Bible Commentaries
Genesis 41

Verses 1-57

Genesis 41. Joseph Interprets Pharaoh’ s Dreams and is Made Viceroy of Egypt.— This is mainly from E, Genesis 41:1-28 apart from Genesis 41:15 b, and perhaps Genesis 41:9 b entirely so. But J has been used as well in the later part. It is not worth while to attempt analysis since the two narratives must have been closely parallel. Genesis 41:46 a belongs to P.

The two dreams are modelled on the same lines, and mean the same thing ( cf. Genesis 37:5-11 and Peter’ s triple vision, Acts 10:16); the second is more bizarre than the first, for cows do at least eat, if not each other. Cattle were used in agriculture, hence their symbolic fitness. All the magicians are called that Joseph’ s success may stand out against the background of their failure. The narrative, which is rather diffuse, for the most part needs no comment.

Genesis 41:9 . my faults: either against Pharaoh, which excited the king’ s anger, or his forgetfulness of Joseph ( Genesis 40:23).

Genesis 41:43 . mg. Abrech: probably an Egyptian word: the meaning is very uncertain, perhaps a summons to “ Attention!”

Genesis 41:45 . Zaphenath-paneah: another Egyptian expression of very uncertain meaning. That most generally accepted is “ The god speaks and he lives.”— Asenath: perhaps “ belonging to Neith” (a goddess).— On: Heliopolis, 7 miles NE. of Cairo, the chief seat of worship of Ra the sun-god. It contained a college for priests, and the high priest was a dignitary of exalted position in Egypt.

Genesis 41:51 . If Joseph was seventeen when sold, thirty when he stood before Pharaoh, thirty-nine when he disclosed his identity, he had been twenty years in Egypt without troubling to let his father know that he was alive.