Geneses Chapter 41- Joseph's Time

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Geneses Chapter 41- Joseph's Time

The Text from https://www.bible.com/bible/111/GEN.41.NIV

Pharaoh’s Dreams

1 When two full years had passed (Joseph was waiting for the unknown time to be released.), Pharaoh(1) had a dream: He was standing by the Nile, 2 when out of the river there came up seven cows, sleek and fat, and they grazed among the reeds.

3 After them, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, came up out of the Nile and stood beside those on the riverbank.

4 And the cows that were ugly and gaunt ate up the seven sleek, fat cows. Then Pharaoh woke up.

5 He fell asleep again and had a second dream: Seven heads of grain, healthy and good, were growing on a single stalk.

6 After them, seven other heads of grain sprouted—thin and scorched by the east wind.

7 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven healthy, full heads. Then Pharaoh woke up; it had been a dream. (Pharaoh, the king of Egypt, dreamt similar dreams twice and so much troubled.)

8 In the morning his mind was troubled, so he sent for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret them for him. (No one was able to interprete the dreams.)

9 Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, (The cupbear came to remember what had happened with Joseph two years ago.) “Today I am reminded of my shortcomings.

10 Pharaoh was once angry with his servants, and he imprisoned me and the chief baker in the house of the captain of the guard.

11 Each of us had a dream the same night, and each dream had a meaning of its own.

12 Now a young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. We told him our dreams, and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream.

13 And things turned out exactly as he interpreted them to us: I was restored to my position, and the other man was impaled.” (The officer reported to Pharaoh what had happened with Joseph.)

14 So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon. When he had shaved and changed his clothes, he came before Pharaoh.

15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” (Pharaoh summoned Joseph for the interpretation of the dreams.)

16 “I cannot do it,” Joseph replied to Pharaoh, “but God will give Pharaoh the answer he desires.” (Joseph's wisdom and insight are from God.)

17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile, 18 when out of the river there came up seven cows, fat and sleek, and they grazed among the reeds.

19 After them, seven other cows came up—scrawny and very ugly and lean. I had never seen such ugly cows in all the land of Egypt.

20 The lean, ugly cows ate up the seven fat cows that came up first.

21 But even after they ate them, no one could tell that they had done so; they looked just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.

22 “In my dream I saw seven heads of grain, full and good, growing on a single stalk.

23 After them, seven other heads sprouted—withered and thin and scorched by the east wind.

24 The thin heads of grain swallowed up the seven good heads. I told this to the magicians, but none of them could explain it to me.” (Pharaoh reported his dreams of seven good and seven greater evil with cows and grain.)

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams of Pharaoh are one and the same. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do.

26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads of grain are seven years; it is one and the same dream.

27 The seven lean, ugly cows that came up afterward are seven years, and so are the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind: They are seven years of famine.

28 “It is just as I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do.

29 Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt, 30but seven years of famine will follow them. Then all the abundance in Egypt will be forgotten, and the famine will ravage the land.

31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered, because the famine that follows it will be so severe.

32 The reason the dream was given to Pharaoh in two forms is that the matter has been firmly decided by God, and God will do it soon. (Joseph interpreted the dreams which means there will be seven years of abundance and seven years of greater famine.)

33 “And now let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and put him in charge of the land of Egypt.

34 Let Pharaoh appoint commissioners over the land to take a fifth of the harvest of Egypt during the seven years of abundance.

35 They should collect all the food of these good years that are coming and store up the grain under the authority of Pharaoh, to be kept in the cities for food.

36 This food should be held in reserve for the country, to be used during the seven years of famine that will come upon Egypt, so that the country may not be ruined by the famine.” (Joseph went on to recommend how to manage the greater famine.)

37 The plan seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his officials. (It was the perfect solution.)

38 So Pharaoh asked them, “Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God?”

39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has made all this known to you, there is no one so discerning and wise as you.

40 You shall be in charge of my palace, and all my people are to submit to your orders. Only with respect to the throne will I be greater than you.” (Pharaoh appointed Joseph to the second to Pharaoh officer above all the nation.) (The lost two years was not lost but waiting for the best opportunity. What might happened if he had been released at the time, two years ago...)

Joseph in Charge of Egypt

41 So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the whole land of Egypt.”

42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring from his finger and put it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in robes of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.

43 He had him ride in a chariot as his second-in-command, and people shouted before him, “Make way!” Thus he put him in charge of the whole land of Egypt.

44 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, but without your word no one will lift hand or foot in all Egypt.” (Pharaoh bestowed Joseph the ruling power over the nation.)

45 Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah and gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, to be his wife. (Even Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-Paneah, which means "a finder of mysteries", and gave Asenah, daughter of Potiphera, pries of On, to be his wife.) And Joseph went throughout the land of Egypt. (So now Joseph began to rule Egypt.) (2, Picture)

46 Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from Pharaoh’s presence and traveled throughout Egypt. (Joseph was 30 years old, 13 years after being sold by his brothers at his age of 17. 37:2)

47 During the seven years of abundance the land produced plentifully.

48 Joseph collected all the food produced in those seven years of abundance in Egypt and stored it in the cities. In each city he put the food grown in the fields surrounding it.

49 Joseph stored up huge quantities of grain, like the sand of the sea; it was so much that he stopped keeping records because it was beyond measure. (Joseph prepared for famine in the abundant seven years.)

50 Before the years of famine came, two sons were born to Joseph by Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On. (Joseph had two sons.)

51 Joseph named his firstborn Manasseh(forget) and said, “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” (He overcame his trauma by being sold, subjugated, trapped, and prisoned which were all caused by his brothers hatred.)

52 The second son he named Ephraim(twice fruitful) and said, “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.” (but also doubled the blessing.)

53 The seven years of abundance in Egypt came to an end, 54 and the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph had said. There was famine in all the other lands, but in the whole land of Egypt there was food. (The seven years of the "greater than the abundance" famine began.)

55 When all Egypt began to feel the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for food. Then Pharaoh told all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph and do what he tells you.”

56 When the famine had spread over the whole country, Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, for the famine was severe throughout Egypt. (Joseph releaved the famine with the stored during the abundant harvest.)

57 And all the world came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe everywhere. (Not only the Egyptian but also those people affected by the famine came to Egypt to buy grain.)

(1, Pharaoh of the Time of Joseph) (AI)

It is not important to know the dynasty of Egypt but it shows that the story had happened in the real history, and later, on the Exodus, there will be a different dynasty in Egypt. (Ex. 1:8)

The Bible does not explicitly name the Pharaoh who ruled during the time of Joseph, but several historical figures are commonly proposed by scholars and archaeologists based on biblical timelines and Egyptian history.

Top Historical Candidates

Senusret II or III (12th Dynasty): Many scholars favor the Middle Kingdom period (ca. 2000–1786 BCE). Some identify Senusret II as the ruler during Joseph's arrival and Senusret III as the one who elevated him to vizier. Historical evidence shows administrative reforms during this time that weakened local nobility, aligning with the biblical account of Pharaoh gaining ownership of the land.

Amenemhat III (12th Dynasty): Another strong candidate, his reign was marked by massive irrigation projects, including the Bahr Yussef ("Joseph’s Canal"), which connects the Nile to the Faiyum Oasis.

Hyksos Rulers (15th Dynasty): Some researchers suggest Joseph served a Hyksos "Shepherd King" like Khyan or Apepi. The Hyksos were Semitic foreigners who ruled northern Egypt, which might explain why they were more likely to welcome and promote another Semite like Joseph to a high rank.

Djoser (3rd Dynasty): A popular alternative theory identifies the biblical Joseph with the famous vizier and architect Imhotep, who served Pharaoh Djoser. This is often linked to the "Famine Stele" on Sehel Island, which records a seven-year famine during Djoser’s reign.

Amenhotep III or Thutmose IV (18th Dynasty): Some researchers identify Joseph with the historical official Yuya, a powerful courtier of Semitic descent who served during the reigns of Thutmose IV and Amenhotep III.

Key Biblical and Historical Context

Title vs. Name: In the Book of Genesis, the ruler is simply referred to by the title "Pharaoh" or "King". Interestingly, the Quranic account calls him "King" (Malik) rather than "Pharaoh," which some argue is historically accurate for the pre-New Kingdom era.

Timeline Clues: Biblical chronology (e.g., 1 Kings 6:1) places the Exodus 480 years before Solomon's temple, which would put Joseph's time in Egypt approximately 430 years before that, around the 18th or 19th centuries BCE.

Vizier Role: Historical figures like Mentuhotep (under Senusret I) or Ankhu (under Amenemhat III) are sometimes suggested as the real-world inspiration for Joseph's role as the Pharaoh's right-hand man.

(2, The Triumph of Joseph in Egypt by Antonio del Castillo y Saavedra, 1616-1668)