Joseph not only interpreted Pharaoh's dreams; he also devised how to use the developing situation to strengthen the Egyptian state. Here it must be kept in mind that the very appearance of Joseph, and then of all his fellow tribesmen, in Egypt would have been impossible if...
Joseph not only interpreted Pharaoh's dreams; he also devised how to use the developing situation to strengthen the Egyptian state. Here it must be kept in mind that the very appearance of Joseph, and then of all his fellow tribesmen, in Egypt would have been impossible if Egypt had not been seriously weakened at that time. A weak Egypt could not resist the Semitic nomadic tribes that invaded the country from the east, from the direction of the Sinai Desert. In history this invasion of Egypt by Semitic tribes is known as the invasion of the Hyksos. They not only founded their settlement in the Nile delta; they even occupied the Egyptian throne, the ancient throne of the pharaohs. The first dynasty of the New Kingdom, whose history begins with the Hyksos invasion, was a dynasty of Semitic origin. Only under the pharaohs of the first dynasty of the New Kingdom, a Semitic dynasty, could Joseph have made the career at court that he made, and his fellow tribesmen too could have moved peacefully and safely to Egypt only during the rule of those same pharaohs.
Egypt had weakened largely because by the end of the preceding era, the Middle Kingdom, the problem of regional separatism traditional for that country had again become acute. Egypt, after all, had from the beginning been formed out of many regions, each of which was originally independent. The inhabitants of the Egyptian regions remembered their former independence for a long time, occasionally reminding the central authority of it. Regional separatism was fed, not least of all, by large landowners - not all of them, of course, but those who, not being in service, lived on their estates.
Joseph's plan was directed precisely against them. It was impossible simply to take their estates from them: that would have been illegal, and Egypt was a legal and law-abiding state. Taking them for debts was another matter; there was no room for argument there, because debts had to be repaid one way or another. And debts would inevitably appear: the overwhelming majority of farms worked for the market, and crop failure meant losses at first and then ruin.
One year of drought and crop failure could still be survived by borrowing grain for sowing for the next year's harvest; however, in the second year, if there was a crop failure, the estate itself would have to be pledged - and seven dry years, and therefore seven years of crop failure, lay ahead. The estates inevitably had to pass to the treasury for debts, replenishing the state land fund.
In this way Joseph strengthened the state to which his fellow tribesmen were to move. They would move there so that later, after several centuries, their descendants would have to flee from this strengthened state, where there was no longer any place for them. For now, God had placed Joseph where he could save his fellow tribesmen from famine. This is how He leads His people and His nation through the twists of history.
41 Two things providence is here bringing about.
- The advancement of Joseph.
- 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.
In order to these, here is,41:29 See the goodness of God, in sending the seven years of plenty before those of famine, that provision might be made accordingly. How wonderful wisely has Providence, that great house - keeper, ordered the affairs of this numerous family from the beginning! Great variety of seasons there have been and the produce of the earth sometimes more, and sometimes less; yet take one time with another, what was miraculous concerning the manna, is ordinarily verified in the common course of Providence; He that gathers much has nothing over, and he that gathers little has no lack, Exo 16:18.
41:30 See the perishing nature of our worldly enjoyments. The great increase of the years of plenty was quite lost and swallowed up in the years of famine; and the overplus of it, which seemed very much, yet did but just serve to keep men alive.
41:44 Without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot - All the affairs of the kingdom must pass through his hand. Only in the throne will I be greater than thou - It is probable there were those about court that opposed Joseph's preferment, which occasioned Pharaoh so oft to repeat the grant, and with that solemn sanction, I am Pharaoh. He gave him his own ring as a ratification of his commission, and in token of peculiar favour; or it was like delivering him the great seal. He put fine clothes upon him instead of his prison garments, and adorned him with a chain of gold. He made him ride in the second chariot next his own, and ordered all to do obeisance to him, as to Pharaoh himself; he gave him a new name and such a name as spoke the value he had for him, Zaphnath - paaneah, a Revealer of secrets. He married him honourably to a prince's daughter. Where God had been liberal in giving wisdom and other merits, Pharaoh was not sparing in conferring honours. Now this preferment of Joseph, was, 1st, an abundant recompense for his innocent and patient suffering, alasting instance of the equity and goodness of providence, and an encouragement to all to trust in a good God. 2dly, It was typical of the exaltation of Christ, that great revealer ofsecrets, (Joh 1:18,) or as some translate Joseph's new name, the Saviour of the world. The brightest glories of the upper world are upon him, the highest trusts lodged in his hand, and all power given him both in heaven and earth. He is gatherer, keeper, and disposer of all the stores of divine grace, and chief ruler of the kingdom of God among men. The work of ministers is to cry before him; Bow the knee; kiss the Son.
41:50 Two sons - In the names he gave them, he owned the divine Providence giving this happy turn to his affairs. He was made to forget his misery, but could he be so unnatural as to forget all his father's house? And he was made fruitful in the land of his affliction. It had been the land of his affliction, and, in some sense, it was still so, for his distance from his father was still his affliction.Ephraim signifies fruitfulness, and Manasseh forgetfulness.
41:54 The seven years of dearth began to come - Not only in Egypt, but in other lands, in all lands, that is, all the neighbouring countries.