GENESIS CHAPTER FORTY-ONE OVERVIEW
Overall what is happening in this chapter is that Pharaoh has a dream and Joseph interprets it. Joseph is then given a place of authority.
Thomas Constable (2012) – Genesis 41
Joseph interpreted Pharaoh's two dreams faithfully. This led to God elevating Joseph in the government and demonstrating His sovereign control over economic life in Egypt as He prepared to preserve Israel and Egypt through the coming famine.
Thomas Coke (1801) – Genesis 41
Joseph interprets the dreams of Pharaoh, and advises him concerning the seven years of plenty. Pharaoh constitutes Joseph governor of Egypt, and gives him a wife, by whom he has two sons. The seven years of plenty pass, and the famine begins.
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge (2010) – Genesis 41
Overview:
Pharaoh has two dreams; (Genesis 41:1)
Joseph interprets them; (Genesis 41:9)
He gives Pharaoh counsel, and is highly advanced, and married; (Genesis 41:33)
The seven years of plenty; (Genesis 41:46)
He begets children; (Genesis 41:50)
The famine begins; (Genesis 41:53)
Adam Clarke (1826) – Genesis 41
Pharaoh’s dream of the seven well-favored and seven ill-favored kind, (Genesis 41:1-4). His dream of the seven full and seven thin ears of corn, (Genesis 41:5-7). The magicians and wise men applied to for the interpretation of them, but could give no solution, (Genesis 41:8). The chief butler recollects and recommends Joseph, (Genesis 41:9-13). Pharaoh commands him to be brought out of prison, (Genesis 41:14). Joseph appears before Pharaoh, (Genesis 41:15-16). Pharaoh repeats his dreams, (Genesis 41:17-24). Joseph interprets them, (Genesis 41:25-32), and gives Pharaoh directions how to provide against the approaching scarcity, (Genesis 41:33-36). Pharaoh, pleased with the counsel, appoints Joseph to be superintendent of all his affairs, (Genesis 41:37-41). Joseph receives the badges of his new office, (Genesis 41:42-43), and has his powers defined, (Genesis 41:44); receives a new name, and marries Asenath, daughter of Poti-Pherah, priest of On, (Genesis 41:45). Joseph’s age when brought before Pharaoh, (Genesis 41:46). Great fertility of Egypt in the seven plenteous years, (Genesis 41:47). Joseph hoards up the grain, (Genesis 41:48-49). Ephraim and Manasseh born, (Genesis 41:50-52). The seven years of famine commence with great rigor, (Genesis 41:53-55). Joseph opens the storehouses to the Egyptians, (Genesis 41:56). People from the neighboring countries come to Egypt to buy corn, the famine being in all those lands, (Genesis 41:57).
John Gill (1746) – Genesis 41
In this chapter are related Pharaoh's dreams, which his magicians could not interpret, (Genesis 41:1), upon which the chief butler now remembering Joseph, recommended him to Pharaoh as an interpreter, having had an happy experience of him as such himself, (Genesis 41:10), when Joseph was sent for out of prison; and Pharaoh having related his dreams, he interpreted them of seven years of plenty, and seven years of famine, that should be in the land of Egypt, (Genesis 41:14); and having done, he gave his advice to provide in the years of plenty against the years of famine, and proposed a scheme for doing it, which was approved of by Pharaoh and his ministers, (Genesis 41:33); and Joseph himself was pitched upon as the most proper person to execute it, and was appointed chief over the kingdom next to Pharaoh, who gave him a new name and a wife upon this occasion, (Genesis 41:38); accordingly, in the years of plenty he took a tour throughout the whole land, and gathered and laid up food in vast quantities in every city, (Genesis 41:46); an account is given of two sons born to Joseph, and of their names, (Genesis 41:50); and of the seven years of famine, beginning to come on at the end of the seven years of plenty, which brought great distress on the land of Egypt, and the countries round about, who all came to Joseph to buy corn, (Genesis 41:53).
Matthew Henry (1714) – Genesis 41
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 (Genesis 41:1-8).
2. The recommendation of Joseph to him for an interpreter (Genesis 41:9-13).
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 (Genesis 41:14-36).
4. The preferment of Joseph to a place of the highest power and trust in Egypt (Genesis 41:37-45).
5. The accomplishment of Joseph's prediction, and his fidelity to his trust (Genesis 41:46, etc.).
KEY VERSE
Genesis 41:14 Then Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph, and they hurriedly brought him out of the dungeon; and when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came to Pharaoh.
KEY EVENT
Joseph is released from prison.
KEY INSIGHT
Joseph made sure that Pharaoh knew that his ability to interpret dreams came from God.
KEY CROSS-REFERENCE
Daniel 2:28-29 "However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days. This was your dream and the visions in your mind while on your bed. As for you, O king, while on your bed your thoughts turned to what would take place in the future; and He who reveals mysteries has made known to you what will take place.”
KEY THOUGHT
Pharaoh recognized the wisdom, insight and abilities of Joseph.
KEY QUOTE
“Focus on God’s ability – not your human insight.”
