[9] Then spake the chief
butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day: [10]
Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain
of the guard's house, both me and the chief baker: [11]
And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according
to the interpretation of his dream. [12]
And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain
of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to
each man according to his dream he did interpret. [13]
And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored
unto mine office, and him he hanged. [14]
Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of
the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in
unto Pharaoh. [15] And Pharaoh said
unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret
it: and I have heard say of thee, that thou canst understand a dream to
interpret it.
I remember my faults this day - in forgetting Joseph.
Some think he means his faults against Pharaoh, for which he was imprisoned,
and then he would insinuate, that through Pharaoh had forgiven him, he
had not forgiven himself. God's time for the enlargement of his people
will appear, at last, to be the fittest time. If the chief butler had at
first used his interest for Joseph's enlargement, and had obtained, it
is probable, he would have gone back to the land of the Hebrews, and then
he had neither been so blessed himself, nor such a blessing to his family.
But staying two years longer, and coming out upon this occasion to interpret
the king's dreams, way was made for his preferment. The king can scarce
allow him time, but that decency required it, to shave himself, and to
change his raiment, Genesis 41:14. It is done with all possible expedition,
and Joseph is brought in perhaps almost as much surprised as Peter was,
Acts 12:9, so suddenly is his captivity brought back, that he is as one
that dreams, Psalms 126:1.Pharaoh immediately, without enquiring who or
whence he was tells him his business, that he expected he should interpret
his dream.
[16] And Joseph answered Pharaoh,
saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
[17] And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream,
behold, I stood upon the bank of the river: [18]
And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and
well favoured; and they fed in a meadow: [19]
And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured
and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness:
[20] And the lean and the ill favoured kine
did eat up the first seven fat kine: [21]
And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten
them; but they were still ill favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke.
[22] And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven
ears came up in one stalk, full and good: [23]
And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind,
sprung up after them: [24] And the
thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians;
but there was none that could declare it to me. [25]
And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed
Pharaoh what he is about to do. [26]
The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven
years: the dream is one. [27] And the
seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years;
and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years
of famine. [28] This is the thing which
I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.
(1.) He gives honour to God; It is not in me; God must
give it. Great gifts then appear most graceful and illustrious, when those
that have them use them humbly, and take not the praise of them to themselves,
but give it to God, (2.) He shews respect to Pharaoh, and hearty good -
will to him, supposing that the interpretation would be an answer of peace.
Those that consult God's oracles may expect an answer of peace.
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