12 And Joseph H3130 said H559 unto him, This is the interpretation H6623 of it: The three H7969 branches H8299 are three H7969 days: H3117
And Joseph H3130 said H559 unto Pharaoh, H6547 The dream H2472 of Pharaoh H6547 is one: H259 God H430 hath shewed H5046 Pharaoh H6547 what he is about to do. H6213 The seven H7651 good H2896 kine H6510 are seven H7651 years; H8141 and the seven H7651 good H2896 ears H7641 are seven H7651 years: H8141 the dream H2472 is one. H259
This H1836 is the dream; H2493 and we will tell H560 the interpretation H6591 thereof before H6925 the king. H4430 Thou, H607 O king, H4430 art a king H4430 of kings: H4430 for the God H426 of heaven H8065 hath given H3052 thee a kingdom, H4437 power, H2632 and strength, H8632 and glory. H3367 And wheresoever H3606 the children H1123 of men H606 dwell, H1753 the beasts H2423 of the field H1251 and the fowls H5776 of the heaven H8065 hath he given H3052 into thine hand, H3028 and hath made thee ruler H7981 over them all. H3606 Thou H607 art this head H7217 of gold. H1722 And after H870 thee shall arise H6966 another H317 kingdom H4437 inferior H772 to thee, H4481 and another H317 third H8523 kingdom H4437 of brass, H5174 which shall bear rule H7981 over all H3606 the earth. H772 And the fourth H7244 kingdom H4437 shall be H1934 strong H8624 as iron: H6523 forasmuch as iron H6523 breaketh in pieces H1855 and subdueth H2827 all H3606 things: and as H6903 iron H6523 that breaketh H7490 all H3606 these, H459 shall it break in pieces H1855 and bruise. H7490 And whereas thou sawest H2370 the feet H7271 and toes, H677 part H4481 of potters' H6353 clay, H2635 and part H4481 of iron, H6523 the kingdom H4437 shall be H1934 divided; H6386 but H4481 there shall be H1934 in it of H4481 the strength H5326 of the iron, H6523 forasmuch as H3606 H6903 thou sawest H2370 the iron H6523 mixed H6151 with miry H2917 clay. H2635 And as the toes H677 of the feet H7271 were part H4481 of iron, H6523 and part H4481 of clay, H2635 so the kingdom H4437 shall be H1934 partly H4481 H7118 strong, H8624 and partly H4481 H7118 broken. H8406 And whereas H1768 thou sawest H2370 iron H6523 mixed H6151 with miry H2917 clay, H2635 they shall mingle themselves H1934 H6151 with the seed H2234 of men: H606 but they shall H1934 not H3809 cleave H1693 one H1836 to H5974 another, H1836 even H1888 as iron H6523 is not H3809 mixed H6151 with clay. H2635 And in the days H3118 of these H581 kings H4430 shall the God H426 of heaven H8065 set up H6966 a kingdom, H4437 which shall never H5957 H3809 be destroyed: H2255 and the kingdom H4437 shall not H3809 be left H7662 to other H321 people, H5972 but it shall break in pieces H1855 and consume H5487 all H3606 these H459 kingdoms, H4437 and it H1932 shall stand H6966 for ever. H5957 Forasmuch as H3606 H6903 thou sawest H2370 that the stone H69 was cut out H1505 of the mountain H2906 without H3809 hands, H3028 and that it brake in pieces H1855 the iron, H6523 the brass, H5174 the clay, H2635 the silver, H3702 and the gold; H1722 the great H7229 God H426 hath made known H3046 to the king H4430 what H4101 shall come to pass H1934 hereafter: H311 H1836 and the dream H2493 is certain, H3330 and the interpretation H6591 thereof sure. H540
Then H116 Daniel, H1841 whose name H8036 was Belteshazzar, H1096 was astonied H8075 for one H2298 hour, H8160 and his thoughts H7476 troubled H927 him. The king H4430 spake, H6032 and said, H560 Belteshazzar, H1096 let not H409 the dream, H2493 or the interpretation H6591 thereof, trouble H927 thee. Belteshazzar H1096 answered H6032 and said, H560 My lord, H4756 the dream H2493 be to them that hate H8131 thee, and the interpretation H6591 thereof to thine enemies. H6146 The tree H363 that thou sawest, H2370 which grew, H7236 and was strong, H8631 whose height H7314 reached H4291 unto the heaven, H8065 and the sight H2379 thereof to all H3606 the earth; H772 Whose leaves H6074 were fair, H8209 and the fruit H4 thereof much, H7690 and in it was meat H4203 for all; H3606 under H8460 which the beasts H2423 of the field H1251 dwelt, H1753 and upon whose branches H6056 the fowls H6853 of the heaven H8065 had their habitation: H7932 It is thou, H607 O king, H4430 that art grown H7236 and become strong: H8631 for thy greatness H7238 is grown, H7236 and reacheth H4291 unto heaven, H8065 and thy dominion H7985 to the end H5491 of the earth. H772 And whereas the king H4430 saw H2370 a watcher H5894 and an holy one H6922 coming down H5182 from H4481 heaven, H8065 and saying, H560 Hew H1414 the tree H363 down, H1414 and destroy H2255 it; yet H1297 leave H7662 the stump H6136 of the roots H8330 thereof in the earth, H772 even with a band H613 of iron H6523 and brass, H5174 in the tender grass H1883 of the field; H1251 and let it be wet H6647 with the dew H2920 of heaven, H8065 and let his portion H2508 be with H5974 the beasts H2423 of the field, H1251 till H5705 seven H7655 times H5732 pass H2499 over H5922 him; This H1836 is the interpretation, H6591 O king, H4430 and this H1932 is the decree H1510 of the most High, H5943 which is come H4291 upon H5922 my lord H4756 the king: H4430 That they shall drive H2957 thee from H4481 men, H606 and thy dwelling H4070 shall be H1934 with H5974 the beasts H2423 of the field, H1251 and they shall make thee to eat H2939 grass H6211 as oxen, H8450 and they shall wet H6647 thee with the dew H2920 of heaven, H8065 and seven H7655 times H5732 shall pass H2499 over H5922 thee, till H5705 thou know H3046 that the most High H5943 ruleth H7990 in the kingdom H4437 of men, H606 and giveth H5415 it to whomsoever H4479 he will. H6634 And whereas they commanded H560 to leave H7662 the stump H6136 of the tree H363 roots; H8330 thy kingdom H4437 shall be sure H7011 unto thee, after H4481 that thou shalt have known H3046 that the heavens H8065 do rule. H7990 Wherefore, H3861 O king, H4430 let my counsel H4431 be acceptable H8232 unto thee, H5922 and break off H6562 thy sins H2408 by righteousness, H6665 and thine iniquities H5758 by shewing mercy H2604 to the poor; H6033 if H2006 it may be H1934 a lengthening H754 of thy tranquillity. H7963 All H3606 this came H4291 upon H5922 the king H4430 Nebuchadnezzar. H5020 At the end H7118 of twelve H8648 H6236 months H3393 he walked H1934 H1981 in H5922 the palace H1965 of the kingdom H4437 of Babylon. H895 The king H4430 spake, H6032 and said, H560 Is not H3809 this H1932 H1668 great H7229 Babylon, H895 that I H576 have built H1124 for the house H1005 of the kingdom H4437 by the might H8632 of my power, H2632 and for the honour H3367 of my majesty? H1923 While H5751 the word H4406 was in the king's H4430 mouth, H6433 there fell H5308 a voice H7032 from H4481 heaven, H8065 saying, O king H4430 Nebuchadnezzar, H5020 to thee it is spoken; H560 The kingdom H4437 is departed H5709 from H4481 thee. And they shall drive H2957 thee from H4481 men, H606 and thy dwelling H4070 shall be with H5974 the beasts H2423 of the field: H1251 they shall make thee to eat H2939 grass H6211 as oxen, H8450 and seven H7655 times H5732 shall pass H2499 over H5922 thee, until H5705 thou know H3046 that the most High H5943 ruleth H7990 in the kingdom H4437 of men, H606 and giveth H5415 it to whomsoever H4479 he will. H6634 The same hour H8160 was the thing H4406 fulfilled H5487 upon H5922 Nebuchadnezzar: H5020 and he was driven H2957 from H4481 men, H606 and did eat H399 grass H6211 as oxen, H8450 and his body H1655 was wet H6647 with the dew H2920 of heaven, H8065 till H5705 his hairs H8177 were grown H7236 like eagles' H5403 feathers, and his nails H2953 like birds' H6853 claws.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 40
Commentary on Genesis 40 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 40
Ge 40:1-8. Two State Prisoners.
1. the butler—not only the cup-bearer, but overseer of the royal vineyards, as well as the cellars; having, probably, some hundreds of people under him.
baker—or cook, had the superintendence of every thing relating to the providing and preparing of meats for the royal table. Both officers, especially the former, were, in ancient Egypt, always persons of great rank and importance; and from the confidential nature of their employment, as well as their access to the royal presence, they were generally the highest nobles or princes of the blood.
3. Pharaoh put them in ward, &c.—Whatever was their crime, they were committed, until their case could be investigated, to the custody of the captain of the guard, that is, Potiphar, in an outer part of whose house the royal prison was situated.
4. The captain of the guard charged Joseph with them—not the keeper, though he was most favorably disposed; but Potiphar himself, who, it would seem, was by this time satisfied of the perfect innocence of the young Hebrew; though, probably, to prevent the exposure of his family, he deemed it prudent to detain him in confinement (see Ps 37:5).
They continued a season in ward—literally, "days," how long, is uncertain; but as they were called to account on the king's birthday, it has been supposed that their offense had been committed on the preceding anniversary [Calvin].
5-8. they dreamed a dream—Joseph, influenced by the spirit of true religion, could feel for others (Ec 4:1; Ro 12:15; Php 2:4). Observing them one day extremely depressed, he inquired the cause of their melancholy; and being informed it was owing to a dream they had respectively dreamed during the previous night, after piously directing them to God (Da 2:30; Isa 26:10), he volunteered to aid them, through the divine help, in discovering the import of their vision. The influence of Providence must be seen in the remarkable fact of both officers dreaming such dreams in one night. He moves the spirits of men.
Ge 40:9-15. The Butler's Dream.
9-11. In my dream, behold, a vine was before me—The visionary scene described seems to represent the king as taking exercise and attended by his butler, who gave him a cooling draught. On all occasions, the kings of ancient Egypt were required to practice temperance in the use of wine [Wilkinson]; but in this scene, it is a prepared beverage he is drinking, probably the sherbet of the present day. Everything was done in the king's presence—the cup was washed, the juice of the grapes pressed into it; and it was then handed to him—not grasped; but lightly resting on the tips of the fingers.
12-15. Joseph said, … This is the interpretation—Speaking as an inspired interpreter, he told the butler that within three days he would be restored to all the honors and privileges of his office; and while making that joyful announcement, he earnestly bespoke the officer's influence for his own liberation. Nothing has hitherto met us in the record indicative of Joseph's feelings; but this earnest appeal reveals a sadness and impatient longing for release, which not all his piety and faith in God could dispel.
Ge 40:16-23. The Baker's Dream.
16. I had three white baskets—The circumstances mentioned exactly describe his duties, which, notwithstanding numerous assistants, he performed with his own hands.
white—literally, "full of holes"; that is, wicker baskets. The meats were carried to table upon the head in three baskets, one piled upon the other; and in the uppermost, the bakemeats. And in crossing the open courts, from the kitchen to the dining rooms, the removal of the viands by a vulture, eagle, ibis, or other rapacious bird, was a frequent occurrence in the palaces of Egypt, as it is an everyday incident in the hot countries of the East still. The risk from these carnivorous birds was the greater in the cities of Egypt, where being held sacred, it was unlawful to destroy them; and they swarmed in such numbers as to be a great annoyance to the people.
18, 19. Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation—The purport was that in three days his execution should be ordered. The language of Joseph describes minutely one form of capital punishment that prevailed in Egypt; namely, that the criminal was decapitated and then his headless body gibbeted on a tree by the highway till it was gradually devoured by the ravenous birds.
20-22. it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday—This was a holiday season, celebrated at court with great magnificence and honored by a free pardon to prisoners. Accordingly, the issue happened to the butler and baker, as Joseph had foretold. Doubtless, he felt it painful to communicate such dismal tidings to the baker; but he could not help announcing what God had revealed to him; and it was for the honor of the true God that he should speak plainly.
23. yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph—This was human nature. How prone are men to forget and neglect in prosperity, those who have been their companions in adversity (Am 6:6)! But although reflecting no credit on the butler, it was wisely ordered in the providence of God that he should forget him. The divine purposes required that Joseph should obtain his deliverance in another way, and by other means.