1048 lines
38 KiB
HTML
1048 lines
38 KiB
HTML
<HTML>
|
|
<HEAD>
|
|
<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Genesis, Chapter XLI].</TITLE>
|
|
<meta name="aesop" content="information">
|
|
<meta name="description" content=
|
|
"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
|
|
<meta name="keywords" content=
|
|
"Prophecy, Rapture,hope,bible map,bible maps, God, tribulation,Second Coming,Christ,large print bible,commentary,complete">
|
|
</HEAD>
|
|
<body background="../sueback.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" >
|
|
<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
|
|
on the Whole Bible</h1></center>
|
|
|
|
<HR>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
|
|
<TR>
|
|
<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC01040.HTM">Previous</A>]
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC01042.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
|
|
<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
|
Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
|
|
</TD></TR></TABLE>
|
|
<HR>
|
|
|
|
<!-- (Begin Body) -->
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Page231"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<CENTER>
|
|
<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>G E N E S I S</B></FONT>
|
|
<BR>
|
|
<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XLI.</FONT>
|
|
<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
|
|
</CENTER>
|
|
|
|
<FONT SIZE=-1>
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Two things Providence is here bringing about:--
|
|
|
|
I. The advancement
|
|
of Joseph.
|
|
|
|
II. The maintenance of Jacob and his family in a
|
|
time of famine; for the eyes of the Lord run to and fro through
|
|
the earth, and direct the affairs of the children of men for the
|
|
benefit of those few whose hearts are upright with him. In order to
|
|
these, we have here,
|
|
|
|
1. Pharaoh's dreams,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:1-8">ver. 1-8</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. The recommendation
|
|
of Joseph to him for an interpreter,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:9-13">ver. 9-13</A>.
|
|
|
|
3. The
|
|
interpretation of the dreams, and the prediction of seven years
|
|
of plenty and seven years of famine in Egypt, with the prudent
|
|
advice given to Pharaoh thereupon,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:14-36">ver. 14-36</A>.
|
|
|
|
4. The preferment
|
|
of Joseph to a place of the highest power and trust in
|
|
Egypt,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:37-45">ver. 37-45</A>.
|
|
|
|
5. The accomplishment of Joseph's prediction,
|
|
and his fidelity to his trust,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:46-57">ver. 46</A>,
|
|
&c.</P>
|
|
</FONT>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_1"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_2"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_3"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_4"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_5"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_6"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_7"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_8"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Pharaoh's Portentous Dream.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1715.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And it came to pass at the end
|
|
of two full years, that Pharaoh
|
|
dreamed: and, behold, he stood by
|
|
the river.
|
|
2 And, behold, there came
|
|
up out of the river seven well favoured
|
|
kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a
|
|
meadow.
|
|
3 And, behold, seven other
|
|
kine came up after them out of the
|
|
river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and
|
|
stood by the <I>other</I> kine upon the brink
|
|
of the river.
|
|
4 And the ill favoured
|
|
and leanfleshed 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 blasted with
|
|
the east wind sprung up after them.
|
|
7 And the seven thin ears devoured
|
|
the seven rank and full ears. And
|
|
Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, <I>it was</I> 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 wise men
|
|
thereof: and Pharaoh told them his
|
|
dreams; but <I>there was</I> none that could
|
|
interpret them unto Pharaoh.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Observe,
|
|
|
|
1. The delay of Joseph's enlargement.
|
|
It was not till <I>the end of two
|
|
full years</I>
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:1"><I>v.</I> 1</A>);
|
|
so long he waited after he
|
|
had entrusted the chief butler with his case
|
|
and began to have some prospect of relief.
|
|
Note, We have need of patience, not only
|
|
bearing, but waiting, patience. Joseph lay
|
|
in prison until the time that his word came,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+105:19">Ps. cv. 19</A>.
|
|
There is a time set for the deliverance
|
|
of God's people; that time will
|
|
come, though it seem to tarry; and, when it
|
|
comes, it will appear to have been the best
|
|
time, and therefore we ought to wait for it
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Hab+2:3">Hab. ii. 3</A>),
|
|
and not think two full years too
|
|
long to continue waiting.
|
|
|
|
2. The means of
|
|
Joseph's enlargement, which were Pharaoh's
|
|
dreams, here related. If we were to look
|
|
upon them as ordinary dreams, we might
|
|
observe from them the follies and absurdities
|
|
of a roving working fancy, how it represents
|
|
to itself tame cows as beasts of prey (nay,
|
|
more ravenous than any, eating up those of
|
|
their own kind), and ears of corn as devouring
|
|
one another. Surely in the multitude of
|
|
dreams, nay, even in one dream, there are
|
|
divers vanities,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+5:7">Eccl. v. 7</A>.
|
|
Now that God
|
|
no longer speaks to us in that way, I think it
|
|
is no matter how little we either heed them
|
|
or tell them. Foolish dreams related can
|
|
make no better than foolish talk. But these
|
|
dreams which Pharaoh dreamed carried their
|
|
own evidence with them that they were sent
|
|
of God; and therefore, when he awoke, his
|
|
spirit was troubled,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
|
|
It cannot but put
|
|
us into a concern to receive any extraordinary
|
|
message from heaven, because we are conscious
|
|
to ourselves that we have no reason to
|
|
expect any good tidings thence. His magicians
|
|
were puzzled, the rules of their art
|
|
failed them: these dreams of Pharaoh, it
|
|
seems, did not fall within the compass of
|
|
them, so that they could not offer at the interpretation
|
|
of them. This was to make Joseph's
|
|
performance by the Spirit of God the
|
|
more admirable. Human reason, prudence,
|
|
and foresight, must be nonplussed, that divine
|
|
revelation may appear the more glorious in
|
|
the contrivance of our redemption,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+2:13,14">1 Cor. ii. 13, 14</A>.
|
|
Compare with this story,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+2:27,4:7,5:8">Dan. ii. 27; iv. 7; v. 8</A>.
|
|
Joseph's own dreams were the
|
|
occasion of his troubles, and now Pharaoh's
|
|
dreams were the occasion of his enlargement.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_9"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_10"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_11"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_12"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_13"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_14"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_15"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_16"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec2"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Joseph Brought before Pharaoh.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1715.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>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,
|
|
<I>both</I> me and the chief baker:
|
|
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 <I>there was</I> there with us a
|
|
young man, a Hebrew, servant to
|
|
the captain of the guard; and we told
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Page228"> </A>
|
|
|
|
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 <I>himself,</I> and
|
|
changed his raiment, and came in unto
|
|
Pharaoh.
|
|
15 And Pharaoh said unto
|
|
Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and
|
|
<I>there is</I> none that can interpret it:
|
|
and I have heard say of thee, <I>that</I>
|
|
thou canst understand a dream to interpret
|
|
it.
|
|
16 And Joseph answered
|
|
Pharaoh, saying, <I>It is</I> not in me: God
|
|
shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is,
|
|
|
|
1. The recommending of Joseph
|
|
to Pharaoh for an interpreter. The chief
|
|
butler did it more in compliment to Pharaoh,
|
|
to oblige him, than in gratitude to Joseph,
|
|
or in compassion for his case. He makes a
|
|
fair confession
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:9"><I>v.</I> 9</A>):
|
|
"<I>I remember my faults
|
|
this day,</I> in forgetting Joseph." Note, It is
|
|
best to remember our duty, and to do it in
|
|
its time; but, if we have neglected that, it is
|
|
next best to remember our faults, and repent
|
|
of them, and do our duty at last; better late
|
|
than never. Some think he means his faults
|
|
against Pharaoh, for which he was imprisoned;
|
|
and then he would insinuate that, though
|
|
Pharaoh had forgiven him, he had not forgiven
|
|
himself. The story he had to tell was,
|
|
in short, That there was an obscure young
|
|
man in the king's prison, who had very properly
|
|
interpreted his dream, and the chief
|
|
baker's (the event corresponding in each with
|
|
the interpretation), and that he would recommend
|
|
him to the king his master for an interpreter.
|
|
Note, God's time for the enlargement
|
|
of his people will appear at last to be
|
|
the fittest time. If the chief butler had at
|
|
first used his interest for Joseph's enlargement,
|
|
and had obtained it, it is probable that
|
|
upon his release he would have gone back
|
|
to <I>the land of the Hebrews</I> again, which he spoke
|
|
of so feelingly
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:15"><I>ch.</I> xl. 15</A>),
|
|
and then he would
|
|
neither have been so blessed himself, nor such
|
|
a blessing to his family, as afterwards he
|
|
proved. But staying two years longer, and
|
|
coming out now upon this occasion, at last,
|
|
to interpret the king's dreams, way was made
|
|
for his very great preferment. Those that
|
|
patiently wait for God shall be paid for their
|
|
waiting, not only principal but interest,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=La+3:26">Lam. iii. 26</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. The introducing of Joseph to
|
|
Pharaoh. The king's business requires
|
|
haste. Joseph is sent for out of the dungeon
|
|
with all speed; Pharaoh's order discharged
|
|
him both from his imprisonment and from
|
|
his servitude, and made him a candidate for
|
|
some of the highest trusts at court. The
|
|
king can scarcely allow him time, but that
|
|
decency required it, to shave himself, and to
|
|
change his raiment,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:14"><I>v.</I> 14</A>.
|
|
It is done with
|
|
all possible expedition, and Joseph is brought
|
|
in, perhaps almost as much surprised as
|
|
Peter was,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ac+12:9">Acts xii. 9</A>.
|
|
So suddenly is his
|
|
captivity brought back that he is as one that
|
|
dreams,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+126:1">Ps. cxxvi. 1</A>.
|
|
Pharaoh immediately,
|
|
without enquiring who or whence he was,
|
|
tells him his business, that he expected he
|
|
should interpret his dream,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
|
To which,
|
|
Joseph makes him a very modest decent reply,
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:16"><I>v.</I> 16</A>),
|
|
in which,
|
|
|
|
(1.) He gives honour
|
|
to God. "It is not in me, God must give
|
|
it." Note, Great gifts appear most graceful
|
|
and illustrious when those that have them
|
|
use them humbly, and take not the praise of
|
|
them to themselves, but give it to God. To
|
|
such God gives more grace.
|
|
|
|
(2.) He shows
|
|
respect to Pharaoh, and hearty good-will to
|
|
him and his government, in supposing that
|
|
the interpretation would be an answer of
|
|
peace. Note, Those that consult God's oracles
|
|
may expect an answer of peace. If Joseph
|
|
be made the interpreter, hope the best.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_17"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_18"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_19"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_20"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_21"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_22"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_23"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_24"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_25"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_26"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_27"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_28"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_29"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_30"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_31"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_32"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec3"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dream.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1715.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>17 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, fatfleshed
|
|
and well favoured; and they
|
|
fed in a meadow:
|
|
19 And, behold,
|
|
seven other kine came up after them,
|
|
poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed,
|
|
such as I never saw in all the
|
|
land of Egypt for badness:
|
|
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 <I>were</I> 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, <I>and</I>
|
|
blasted with the east wind, sprung up
|
|
after them:
|
|
24 And the thin ears devoured
|
|
the seven good ears: and I
|
|
told <I>this</I> unto the magicians; but <I>there
|
|
was</I> none that could declare <I>it</I> to me.
|
|
25 And Joseph said unto Pharaoh,
|
|
The dream of Pharaoh <I>is</I> one: God
|
|
hath showed Pharaoh what he <I>is</I> about
|
|
to do.
|
|
26 The seven good kine <I>are</I>
|
|
seven years; and the seven good ears
|
|
<I>are</I> seven years: the dream <I>is</I> one.
|
|
27 And the seven thin and ill favoured
|
|
kine that came up after them <I>are</I> seven
|
|
years; and the seven empty ears
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Page229"> </A>
|
|
|
|
blasted with the east wind shall be
|
|
seven years of famine.
|
|
28 This <I>is</I> the
|
|
thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh:
|
|
What God <I>is</I> about to do he
|
|
showeth 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 <I>shall be</I> very grievous.
|
|
32 And for that the dream was doubled
|
|
unto Pharaoh twice; <I>it is</I> because the
|
|
thing <I>is</I> established by God, and God
|
|
will shortly bring it to pass.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here,
|
|
|
|
I. Pharaoh relates his dream.
|
|
He dreamt that he stood upon the bank of
|
|
the river Nile, and saw the kine, both the
|
|
fat ones and the lean ones, come out of the
|
|
river. For the kingdom of Egypt had no
|
|
rain, as appears,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Zec+14:18">Zech. xiv. 18</A>,
|
|
but the plenty
|
|
of the year depended upon the overflowing
|
|
of the river, and it was about one certain time
|
|
of the year that it overflowed. If it rose to
|
|
fifteen or sixteen cubits, there was plenty; if
|
|
to twelve or thirteen only, or under, there
|
|
was scarcity. See how many ways Providence
|
|
has of dispensing its gifts; yet, whatever
|
|
the second causes are, our dependence
|
|
is still the same upon the first Cause, who
|
|
makes every creature that to us that it is, be
|
|
it rain or river.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. Joseph interprets his dream, and tells
|
|
him that it signified seven years of plenty
|
|
now immediately to ensue, which should be
|
|
succeeded by as many years of famine.
|
|
Observe,
|
|
|
|
1. The two dreams signified the
|
|
same thing, but the repetition was to denote
|
|
the certainty, the nearness, and the importance,
|
|
of the event,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:32"><I>v.</I> 32</A>.
|
|
Thus God has often
|
|
shown <I>the immutability of his counsel by two
|
|
immutable things,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Heb+6:17,18">Heb. vi. 17, 18</A>.
|
|
The
|
|
covenant is sealed with two sacraments; and
|
|
in the one of them there are both bread
|
|
and wine, wherein the dream is one, and yet
|
|
it is doubled, for the thing is certain.
|
|
|
|
2. Yet
|
|
the two dreams had a distinct reference to
|
|
the two things wherein we most experience
|
|
plenty and scarcity, namely, grass and corn.
|
|
The plenty and scarcity of grass for the cattle
|
|
were signified by the fat kine and the lean
|
|
ones; the plenty and scarcity of herb for the
|
|
service of man by the full ears and the thin
|
|
ones.
|
|
|
|
3. See what changes the comforts of
|
|
this life are subject to. After great plenty
|
|
may come great scarcity; how strong soever
|
|
we may think our mountain stands, if God
|
|
speak the word, it will soon be moved. We
|
|
cannot be sure that <I>to-morrow shall be as this
|
|
day,</I> next year as this, and <I>much more abundant,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+56:12">Isa. lvi. 12</A>.
|
|
We must learn how to
|
|
want, as well as how to abound.
|
|
|
|
4. See the
|
|
goodness of God in sending the seven years
|
|
of plenty before those of famine, that provision
|
|
might be made accordingly. Thus he
|
|
<I>sets the one over-against the other,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+7:14">Eccl. vii. 14</A>.
|
|
With what wonderful wisdom has Providence,
|
|
that great housekeeper, ordered the
|
|
affairs of this numerous family from the
|
|
beginning hitherto! Great variety of seasons
|
|
there have been, and the produce of the earth
|
|
is sometimes more and sometimes less; yet,
|
|
take one time with another, what was miraculous
|
|
concerning the manna is ordinarily verified
|
|
in the common course of Providence,
|
|
<I>He that gathers much has nothing over, and he
|
|
that gathers little has no lack,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ex+16:18">Exod. xvi. 18</A>.
|
|
|
|
5. See the perishing nature of our worldly
|
|
enjoyments. The great increase of the years
|
|
of plenty was quite lost and swallowed up in
|
|
the years of famine; and the overplus of it,
|
|
which seemed very much, yet did but just
|
|
serve to keep men alive,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:29-31"><I>v.</I> 29-31</A>.
|
|
<I>Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats, but God
|
|
shall destroy both it and them,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Co+6:13">1 Cor. vi. 13</A>.
|
|
There is bread which <I>endures to everlasting
|
|
life,</I> which shall not be forgotten, and which
|
|
it is worth while to labour for,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+6:27">John vi. 27</A>.
|
|
Those that make the things of this world
|
|
their good things will find but little pleasure
|
|
in remembering that they have received them,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Lu+16:25">Luke xvi. 25</A>.
|
|
|
|
6. Observe, God revealed
|
|
this beforehand to Pharaoh, who, as king of
|
|
Egypt, was to be the father of his country,
|
|
and to make prudent provision for them.
|
|
Magistrates are called <I>shepherds,</I> whose care
|
|
it must be, not only to rule, but to feed.</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_33"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_34"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_35"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_36"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_37"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_38"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_39"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_40"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_41"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_42"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_43"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_44"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_45"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec4"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>Joseph's Exaltation.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1715.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>33 Now therefore let Pharaoh look
|
|
out a man discreet and wise, and set
|
|
him over the land of Egypt.
|
|
34 Let
|
|
Pharaoh do <I>this,</I> 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 store 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
|
|
<I>such a one</I> as this <I>is,</I> a man in whom
|
|
the Spirit of God <I>is?</I>
|
|
39 And Pharaoh
|
|
said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath
|
|
showed thee all this, <I>there is</I>
|
|
none so discreet and wise as thou
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Page230"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<I>art:</I>
|
|
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 <I>ruler</I> over
|
|
all the land of Egypt.
|
|
44 And Pharaoh
|
|
said unto Joseph, I <I>am</I> 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 Zaphnath-paaneah; and
|
|
he gave him to wife Asenath the
|
|
daughter of Poti-pherah priest of On.
|
|
And Joseph went out over <I>all</I> the land
|
|
of Egypt.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Here is, I. The good advice that Joseph
|
|
gave to Pharaoh, which was,
|
|
|
|
1. That in the
|
|
years of plenty he should lay up for the years
|
|
of famine, buy up corn when it was cheap,
|
|
that he might both enrich himself and
|
|
supply the country when it would be dear and
|
|
scarce. Note, Fair warning should always
|
|
be followed with good counsel. Therefore
|
|
the prudent man foresees the evil, that he may
|
|
hide himself. God has in his word told us of
|
|
a day of trial and exigence before us, when
|
|
we shall need all the grace we can get, and
|
|
all little enough, "Now, therefore, provide
|
|
accordingly." Note, further, Times of gathering
|
|
must be diligently improved, because
|
|
there will come a time of spending. Let us
|
|
go to the ant, and learn of her this wisdom,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+6:6-8">Prov. vi. 6-8</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. Because that which is
|
|
everybody's work commonly proves nobody's
|
|
work, he advises Pharaoh to appoint officers
|
|
who should make it their business, and to
|
|
select some one person to preside in the
|
|
affair,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:33"><I>v.</I> 33</A>.
|
|
Probably, if Joseph had not
|
|
advised this, it would not have been done;
|
|
Pharaoh's counsellors could no more improve
|
|
the dream than his magicians interpret it;
|
|
therefore it is said of him
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+105:22">Ps. cv. 22</A>)
|
|
that he
|
|
<I>taught the senators wisdom.</I> Hence we may
|
|
justly infer with Solomon
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+4:13">Eccl. iv. 13</A>),
|
|
<I>Better
|
|
is a poor and a wise child than an old and
|
|
foolish king.</I></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The great honour that Pharaoh did to
|
|
Joseph.
|
|
|
|
1. He gave him an honourable testimony:
|
|
He is <I>a man in whom the Spirit of
|
|
God is;</I> and this puts a great excellency
|
|
upon any man; such men ought to be valued,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:38"><I>v.</I> 38</A>.
|
|
He is a nonsuch for prudence:
|
|
<I>There is none so discreet and wise as thou art,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:39"><I>v.</I> 39</A>.
|
|
Now he is abundantly recompensed
|
|
for the disgrace that had been done him;
|
|
and his righteousness is as the morning-light,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+37:6">Ps. xxxvii. 6</A>.
|
|
|
|
2. He put him into an
|
|
honourable office; not only employed him
|
|
to buy up corn, but made him prime-minister
|
|
of state, comptroller of the household--<I>Thou
|
|
shalt be over my house,</I> chief justice of the
|
|
kingdom--<I>according to thy word shall all my
|
|
people be ruled,</I> or <I>armed,</I> as some read it,
|
|
and then it bespeaks him general of the
|
|
forces. Him commission was very ample: <I>I
|
|
have set thee over all the land of Egypt</I>
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:41"><I>v.</I> 41</A>);
|
|
<I>without thee shall no man lift up his hand or
|
|
foot</I>
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:44"><I>v.</I> 44</A>);
|
|
all the affairs of the kingdom
|
|
must pass through his hand. Nay
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:40"><I>v.</I> 40</A>),
|
|
<I>only in the throne will I be greater than thou.</I>
|
|
Note, It is the wisdom of princes to prefer
|
|
those, and the happiness of people to have
|
|
those preferred, to places of power and trust,
|
|
in whom the Spirit of God is. It is probable
|
|
that there were those about the court who
|
|
opposed Joseph's preferment, which occasioned
|
|
Pharaoh so often to repeat the grant,
|
|
and with that solemn sanction
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:44"><I>v.</I> 44</A>),
|
|
<I>I am
|
|
Pharaoh.</I> When the proposal was made that
|
|
there should be a corn-master-general nominated,
|
|
it is said
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:37"><I>v.</I> 37</A>),
|
|
<I>Pharaoh's servants
|
|
were all pleased</I> with the proposal, each
|
|
hoping for the place; but when Pharaoh said
|
|
to them, "Joseph shall be the man," we do
|
|
not read that they made him any answer,
|
|
being uneasy at it, and acquiescing only
|
|
because they could not help it. Joseph had
|
|
enemies, no doubt, archers that shot at him,
|
|
and hated him
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+49:23"><I>ch.</I> xlix. 23</A>),
|
|
as Daniel,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+6:4"><I>ch.</I> vi. 4</A>.
|
|
|
|
3. He put upon him all the marks of
|
|
honour imaginable, to recommend him to the
|
|
esteem and respect of the people as the king's
|
|
favourite, and one whom he delighted to
|
|
honour.
|
|
|
|
(1.) He gave him his own ring, as
|
|
a ratification of his commission, and in token
|
|
of peculiar favour; or it was like delivering
|
|
him the great seal.
|
|
|
|
(2.) He put fine clothes
|
|
upon him, instead of his prison garments.
|
|
For those that are in kings' palaces must
|
|
wear soft clothing; he that, in the morning,
|
|
was dragging his fetters of iron, before night
|
|
was adorned with a chain of gold.
|
|
|
|
(3.) He made him <I>ride in the second chariot</I> to his
|
|
own, and ordered all to do homage to him:
|
|
"<I>Bow the knee,</I> as to Pharaoh himself."
|
|
|
|
(4.) He gave him a new name, to show his
|
|
authority over him, and yet such a name as
|
|
bespoke the value he had for him, <I>Zaphnath-paaneah--A
|
|
revealer of secrets.</I>
|
|
|
|
(5.) He married
|
|
him honourably to a prince's daughter.
|
|
Where God had been liberal in giving
|
|
wisdom and other merits, Pharaoh was
|
|
not sparing in conferring honours. Now
|
|
this preferment of Joseph was,
|
|
|
|
[1.] An
|
|
abundant recompense for his innocent and
|
|
patient suffering, a lasting instance of the
|
|
equity and goodness of Providence, and an
|
|
encouragement to all good people to trust in
|
|
a good God.
|
|
|
|
[2.] It was typical of the
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Page231"> </A>
|
|
|
|
exaltation of Christ, that great <I>revealer of
|
|
secrets</I>
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Joh+1:18">John i. 18</A>),
|
|
or, as some translate
|
|
Joseph's new name, the <I>Saviour of the world.</I>
|
|
The brightest glories of the upper world
|
|
are put upon him, the highest trust is
|
|
lodged in his hand, and all power is given
|
|
to him both in heaven and earth. He is gatherer,
|
|
keeper, and disposer, of all the stores
|
|
of divine grace, and chief ruler of the kingdom
|
|
of God among men. The work of ministers
|
|
is to cry before him, "<I>Bow the knee; kiss the
|
|
Son.</I>"</P>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_46"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_47"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_48"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_49"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_50"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_51"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_52"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_53"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_54"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_55"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_56"> </A>
|
|
<A NAME="Ge41_57"> </A>
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Sec5"> </A>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
|
|
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The Famine in Egypt and Canaan.</I></FONT></TD>
|
|
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1706.</TD></TR>
|
|
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>46 And Joseph <I>was</I> thirty years old
|
|
when he stood before Pharaoh king
|
|
of Egypt. And Joseph went out from
|
|
the presence of Pharaoh, and went
|
|
throughout all the land of Egypt.
|
|
47 And in the seven plenteous years the
|
|
earth brought forth by handfuls.
|
|
48 And he gathered up all the food of
|
|
the seven years, which were in the
|
|
land of Egypt, and laid up the food
|
|
in the cities: the food of the field,
|
|
which <I>was</I> round about every city, laid
|
|
he up in the same.
|
|
49 And Joseph
|
|
gathered corn as the sand of the sea,
|
|
very much, until he left numbering;
|
|
for <I>it was</I> without number.
|
|
50 And
|
|
unto Joseph were born two sons before
|
|
the years of famine came, which
|
|
Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah
|
|
priest of On bare unto him.
|
|
51 And
|
|
Joseph called the name of the firstborn
|
|
Manasseh: For God, <I>said he,</I>
|
|
hath made me forget all my toil, and
|
|
all my father's house.
|
|
52 And the
|
|
name of the second called he Ephraim:
|
|
For God hath caused me to be fruitful
|
|
in the land of my affliction.
|
|
53 And the seven years of plenteousness,
|
|
that was in the land of Egypt, were
|
|
ended.
|
|
54 And the seven years of
|
|
dearth began to come, according as
|
|
Joseph had said: and the dearth was
|
|
in all lands; but in all the land of
|
|
Egypt there was bread.
|
|
55 And when
|
|
all the land of Egypt was famished,
|
|
the people cried to Pharaoh for bread:
|
|
and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians,
|
|
Go unto Joseph; what he saith
|
|
to you, do.
|
|
56 And the famine was
|
|
over all the face of the earth: and
|
|
Joseph opened all the storehouses,
|
|
and sold unto the Egyptians; and
|
|
the famine waxed sore in the land of
|
|
Egypt.
|
|
57 And all countries came
|
|
into Egypt to Joseph for to buy <I>corn;</I>
|
|
because that the famine was <I>so</I> sore in
|
|
all lands.
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
Observe here,
|
|
|
|
I. The building of Joseph's
|
|
family in the birth of two sons, Manasseh
|
|
and Ephraim,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:50-52"><I>v.</I> 50-52</A>.
|
|
In the names he
|
|
gave them, he owned the divine Providence
|
|
giving this happy turn to his affairs,
|
|
|
|
1. He
|
|
was made to forget his misery,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+11:16">Job xi. 16</A>.
|
|
We should bear our afflictions when they are
|
|
present as those that know not but Providence
|
|
may so outweigh them by after-comforts
|
|
as that we may even forget them
|
|
when they are past. But could he be so
|
|
unnatural as to <I>forget all his father's house?</I>
|
|
He means the unkindness he received from
|
|
his brethren, or perhaps the wealth and
|
|
honour he expected from his father, with the
|
|
birthright. The robes he now wore made
|
|
him forget the coat of divers colours which
|
|
he wore in his father's house.
|
|
|
|
2. He was
|
|
made <I>fruitful in the land of his affliction.</I> It
|
|
had been the land of his affliction, and in
|
|
some sense it was still so, for it was not
|
|
Canaan, the land of promise. His distance
|
|
from his father was still his affliction. Note,
|
|
Light is sometimes sown for the righteous in
|
|
a barren and unlikely soil; and yet if God
|
|
sow it, and water it, it will come up again.
|
|
The afflictions of the saints promote their
|
|
fruitfulness. <I>Ephraim</I> signifies <I>fruitfulness,</I>
|
|
and <I>Manasseh forgetfulness,</I> for these two
|
|
often go together; when Jeshurun waxed fat,
|
|
he forgot God his Maker.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
II. The accomplishment of Joseph's predictions.
|
|
Pharaoh had great confidence in
|
|
the truth of them, perhaps finding in his own
|
|
mind, beyond what another person could, an
|
|
exact correspondence between them and his
|
|
dreams, as between the key and the lock;
|
|
and the event showed that he was not deceived.
|
|
The seven plenteous years came
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:47"><I>v.</I> 47</A>),
|
|
and, at length, they were ended,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:54"><I>v.</I> 53</A>.
|
|
Note, We ought to foresee the approaching
|
|
period of the days both of our prosperity and
|
|
of our opportunity, and therefore must not
|
|
be secure in the enjoyment of our prosperity
|
|
nor slothful in the improvement of our opportunity;
|
|
years of plenty will end, therefore,
|
|
Whatever thy hand finds to do do it;
|
|
and gather in gathering time. <I>The morning
|
|
cometh and also the night</I>
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+21:12">Isa. xxi. 12</A>),
|
|
the plenty and also the famine.
|
|
<I>The seven years
|
|
of dearth began to come,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:54"><I>v.</I> 54</A>.
|
|
See what changes of condition we are liable to in this
|
|
world, and what need we have to be joyful
|
|
in a day of prosperity and in a day of adversity
|
|
to consider,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+7:14">Eccl. vii. 14</A>.
|
|
This famine,
|
|
it seems, was not only in Egypt, but in other
|
|
lands, in <I>all lands,</I> that is, all the neighbouring
|
|
countries; <I>fruitful lands</I> are soon <I>turned
|
|
into barrenness for the iniquity of those that
|
|
dwell therein,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ps+107:34">Ps. cvii. 34</A>.
|
|
It is here said
|
|
that <I>in the land of Egypt there was bread,</I>
|
|
meaning probably, not only that which Joseph
|
|
had bought up for the king, but that
|
|
which private persons, by his example, and
|
|
|
|
<A NAME="Page232"> </A>
|
|
|
|
upon the public notice of this prediction, as
|
|
well as by the rules of common prudence,
|
|
had laid up.</P>
|
|
|
|
<P>
|
|
|
|
III. The performance of Joseph's trust.
|
|
He was found faithful to it, as a steward
|
|
ought to be.
|
|
|
|
1. He was diligent in laying
|
|
up, while the plenty lasted,
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+41:48,49"><I>v.</I> 48, 49</A>.
|
|
He
|
|
that thus gathers is a wise son.
|
|
|
|
2. He was
|
|
prudent and careful in giving out, when the
|
|
famine came, and kept the markets low by
|
|
furnishing them at reasonable rates out of
|
|
his stores. The people in distress cried to
|
|
Pharaoh, as that woman to the king of Israel
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=2Ki+6:26">2 Kings vi. 26</A>),
|
|
<I>Help, my lord, O king:</I> he
|
|
sent them to his treasurer, <I>Go to Joseph.</I>
|
|
Thus God in the gospel directs those that
|
|
apply to him for mercy and grace to <I>go to the
|
|
Lord Jesus,</I> in whom all fulness dwells; and,
|
|
<I>What he saith to you, do.</I> Joseph, no doubt,
|
|
with wisdom and justice fixed the price of
|
|
the corn he sold, so that Pharaoh, whose
|
|
money had bought it up, might have a reasonable
|
|
profit, and yet the country might not
|
|
be oppressed, nor advantage taken of their
|
|
prevailing necessity; while he that withholdest
|
|
corn when it is dear, in hopes it will
|
|
yet grow dearer, though people perish for
|
|
want of it, has many a curse for so doing
|
|
(and it is not a curse causeless), <I>blessings
|
|
shall be upon the head of him that</I> thus <I>selleth
|
|
it,</I>
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Pr+11:26">Prov. xi. 26</A>.
|
|
And let the price be determined
|
|
by that golden rule of justice, to do as
|
|
we would be done by.</P>
|
|
|
|
<!-- (End Body) -->
|
|
|
|
<HR>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
|
|
<TR>
|
|
<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC01040.HTM">Previous</A>]
|
|
[<A HREF="MHC01042.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
|
|
<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
|
Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
|
|
</TABLE>
|
|
<HR>
|
|
<TABLE WIDTH="100%">
|
|
<TR>
|
|
<TD ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="BOTTOM">
|
|
|
|
<!--Matthew_Henry's_Commentary_on_the_Whole_Bible:_Genesis_XLI.--><a href="http://www.biblesnet.com" target="_blank"><b>Back to Bibles Net . Com - Online Christian Library </b></a><br>
|
|
<a href="http://biblesnet.com/download.html" target="_blank"><br>
|
|
<b>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Free Download</b></a><br>
|
|
<br>
|
|
<A HREF="http://biblesnet.com/contactus.html" target="_blank"><strong>Contact Us </strong></A><br>
|
|
|
|
</TD></TR></TABLE>
|
|
<HR>
|
|
</BODY>
|
|
</HTML>
|