[And He Walks With Me] Genesis 41

1        The details provided in the biblical account are not sufficient to pinpoint which pharaoh ruled Egypt during Joseph’s time. In fact, the title pharaoh was not really used in reference to the king until the 1400s BCE. The author, then, is contextualizing the account so that his readers will understand who he is talking about. Our best guess places Joseph between 2000 and 1500 BCE, which would align with the two most commonly accepted dates for the Exodus of ca 1400 BCE or ca 1200 BCE. ^[90]

8        For the significance of dreams in the ANE and how they were typically interpreted, see note on 40:8. The fact it was Pharaoh, and he had two dreams in a single night, would have made the matter much more urgent.^[91]

The term magicians was less about practicing sorcery and such than it was about interpreting dreams and such. In fact, the term is based on an Egyptian title for the chief lector priest. The same title was earlier used to for renowned architect Imhotep and Neferti. Generally, it referred to the specialists who worked in and around the “House of Life,” which was where the dream books were stored and studied.^[92] See note on 40:8 for more about dream books.

14        Although most men of the ANE considered beards a sign of honor, Egyptians typically shaved. In fact, some Egyptian men would shave their heads. He also could not appear before the pharaoh in the attire of a prisoner.^[93] Therefore, he shaved [and] changed his clothes before he went to Pharaoh.

25-39        Joseph was careful to acknowledge God as the source of both the dreams and the interpretation. In vs 25, he observed, God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. In vs 28, he reiterated, God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. So also, in vs 32, he declared, the matter has been determined by God, and he will carry it out soon. What is profoundly important, however, is that, when Joseph was careful to acknowledge God’s role in all of this, the Pharaoh was compelled to acknowledge God as well. He said, Since God has made all this known to you… When we acknowledge God as the source of our gifts and abilities, others are compelled to acknowledge him as well, even if they do not immediately place their faith in him.

27        It was relatively common for Egypt to experience extended periods of drought that led to famine. As early as the 1800s BCE, there are records showing the Nile River as high as 16 ft (5 m) and as low as 1.5 feet (.5 m). There are also indications that irrigation systems were used to enable farming on additional land.

34        Joseph’s proposed course of action is remarkable. Typically, incantations would be used to ward off the negative things suggested in dreams, but Joseph proposes a much more practical strategy.

39        Pharaoh’s observation that there is no one as discerning and wise as [Joseph] is accurate given that his wisest men and sorcerers, the people he generally trusted for the best advice, were unable to interpret the dreams.

40        Egyptian documents refer to the chief administrative executive as vizier or “Overseer of the Royal estates.” However, the organizational scheme may have been closer to a corporation with a single president and multiple vice presidents. In fact, another known title for an Egyptian official was “Overseer of the Granaries of Upper and Lower Egypt.” This may have been closer to Joseph’s position.^[94]

42-45        It was not enough for Pharaoh to merely give Joseph a title. Instead, he made clear that Joseph acted on his behalf by [removing] his signet ring from his hand and [putting] it on Joseph’s hand.^[95] He affirmed this by [clothing] him with fine linen garments and [placing] a gold chain around his neck. He then had Joseph ride in his second chariot and ordered that he be preceded by criers and gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah and a wife, Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest at On. The new name signified his new place in the Egyptian culture, and the new wife officially elevated him to noble status.^[96] Similar things were done for Daniel by the Persian king in Daniel 1.^[97]

46        Joseph was seventeen years old in 37:2 when he started having his own dreams and this ordeal began. He was enslaved 13 years before he was elevated to pharaoh’s second in command. Godliness does not make us immune to hardship. Rather, God promises that our godliness will eventually be rewarded, whether it is in this life or the next.

51        Manasseh may sound like the Hb word for “forget,” but the fact that Joseph named his son like this suggests that he had not really forgotten his hardship and family at all. Rather, the name served as a proclamation that God had sustained Joseph even when Joseph’s own family betrayed him.

57        Joseph’s role in saving every land from starvation makes him a type of Christ. Christ’s actions makes available to the people of every land eternal salvation from sin.

[90] Keener and Walton 2016, Genesis 41:1

[91] Sproul 2016, Genesis 41:1; Keener and Walton 2016, Genesis 41:1

[92] Keener and Walton 2016, Genesis 41:8

[93] Sproul 2016, Genesis 41:14; (Keener and Walton 2016, Genesis 41:14

[94] Keener and Walton 2016, Genesis 41:40

[95] Keener and Walton 2016, Genesis 41:42-43

[96] Sproul 2016, Genesis 41:41-46

[97] Sproul 2016, Genesis 41:45