Genesis 39:1--43:34
Joseph <03130> [A.M. 2276. B.C. 1728. Joseph.]
Ishmaelites <03459> [the Ishmeelites.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
household <01004> [house.]
observed .... Lord ........ Lord <07200 03068> [saw that.]
successful <06743> [prosper.]
Joseph <03130> [Joseph.]
appointed <06485> [overseer.]
Joseph's <03130> [for Joseph's.]
left <05800> [he left.]
except <0518> [save.]
well built ... good-looking <08389 03303> [a goodly person.]
{Yephaih toar, weephaih maraih,} "beautiful in person and beautiful in countenance." Joseph's beauty is so celebrated in the East, that a handsome man is frequently compared to him; and the Persian poets vie with each other in descriptions of his comeliness.
took <05375> [A.M. 2285. B.C. 1719. cast.]
sex <07901> [Lie.]
refused <03985> [refused.]
master's ..... master <0113> [my master.]
greater ............................ great <01419> [none.]
do <06213> [how then.]
sin <02398> [sin.]
speak <01696> [as she spake.]
[or to be.]
when <0376> [none of the men.]
grabbed <08610> [caught.]
left <05800> [and he left.]
brought ............ tried <0935> [he hath.]
The base affection of this woman being disappointed, was changed into rancorous hatred, and she exults in the opportunity of being revenged on Joseph. She begins her accusation in the affected language of offended modesty, rage, and disdain, by charging her husband, whom we may reasonably assume she did not greatly love, with being an accessory to the indignity she pretended to have received: "He hath brought in a Hebrew," a very abomination to an Egyptian, "to mock us," insult and treat me in a base, unworthy manner.
servants ............. man <0376> [an Hebrew.]
brought ............ tried <0935> [he came.]
loudly <01419> [loud. Heb. great.]
heard <08085> [heard.]
furious <0639> [his wrath.]
<01004> [into the prison.]
{Baith hassohar,} "the round house," from the form of the building according to some; or, "the watch or guard house," from the Arabic {sahara,} to watch, according to others.
king's <04428> [the king's.]
Lord <03068> [the Lord.]
showed ... kindness <02617 05186> [shewed him mercy. Heb. extended kindness unto him. gave him.]
put <05414> [committed.]
warden <08269> [keeper.]
Lord ........... Lord <03068> [because.]
After <0310> [it came.]
<08248> [the butler.]
{Mashkeh,} from {shakah,} to give drink, is the same as {saky} among the Arabians and Persians, and signifies a cup-bearer.
enraged <07107> [wroth.]
cupbearer .... baker <08248 08269> [the chief of the butlers.]
facility <04725> [the place.]
Joseph ... confined <03130 0631> [where Joseph was bound.]
Or, "where Joseph was confined," for he doubtless had his personal liberty. This place, we learn from the preceding chapter, (ver. 20,) was the king's prison. All the officers in the employment of the ancient kings of Egypt, according to Diodorus Siculus, were taken from the most illustrious families of the priesthood in the country; no slave or common person being ever permitted to serve in the presence of the king. As these persons were of the most noble families, it is natural to expect they would be put, when accused, into the state prison.
captain <08269> [the captain.]
time <03117> [a season.]
{Yamim,} literally days; how long is uncertain, though the word may signify, as many suppose, a complete year (see Ge 4:3; 24:55); and as Pharaoh called them to an account on his birthday, (ver. 20,) Calmet supposes they had offended on the preceding birthday, and thus had been one whole year in prison.
[A.M. 2287. B.C. 1717.]
depressed <02196> [and, behold.]
<06440> [Wherefore.]
sad today <07451 03117 06440> [look ye so sadly to-day. Heb. are your faces evil.]
interpretations <06623> [Do not, etc.]
vine <01612> [a vine.]
took <03947> [And I took, etc.]
From this we find that wine anciently was the mere expressed juice of the grape, without fermentation. The {saky,} or cup-bearer, took the bunch, pressed the juice into the cup, and instantly delivered it to his master.
squeezed <07818> [pressed.]
hand .................. hand <03027 03709> [hand.]
meaning <06623> [This.]
three .... three <07969> [The three.]
three <07969> [within.]
Pharaoh .............. Pharaoh's <06547> [shall.]
reinstate <05375 07218> [lift up thine head. or, reckon.]
remember ...... well ......... mention <02142 03190> [think on me. Heb. remember me with thee. on me.]
show <06213> [shew.]
kidnapped <01589> [stolen.]
Hebrews <05680> [the Hebrews.]
done <06213> [done.]
chief <08269> [the chief.]
baskets ... white bread <02751 05536> [white baskets. or, baskets full of holes.]
goods <04639> [bake-meats. Heb. meat of Pharaoh, the work of a baker, or cook.]
three <07969> [within.]
decapitate <05375 07218> [lift up thy head from off thee. or, reckon thee and take thy office from thee. hang thee.]
birds <05775> [and the birds.]
third day <03117 07992> [third day.]
day <03117> [birthday.]
lifted <05375> [lifted up. or, reckoned.]
placed ... cup <03563 05414> [gave the cup.]
impaled <08518> [he hanged.]
forgot <07911> [but forgat him.]
years <08141 03117> [A.M. 2289. B.C. 1715. two full years.]
{Shenathayim yamim,} "two years of days," two complete solar revolutions; as a month of days is a full month.
Pharaoh <06547> [that Pharaoh.]
Nile <02975> [the river.]
coming up <05927> [there came.]
reeds <0260> [a meadow.]
Or, rather, "on, or among the reeds or sedges;" for so {achoo} is generally supposed to denote (see 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."
bad-looking <07451 04758> [ill favoured.]
Pharaoh woke up <06547 03364> [So Pharaoh awoke.]
seven heads of grain <07651 07641> [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.
healthy <01277> [rank. Heb. fat.]
burned <07710> [blasted.]
dream <02472> [a dream.]
<07307> [his spirit.]
diviner-priests ... Egypt <04714 02748> [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.
wise <02450> [the wise men.]
interpret <06622> [but there.]
recall <02142> [I do remember.]
Pharaoh <06547> [Pharaoh.]
captain ........ chief <08269> [captain.]
servant <05650> [servant.]
interpreted <06622> [interpreted.]
restored <07725> [me he restored.]
Then <07971> [sent.]
quickly <07323> [and they brought him hastily. Heb. made him run.]
shaved <01548> [he shaved.]
heard <08085> [I have heard.]
dream ......... interpret ...... heard ....... interpret dreams <02472 06622 08085> [that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. or, when thou hearest a dream, thou canst interpret it.]
not within <01107> [It is not.]
welfare <07965> [peace.]
eaten ........... done <0935> [eaten them up. Heb. come to the inward parts of them.]
bad-looking <04758> [still.]
withered <06798> [withered. or, small. thin.]
burned <07710> [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.
told ...... diviner-priests <0559 02748> [I told this.]
God <0430> [God.]
seven ..... seven ..... seven ....... seven <07651> [are. or, signify.]
seven good .... seven ..... seven good heads of grain ... seven <02896 07651 07641> [good ears are seven.]
dreams .... same <02472 0259> [the dream is one.]
seven ........... seven years ..... seven ............. seven years ... famine <08141 07458 07651> [seven years of famine.]
God <0430> [What God.]
seven years <07651 08141> [seven years.]
forgotten <07911> [shall be.]
devastate <03615> [consume.]
abundance <07647> [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 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.
severe <03515> [grievous. Heb. heavy.]
repeated <08138> [doubled.]
matter <01697> [it is because.]
decreed <05973 03559> [established by. or, prepared of.]
Pharaoh <06547> [therefore.]
look <07200> [look out.]
officials <06496> [officers. or, overseers.]
one-fifth of the produce <02567> [and take.]
gather <06908> [gather.]
authority <03027> [hand.]
land ............... land ........ land <0776> [that the.]
famine .................. famine <03772 07458> [perish not. Heb. be not cut off.]
<01697> [the thing.]
sense <03190> [good.]
whom <0834> [in whom.]
will <01961> [Thou shalt.]
oversee <05401> [be ruled. Heb. be armed, or kiss.]
signet ring <02885> [his ring.]
fine linen <08336> [fine linen. or, silk.]
gold chain <02091 07242> [a gold chain.]
cried out <07121> [and they.]
Kneel <086> [Bow the knee. or, Tender father.]
[Heb. Abrech.]
land <0776> [ruler.]
move ... hand <07311 03027> [lift up his hand.]
Zaphenath-Paneah <06847> [Zaphnath-paaneah.]
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 [SOT,] for [soteria <\\See definition 4991\\>,] salvation, {em,} the sign of the genitive case, and [PHENEH], 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.
priest ... On <03548 0204> [priest of. or, prince.]
On <0204> [On.]
[Aven.]
years <08141> [years.]
when .... serving <05975> [he stood.]
[From A.M. 2289, B.C. 1715, to A.M. 2296, B.C. 1708. handfuls.]
Joseph <03130> [unto Joseph.]
Asenath <0621> [Asenath.]
priest <03548> [priest. or, prince.]
<07121> [called. A.M. 2292. B.C. 1712.]
Manasseh <04519> [Manasseh. i.e., Forgetting.]
forget <05382> [forget.]
child Ephraim <07121 0669> [A.M. 2293. B.C. 1711. called he.]
Ephraim <0669> [Ephraim. i.e., Fruitful.]
land <0776> [the land.]
[A.M. 2296. B.C. 1708.]
seven <07651> [the seven.]
Joseph <03130> [according.]
famine .......... famine <07458> [and the dearth.]
experienced <07456> [famished.]
Joseph <03212 03130> [Go unto.]
<06440> [the face.]
sold <07666> [all the storehouses. Heb. all wherein was. sold.]
country ................. earth <0776> [all countries.]
country ................. earth <0776> [in all lands.]
Jacob ........ he <03290> [when Jacob.]
heard ............... looking <07200> [saw. i.e, heard, from the report of others, that there was plenty in Egypt.]
The operations of one sense are frequently put for those of another in Hebrew; (see the Parallel Passages.)
heard ............... looking <07200> [Why do ye.]
down <03381> [get you.]
live <02421> [that we.]
Benjamin <01144> [Benjamin.]
if <06435> [Lest.]
famine <07458> [for.]
ruler <07989> [governor.]
{Shallit,} an intendant, protector, ruler, from {shalat,} to be over or a protector, to rule: hence the Arabic {salita,} to obtain and exercise dominion, rule; and {sultÆ’n,} ruler, lord, prince, and king.
sold <07666> [he it was.]
bowed down <07812> [bowed.]
harshly ... asked ........ answered <07186 0559> [roughly unto them. Heb. hard things with them.]
recognized ........ recognize <05234> [but they knew.]
remembered <02142> [remembered.]
spies <07270> [Ye are spies.]
Persons who, under the pretence of wishing to buy corn, desire only to find out whether the land be so defenceless that the tribes to which you belong may attack it successfully, drive out the inhabitants, and settle themselves in it; or, having plundered it, retire into their deserts. This is a frequent custom among the Arabs to the present day.
vulnerable <06172> [nakedness.]
honest <03651> [We are, etc.]
We do not belong to different tribes; and it is not likely that one family would make a hostile attempt upon a whole kingdom; nor, if any serious design had been intended, that one man would have sent his sons on so hazardous an expedition.
honest .... servants <03651 05650> [true men.]
vulnerable <06172> [nakedness.]
servants <05650> [Thy servants.]
one .................. one <0259> [one is not.]
lives <02416> [By the life.]
youngest <06996> [except.]
prison <0631> [kept in prison. Heb. bound.]
imprisoned <0622> [put. Heb. gathered.]
imprisoned <04929> [ward.]
God <0430 03373> [I fear God.]
prison ............... families <01004> [house.]
take grain back <07668 0935> [carry corn.]
bring <0935> [bring.]
did <06213> [And they.]
said <0559> [they said.]
saw <07200> [we saw.]
distressed .................... distress <06869> [this distress.]
said ...... say <0559> [Spake I.]
blood <01818> [his blood.]
[he spake unto them by a interpreter. Heb. an interpreter was between them.]
The {mailitz} does not seem to have been an interpreter in our sense of the term; as we have many evidences in this book that the Egyptians, Hebrews, Canaanites, and Syrians, could understand each other in a general way; and it appears from several passages in this very chapter, (particularly ver. 24,) that Joseph and his brethren understood each others' language, as his brethren and Joseph's steward also did (ch. 43:19, etc; compare ch. 39; 49.) It seems to denote an officer who is called in Abyssinia, according to Mr. Bruce, {Kal Hatz‚,} "the voice or word of the king," who always stands at the side of a lattice window of a balcony, within which the king sits; who is never seen, but who speaks through a hole in the side of it, covered in the inside with a curtain, to this officer, by whom he speaks to the persons present.
wept <01058> [wept.]
Simeon <08095> [Simeon.]
orders <06680> [commanded.]
give ... provisions <05414 06720> [to give them.]
orders <03651> [and thus.]
resting place <04411> [the inn.]
resting place <04411> [inn.]
{Malon,} from {loon,} to stay, abide, lodge, denotes any place to stay and lodge in, particularly a place where travellers usually stop to lodge, which is generally near a well, where they fill their {girbehs,} or leathern bottles, with fresh water, and having unladen and clogged their camels, asses, etc., permit them to crop any little verdure there may be in the place, keeping watch over them by turns. Our word inn here gives us a false idea, there were no such places of entertainment in the desert which Joseph's brethren had to pass; nor are there any at the present day. The only accommodation such a place affords is either a well, or a {khan,} or {caravanserai,} which is generally no more than four bare walls, perfectly exposed, the place being open at the top, and furnishing a wretched lodging: and even these, it is probable, were not in use at this early period.
<03820> [their heart.]
dismayed .... trembling <03318 02729> [failed them. Heb. went forth.]
This refers to the spasmodic affection which is felt in the breast at any sudden alarm or fright.
God <0430> [What is.]
harshly ........... spying <07186 05414> [roughly to us. Heb. with us hard things.]
honest <03651> [true.]
twelve brothers <0251 06240> [twelve brethren.]
move about freely <05503> [traffick.]
each man's <0376> [every man's.]
childless <07921> [Me have ye.]
[all these things are against me.]
{Alay hayoo cullanah,} literally, "upon me are all these things:" rendered by the Vulgate, {in me h‘c omnia mala reciderunt,} "all these evils fall back upon me;" they lie upon me as heavy loads, hastening my death: they are more than I can bear.
two .... death <04191 08147> [Slay my.]
brother <0251> [his brother.]
accident <0611> [if mischief.]
go down ............................... bring down <03381> [bring.]
man <0376> [man.]
solemnly warned <05749> [did solemnly protest. Heb. protesting, protested.]
see ... face <06440 07200> [see my face.]
down <03381> [will not.]
questioned ... thoroughly <07592> [asked us straitly. Heb. asking asked us.]
way <06310> [tenor. Heb. mouth. could we certainly know. knowing could we know.]
boy ........ immediately <05288 06965> [lad with me.]
live <02421> [that we.]
little ones <02945> [also our.]
pledge <06148> [will be.]
hold <03027> [of my hand.]
twice <06471> [this second time. or, twice by this.]
then <0645> [If it must be.]
down <03381> [carry down.]
little balm .... little <04592 06875> [a little balm.]
balm <06875> [balm.]
For an explanation of the words {tzori, nechoth,} and {lot,} here rendered respectively balm, spices, and myrrh, see on ch. 37:25. {Devash,} honey, is supposed by some not to have been that produced by bees, but a syrup produced from ripe dates. The Jewish doctors observe, that the word in 2 Ch 31:5 signifies dates; and the Arabians, at this day, call the choicest dates preserved with butter, {dabous,} and the honey obtained from them, {dibs,} or {dabs.} {Benanim,} nuts signifies pistachio nuts, the finest thing found in Syria; but, according to the others, a small nut, the produce of a species of the turpentine tree. {Shekaidim} is certainly almonds.
honey <01706> [honey.]
spices <05219> [spices.]
double <04932> [double.]
mouths <06310> [mouth.]
God <0410> [And God.]
As .......... lose <0834 07921> [If I be, etc. or, and I, as I have been, etc.]
[See on ver.]
household ....... house <01004> [the ruler.]
Slaughter <02873> [slay. Heb. kill a killing.]
{Tevoch taivach,} "slay a slaying," or make a great slaughter: let preparations be made for a great feast or entertainment. See a similar form of speech in ch. 31:54. .# 1Sa 25:11 Pr 9:2
with ............................. eat with .... noon <0854 0398 06672> [dine with. Heb. eat.]
<0582> [the men.]
wants to capture <01556 05307> [seek occasion against us. Heb. Roll himself upon us.]
come down <03381> [we came indeed down. Heb. coming down we came down.]
came <0935> [we came.]
returned <07725> [we have.]
fine <07965> [Peace.]
money .... brought <0935 03701> [I had your money. Heb. Your money came to me.]
{Caspechem ba ailai,} "your money comes to me:" as I am the steward, the cash for the corn belongs to me. Ye have no occasion to be apprehensive of any evil; the whole transaction is between myself and you; receive therefore the money as a present from "the God of your father," no matter whose hands he employs to convey it.
Simeon <08095> [Simeon.]
bowed down <07812> [bowed.]
well <07965> [welfare. Heb. peace.]
father well <01 07965> [Is your father well. Heb. Is there peace to your father? the old.]
bowed <06915> [bowed.]
humility <07812> [made obeisance.]
mother's son ........................ son <01121 0517> [mother's son.]
said ......... told ...... said <0559> [of whom.]
God <0430> [God.]
son ........................ son <01121> [my son.]
affection <07356> [his bowels.]
tears ......... wept <01058> [wept there.]
composure <0662> [refrained.]
food <03899> [bread.]
eating .......... eat <03899 0398> [eat bread.]
disgusting <08441> [for that is an abomination.]
The Chaldee Paraphrast renders this clause, "Because the Hebrews eat the cattle which the Egyptians worship." But, as we learn from ver. 16, compared with this verse, that the provision for the entertainment of the Egyptians themselves was animal food, this reason cannot be just. The true reason seems to be that assigned by the LXX., [Bedlyma gar estin tois Aigyptiois pas poim‚n probaton:] "For every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians."
[44.12]
portions .......... portion .......... portions <04864> [messes.]
five times <02568 03027> [was five times.]
Sir John Chardin observes, that "in Persia, Arabia, and the Indies, there are some houses where they place several plates in large salvers, and set one of these before each person, or before two or three, according to the magnificence of each house. The great men of the state are always served by themselves, in the feasts that are made for them; and with great profusion, their part of each kind of provision being always double, treble, or a larger proportion of each kind of meat."
drunk <07937> [were merry. Heb. drank largely.]
