{"id":39602,"date":"2018-09-06T15:50:35","date_gmt":"2018-09-06T12:50:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/?p=39602"},"modified":"2022-04-02T23:14:59","modified_gmt":"2022-04-02T20:14:59","slug":"chapter-summary-genesis-41","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/chapter-summary-genesis-41\/","title":{"rendered":"Chapter Summary – Genesis 41"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[281],"tags":[],"acf":{"old_id":"39602","type":"no","iframe":"","writer":false,"related_cahpter":"41","type_929":"2","show_author_image":false,"old_url":"","post_main_content":{"description":"Chapter 41Summary: Joseph the Provider\r\n\r\n","content":"

Pharaoh dreams two spectacular and disturbing dreams (verses 2-7; it\u2019s worth appreciating the words of the text). \u00a0In the first, seven thin cows swallow up seven fat cows. In the second, seven parched sheaves swallow up seven solid and healthy ones. Very Strange!<\/span><\/p>\n

Pharaoh requests an interpretation of the dreams from \u201call the magicians of Egypt, and all its wise men; and Pharaoh told them his dreams, but none could interpret them for Pharaoh.\u201d (Genesis 41:8). The feeling of not knowing where to begin evokes within the chief cupbearer the memory of Joseph and his proven talent.<\/span><\/p>\n

Joseph is taken out of the dungeon and after they clean him up so he can appear before royalty, he presents himself before Pharaoh. This time, too, he does not forget to emphasize that it is not he that interprets dreams. \u00a0It is God: \u201cNot I! God will see to Pharaoh\u2019s welfare\u201d (Genesis 41:16).<\/span><\/p>\n

The starting point of the interpretation that Joseph evinces is that these are not two separate dreams with different messages but one dream: The seven good and healthy cows\/sheaves are seven years of abundance that Egypt will enjoy in the future. \u00a0And the seven thin and sickly cows\/sheaves are seven years of famine that will occur afterwards. It will be such a bad famine that no memory will be remain of the seven previous good years. Why is the dream repeated? \u201c It means that the matter has been determined by God, and that God will soon carry it out\u201d (Genesis 41:32).<\/span><\/p>\n

Imagine a moment of silence, after the tough news that the dream conveys. \u00a0Immediately, Joseph continues from interpreting the dream to solving this problem: \u00a0\u201cAccordingly, let Pharaoh find a man of discernment and wisdom, and set him over the land of Egypt\u201d (Genesis 41:33), a man who will make sure over the course of the years of famine that a fifth of all the crops that the kingdom grows will be collected in the royal storehouses. \u00a0\u201cThe plan pleased Pharaoh and all his courtiers.\u201d (Genesis 41:37). Who is the person that should be chosen for the job? Joseph!<\/span><\/p>\n

Joseph no longer returns to the dungeon. \u00a0At that time he is appointed second in command next to the king of Egypt.<\/span><\/p>\n

From this moment until the end of the chapter, he brings about the new economic plan for Egypt. \u00a0During the first seven years, the government purchases the people\u2019s surplus crops which is collected in the storehouses, \u201cproduce in very large quantity, like the sands of the sea, until he ceased to measure it, for it could not be measured\u201d (Genesis 41:49) so that during the years of famine the people will have food to eat.<\/span><\/p>\n

Points to Ponder:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Cows and sheaves of corn: \u00a0Joseph understood that the two dreams are one really one dream. \u00a0They do not just contain cows, a source of protein, but also sheaves, a source of carbohydrates.<\/span><\/li>\n
  2. The Egyptian magicians: This is the first time (verse 8) but not the last (wait until the Book of Exodus) that we meet the magicians of Egypt, local sorcerers who have dream interpretation as one of their professional preoccupations.<\/span><\/li>\n
  3. The king\u2019s signet ring: In verse 42 Pharaoh removes his ring from his hand and bestows it upon Joseph, a sign of the passing of all his authority to him. If this reminds you of the Book of Esther, you are remembering correctly. Incidentally, there are many other points of similarity between the two stories.<\/span><\/li>\n
  4. Egyptian fashion: \u00a0He had him dressed in robes of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck\u201d (verse 42).<\/span><\/li>\n
  5. Zaphenath-paneah: \u00a0Joseph merits a new name (verse 45). If one interprets it according to the Aramaic translations, it means the one who \u201cdecodes hidden secrets,\u201d a name given to him for his skill in interpreting dreams. If one interprets according to the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Bible, it is a confounding of the Egyptian name \u201cPsonthomphanech\u201c which means the one who provides food and sustenance, exactly what Joseph did in the recent years.<\/span><\/li>\n
  6. Congratulations! \u00a0Joseph marries \u201cAsenath daughter of Poti-phera\u201d (verse 45). \u00a0Is \u201cPoti-phera\u201d simply a common name or is this the Potiphar to whom Joseph was a house servant a few chapters ago? \u00a0It depends whom you ask.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n","image":{"ID":86314,"id":86314,"title":"Points to ponder","filename":"Points-to-ponder.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/points-to-ponder-psalm-84\/points-to-ponder\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"points-to-ponder","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":86166,"date":"2021-01-09 20:56:58","modified":"2023-12-28 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Daily Summary","main_caption":"Points to Ponder: Genesis 41","main_caption_size":"1","sub_caption":"Insights and questions for personal reflection and group discussion","preview_embedded":"","preview_image":{"ID":86314,"id":86314,"title":"Points to ponder","filename":"Points-to-ponder.jpg","filesize":0,"url":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/Points-to-ponder.jpg","link":"https:\/\/wp.929.org.il\/en\/points-to-ponder-psalm-84\/points-to-ponder\/","alt":"","author":"7","description":"","caption":"","name":"points-to-ponder","status":"inherit","uploaded_to":86166,"date":"2021-01-09 20:56:58","modified":"2023-12-28 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