a stem full of pith, in order to yield sufficient nourishment and support to so great a weight as the ears which it bears.
rank: Heb. fat, Deu 32:14
blasted: Eze 17:10, Eze 19:12; Hos 13:15
his spirit: Gen 40:6; Dan 2:1-3, Dan 4:5, Dan 4:19, Dan 5:6, Dan 7:28, Dan 8:27; Hab 3:16
the magicians of Egypt: The word here used (chartummim) may mean no more than interpreters of abstruse or difficult subjects; especially of dreams and visions, which formed a considerable part of the ancient pagan religion; and the Egyptian priests were the first who professed this art. The word may be of affinity with, or derived from, the Persian chiradmand, wise, learned, judicious, intelligent, from chirad, understanding, judgment, and mand, endowed with. They seem to have been such persons as Josephus calls sacred scribes; or professors of sacred learning. Exo 7:11, Exo 7:22, Exo 8:7, Exo 8:18, Exo 8:19, Exo 9:11; Lev 19:31, Lev 20:6; Deu 18:9-14; Isa 8:19; Isa 19:3, Isa 29:14, Isa 47:12, Isa 47:13; Dan 1:20, Dan 2:2, Dan 4:7, Dan 5:7, Dan 5:11; Act 17:18
the wise men: Mat 2:1; Act 7:22
but there: Gen 40:8; Job 5:12, Job 5:13; Psa 25:14; Isa 19:11-13, Isa 29:14; Dan 2:4-11, Dan 2:27, Dan 2:28; Dan 5:8; Co1 1:19, Co1 3:18-20
I do remember: Gen 40:1-3, Gen 40:14, Gen 40:23
Pharaoh: Gen 39:20, Gen 40:2, Gen 40:3
captain: Gen 37:36
servant: Gen 37:36, Gen 39:1, Gen 39:20
interpreted: Gen 40:12-19
me he restored: Gen 40:12, Gen 40:20-22; Jer 1:10; Eze 43:3
sent: Sa1 2:7, Sa1 2:8; Psa 105:19-22, Psa 113:7, Psa 113:8
and they brought him hastily: Heb. made him run, Exo 10:16; Sa1 2:8; Psa 113:7, Psa 113:8; Dan 2:25
he shaved: Sa2 19:24; Kg2 25:29; Est 4:1-4, Est 5:1; Isa 61:3, Isa 61:10; Jer 52:32, Jer 52:33
I have heard: Gen 41:9-13; Psa 25:14; Dan 5:12, Dan 5:16
that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it: or, when thou hearest a dream, thou canst interpret it
It is not: Gen 40:8; Num 12:6; Kg2 6:27; Dan 2:18-23, Dan 2:28-30, Dan 2:47, Dan 4:2; Act 3:7, Act 3:12; Act 14:14, Act 14:15; Co1 15:10; Co2 3:5
Jer 24:1-3, Jer 24:5, Jer 24:8
eaten them up: Heb. come to the inward parts of them, Eze 3:3; Rev 10:9, Rev 10:10
withered: or, small
thin: Gen 41:6; Kg2 19:26; Psa 129:6, Psa 129:7; Hos 8:7, Hos 9:16, Hos 13:15
blasted: All the mischief done to corn or fruit by blasting, smutting, mildew, etc. are attributed to the east wind (see parallel passages). In Egypt it is peculiarly destructive, because it comes through the parched deserts of Arabia, often destroying vast numbers of people. The destructive nature of the Sam, Simoom, Smoom, or Samiel, is mentioned by almost all travellers. When this pestilential wind advances, its approach is indicated by a redness in the air. The principal stream of the blast always moves in a line of about 20 yards in breadth, and 12 feet above the surface of the earth; but its parching influence pervades all places to a considerable distance. The only means of preservation from its noxious influence is to lie flat, with the face upon the ground, till the blast be over. Camels and other animals instinctively perceive its approach, and bury their mouths and nostrils in the ground. It rarely last more than seven or eight minutes, but so poisonous are its effects, that it instantly suffocates those who are unfortunate enough to inhale it.
I told this: Gen 41:8; Exo 8:19; Dan 4:7
God: Gen 41:16; Exo 9:14; Jos 11:6; Psa 98:2; Isa 41:22, Isa 41:23, Isa 43:9; Dan 2:28, Dan 2:29; Dan 2:45, Dan 2:47; Amo 3:7; Mat 24:40; Mar 13:23; Eph 1:17; Rev 4:1
are: or, signify, Gen 41:2, Gen 41:5, Gen 41:29, Gen 41:47, Gen 41:53, Gen 40:18; Exo 12:11; Co1 10:4
good ears are seven: Gen 40:12
the dream is one: Gen 2:24; Exo 26:6; Jo1 5:7
seven years of famine: Sa2 24:19; Kg2 8:1
What God: Gen 41:16, Gen 41:25
Gen 41:26, Gen 41:46, Gen 41:49
seven years: Gen 41:27, Gen 41:54; Sa2 24:13; Kg1 17:1; Kg2 8:1; Luk 4:25; Jam 5:17
shall be: Gen 41:21, Gen 41:51; Pro 31:7; Isa 65:16
consume: Gen 47:13; Psa 105:16
the plenty: It is well known, that in Egypt there is scarcely any rain, the country depending for its fertility upon the overflowing of the Nile; and that the fertility is in proportion to the duration and quality of the overflow, in order to saturate the land and prepare for the seed. Pliny has given a scale, by which the plenty or dearth may be ascertained; which may be considered as perfectly correct. The ordinary height of the inundations is 16 cubits. When the waters are lower than this standard, they do not overflow the whole ground; when above this standard they are too long in running off. In the first case, the ground is not saturated; by the second, the waters are detained so long on the ground that seed-time is lost. The province marks both. If it rise only 12 cubits, a famine is the consequence; at 13 hunger prevails; 14 produces general rejoicing; 15 perfect security; and 16 all the luxuries of life.
grievous: Heb. heavy, Sa1 5:6; Isa 24:20
doubled: Gen 37:7, Gen 37:9; Job 33:14, Job 33:15; Co2 13:1
it is because: Num 23:19; Isa 14:24-27, Isa 46:10, Isa 46:11; Mat 24:35
established by: or, prepared of, Isa 30:33; Mat 25:34, Mat 25:41; Mar 10:40; Co1 2:9; Rev 9:15
therefore: Dan 4:27
look out: Exo 18:19-22; Deu 1:13; Act 6:3
officers: or, overseers, Num 31:14; Kg2 11:11, Kg2 11:12; Ch2 34:12; Neh 11:9
and take: Job 5:20; Psa 33:19; Pro 6:6-8, Pro 22:3, Pro 27:12; Luk 16:5
gather: Gen 41:48, Gen 41:49, Gen 41:56, Gen 45:6, Gen 45:7
hand: Exo 4:13
that the: Gen 47:13-25
perish not: Heb. be not cut off, Gen 41:30
the thing: Psa 105:19; Pro 10:20, Pro 25:11; Act 7:10
good: Jos 22:30; Sa2 3:36; Kg1 21:2
in whom: Num 27:18; Job 32:8; Dan 4:6, Dan 4:8, Dan 4:18, Dan 5:11, Dan 5:14, Dan 6:3
Gen 41:16, Gen 41:25, Gen 41:28, Gen 41:33
Thou shalt: Gen 39:4-6, Gen 45:8, Gen 45:9, Gen 45:26; Psa 105:21, Psa 105:22; Pro 22:29; Dan 2:46-48, Dan 5:29, Dan 6:3
be ruled: Heb. be armed, or kiss, Sa1 10:1; Job 31:27; Psa 2:12
Gen 41:44, Gen 39:5, Gen 39:22; Est 10:3; Pro 17:2, Pro 22:29; Dan 2:7, Dan 2:8, Dan 4:2, Dan 4:3, Dan 6:3; Mat 28:18; Phi 2:9-11
his ring: Est 3:10, Est 3:12, Est 6:7-12, Est 8:2, Est 8:8, Est 8:10, Est 8:15, Est 10:3; Dan 2:46, Dan 2:47, Dan 5:7, Dan 5:29; Luk 15:22
fine linen: or, silk, Eze 27:7
a gold chain: Pro 1:9, Pro 31:22, Pro 31:24; Sol 1:10; Eze 16:10, Eze 16:11; Dan 5:7, Dan 5:16, Dan 5:29; Luk 19:16-19
Bow the knee: or, Tender father, Gen 45:8, Heb. Abrech, Phi 2:10
ruler: Gen 42:6, Gen 42:30, Gen 42:33, Gen 45:8, Gen 45:26; Act 7:10
lift up his hand: Exo 11:7
Zaphnathpaaneah: Which in Coptic signifies a revealer of secrets, or, the man to whom secrets are revealed. Jerome says this name signified in Egyptian, Savatorem mundi, "the Saviour of the world;" and Psotem-phaneh, in Coptic, is certainly "salvation of the world," from CΩT, for σωτηρια [Strong's G4991], salvation, em, the sign of the genitive case, and ΦΕΝΕΗ, world. If this interpretation be correct, Pharaoh must have meant Egypt by the world, or which Joseph might be justly termed the Saviour. We know that the Romans called their empire Universis Orbis-Orbis Terrarum, "all the world:" the Chinese say the same of their empire at the present day, and the phrase is used in the East: Nadir Shah is described on his coins as "Conqueror of the World," i.e., Persia. See the same phraseology applied to Syria, Palestine, etc. Luk 2:1; Act 11:28
priest of: or, prince, Gen 14:18; Exo 2:16 *marg. Sa2 8:18, Sa2 20:26 *Heb:
On: Gen 46:20; Eze 30:17, Aven
years: Gen 37:2; Num 4:3; Sa2 5:4; Luk 3:23
he stood: Sa1 16:21; Kg1 12:6, Kg1 12:8; Pro 22:29; Dan 1:19; Luk 21:36; Jde 1:24
From am 2289, bc 1715, to am 2296, bc 1708, handfuls. Gen 26:12; Psa 72:16
Gen 22:17; Jdg 6:5, Jdg 7:12; Sa1 13:5; Job 1:3; Psa 78:27; Jer 33:22
unto Joseph: Gen 46:20, Gen 48:5
priest: or, prince, Sa2 8:18
called: am 2292, bc 1712, Gen 48:5, Gen 48:13, Gen 48:14, Gen 48:18-20; Deu 33:17
Manasseh: i.e. Forgetting, Gen 41:30; Psa 45:10; Isa 57:16
forget: Psa 30:5, Psa 30:11; Pro 31:7; Isa 65:16
am 2293, bc 1711
called he: Gen 29:32-35, Gen 30:6-13, Gen 50:23
Ephraim: i.e. Fruitful, Gen 48:16-19, Gen 49:22; Isa 40:1, Isa 40:2
the land: Psa 105:17, Psa 105:18; Amo 6:6; Act 7:10
am 2296, bc 1708, Gen 41:29-31; Psa 73:20; Luk 16:25
the seven: Gen 41:3, Gen 41:4, Gen 41:6, Gen 41:7, Gen 41:27, Gen 45:11; Psa 105:16; Act 7:11
according: Gen 41:30
and the dearth: Gen 42:2, Gen 42:5, Gen 42:6, Gen 43:1, Gen 45:11, Gen 47:13
famished: Kg2 6:25-29; Jer 14:1-6; Lam 4:3-10
Go unto: Gen 41:40, Gen 41:41; Psa 105:20-22; Mat 3:17, Mat 17:5; Joh 1:14-16; Phi 4:19; Col 1:19
the face: Isa 23:17; Zac 5:3; Luk 21:35; Act 17:26
all the storehouses: Heb. all wherein was
sold: Gen 42:6, Gen 47:14-24
all countries: Gen 42:1, Gen 42:5, Gen 50:20; Deu 9:28; Psa 105:16, Psa 105:17