411 Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream , and behold , he was standing by the Nile . 2 And lo , from the Nile there came up seven cows , sleek and fat ; and they grazed in the marsh grass . 3 Then behold , seven other cows came up after them from the Nile , ugly and gaunt e , and they stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile . 4 The ugly and gaunt e cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows . Then Pharaoh awoke . 5 He fell asleep and dreamed a second time ; and behold , seven ears of grain came up on a single stalk , plump and good . 6 Then behold , seven ears , thin and scorched by the east wind , sprouted up after them. 7 The thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears . Then Pharaoh awoke , and behold , it was a dream . 8 Now in the morning his spirit was troubled , so he sent and called for all the magicians of Egypt , and all its wise men . And Pharaoh told them his dreams , but there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh .
9 Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh , saying , "I would make mention today of my own offenses . 10 "Pharaoh was furious with his servants , and he put me in confinement in the house of the captain of the bodyguard , both me and the chief baker . 11 " We had a dream on the same night , he and I; each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream . 12 "Now a Hebrew youth was with us there , a servant of the captain of the bodyguard , and we related them to him, and he interpreted our dreams for us. To each one he interpreted according to his own dream . 13 "And just as he interpreted for us, so it happened ; he restored me in my office , but he hanged him." 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 . 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph , "I have had a dream , but no one can interpret it; and I have heard it said about you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it." 16 Joseph then answered Pharaoh , saying , " It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer ."
17 So Pharaoh spoke to Joseph , "In my dream , behold , I was standing on the bank of the Nile ; 18 and behold , seven cows , fat and sleek came up out of the Nile , and they grazed in the marsh grass . 19 "Lo , seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt e , such as I had never seen for ugliness in all the land of Egypt ; 20 and the lean and ugly cows ate up the first seven fat cows . 21 "Yet when they had devoured e them, it could not be detected that they had devoured e them, for they were just as ugly as before . Then I awoke . 22 "I saw also in my dream , and behold , seven ears , full and good , came up on a single stalk ; 23 and lo , seven ears , withered , thin , and scorched by the east wind , sprouted up after them;
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 41:1-23
Commentary on Genesis 41:1-8
(Read Genesis 41:1-8)
The means of Joseph's being freed from prison were Pharaoh's dreams, as here related. Now that God no longer speaks to us in that way, it is no matter how little we either heed dreams, or tell them. The telling of foolish dreams can make no better than foolish talk. But these dreams showed that they were sent of God; when he awoke, Pharaoh's spirit was troubled.
Commentary on Genesis 41:9-32
(Read Genesis 41:9-32)
God's time for the enlargement of his people is the fittest time. If the chief butler had got Joseph to be released from prison, it is probable he would have gone back to the land of the Hebrews. Then he had neither been so blessed himself, nor such a blessing to his family, as afterwards he proved. Joseph, when introduced to Pharaoh, gives honour to God. Pharaoh had dreamed that he stood upon the bank of the river Nile, and saw the kine, both the fat ones, and the lean ones, come out of the river. Egypt has no rain, but the plenty of the year depends upon the overflowing of the river Nile. See how many ways Providence has of dispensing its gifts; yet our dependence is still the same upon the First Cause, who makes every creature what it is to us, be it rain or river. See to what changes the comforts of this life are subject. We cannot be sure that to-morrow shall be as this day, or next year as this. We must learn how to want, as well as how to abound. Mark the goodness of God in sending the seven years of plenty before those of famine, that provision might be made. The produce of the earth is sometimes more, and sometimes less; yet, take one with another, he that gathers much, has nothing over; and he that gathers little, has no lack, Exodus 16:18. And see the perishing nature of our worldly enjoyments. The great harvests of the years of plenty were quite lost, and swallowed up in the years of famine; and that which seemed very much, yet did but just serve to keep the people alive. There is bread which lasts to eternal life, which it is worth while to labour for. They that make the things of this world their good things, will find little pleasure in remembering that they have received them.