Joseph resisteth his mistress's temptation, GENESIS. Before CHRIST 1729. 5 And it came to pass from the| time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field. 6 And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand; and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly person, and well-favoured. 7 And it came to pass, after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph; and she said, Lie with me. 8 But he refused, and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house, and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; 9 There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife: how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? 10 And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her, or to be with her. 11 And it came to pass about this time, that Joseph went into the house to do his business; and there was none of the men of the house there within. on the care and protection of Providence in the most comfortless circumstances of life: because how hopeless soever our condition may, in human accounts, appear, yet there is a God above, who careth for us; and is both able and willing to relieve us from all our troubles. Bp. Conybeare. 9. how then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?] He alleges, in the most modest manner, gratitude to his master, and obedience to the Divine will. The favours, which his master had bestowed upon him, were sufficient to such a grateful mind as his, to prevent him from doing any thing which might justly displease his master: much less could he bear the thought of turning these very favours to his dishonour, and of injuring him in the most sensible manner by those very advantages which he held under him. To this he adds, that the regard he owed to the Supreme Being, would ever forbid him to gratify such unlawful requests. Bp. Conybeare. From a sense of duty to his master he was incapable of recompensing the confidence reposed in him with so irreparable and cruel an injury. But his sense of duty to his master was founded on the only perfect security of moral obligation; a sense of his duty to God. Mant's Parochial Sermons. and is cast into prison. 12 And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out. 13 And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand, and was fled forth, 14 That she called unto the men of her house, and spake unto them, saying, See, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us; he came in unto me to lie with me, and I cried with a loud voice: 15 And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled, and got him out. 16 And she laid up his garment by her, until his lord came home. 17 And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which thou hast brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me: 18 And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me, and fled out. 19 And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did thy servant to me; that his wrath was kindled. 20 And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. 14. Before CHRIST 1729. + Heb. great. to mock us;] To disgrace us, by committing a sin so foul and so dishonourable to us. Bp. Kidder. 17. And she spake unto him—saying, &c.] Thus one sin draws on another. She had been unfaithful to her lord, in endeavouring to bring dishonour on him: and when these endeavours did not succeed, she could not stop here, but aggravated the fault of a criminal desire by a false accusation. The same may be observed in almost every other instance of sin. When we venture on the commission of it, we lose the command of ourselves: we roll on, as a stone down a precipice, unable to say where we shall stop, or how far we shall go. Bp. Conybeare. 20. And Joseph's master took him,] This errour of Potiphar, for I will not give it any harsher name, cost Joseph dear. He forfeited his post; and, what is worse, was treated as the worst of criminals. Hence we may learn, that the greatest innocence cannot secure us from misfortunes. We are born to trouble; and ought rather to expect it, than be surprised at it. Nay, it sometimes happens, that our virtue itself will expose us to sufferings. Yet we ought not on this account to question the providence of God. This world is a place, not of retribution, but of trial. If we are true to ourselves, God will assist us in these sufferings; and perhaps make Joseph interpreteth the dreams of CHAP. XXXIX, XL. Before CHRIST 1729. + Heb. extended kin iness unto him. about 1720. 1718. 21 But the LORD was with Joseph, and shewed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. 23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the LORD was with him, and that which he did, the LORD made it to prosper. CHAP. XL. 1 The butler and baker of Pharaoh in prison. 4 Joseph hath charge of them. 5 He interpreteth their dreams. 20 They come to pass according to his interpretation. 23 The ingratitude of the butler. Pharaoh's butler and baker. 7 And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying, Wherefore † look t ye so sadly to day? Before CHRIST 1718. + Heb. are your faces 8 And they said unto him, We evil? have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me them, I pray you. 9 And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me; 10 And in the vine were three branches and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes: 11 And Pharaoh's cup was in my AND it came to pass after these hand; and I took the grapes, and things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. 2 And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. 3 And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound. 4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward. 5 And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison. 6 And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad. them, as He had before done, and now again did, in the case of Joseph, the steps and means towards a greater advancement. Bp. Conybeare. 66 Chap. XL. ver. 1. - the butler-and-baker] These were two distinguished officers of the crown; cupbearer" and "master of the household" to the king. Bp. Patrick. 4.—the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them,] Potiphar seems by this time to have been convinced of Joseph's innocency, as to the crime which he had confined him for: and though, to conceal the dishonour of his wife, he thought it proper still to confine him, yet having now a still greater opinion of his virtue and prudence, he committed to him the management of pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand. 12 And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days: 13 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh || lift up thine head, and re- || Or, reckon. store thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler. remember me 14 But think on me when it + Heb. shall be well with thee, and shew with thee. kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house: 15 For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon. 16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, the whole prison, and so delivered these two prisoners into his custody. Pyle. 5. according to the interpretation] That is, such as signified the event which Joseph foretold. Bp. Kidder. 15. - out of the land of the Hebrews:] Joseph might well call that particular part of the land of Canaan near Hebron, where Isaac and Jacob had resided so many years, "the land of the Hebrews." They, it is true, were not originally natives of the country, but they possessed such wealth, such numerous families, herds, and flocks, that they were looked up to as "mighty princes," as appears from the language of the children of Heth to Abraham, Gen. xxiii. 6. We find them joining the neighbouring kings in making war, chap. xiv; making compacts and leagues even with kings, chap. xxi, 23, and Pharaoh's two dreams. Before CHRIST 1718. | Or, full of holes. ↑ Heb. meat GENESIS. Pharaoh's two dreams. and, behold, I had three || white bas- | and fat-fleshed; and they fed in a kets on my head: meadow. 17 And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner + of bakemeats of Pharaoh for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat the work of a them out of the basket upon my head. baker, or, cook. 3 And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill-favoured and lean-fleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river. 4 And the ill-favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well-favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. 5 And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, +rank and good. 6 And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them. 7 And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream. 8 And it came to pass in the morn- 9 Then spake the chief butler 10 Pharaoh was wroth with his 11 And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream. Before CHRIST 1715. + Heb. fat. chap. xxvi. 14; and even conquering entire cities, chap. xxxiv; living according to their own customs, and exercising their own religion. It is therefore perfectly credible, that the place of their residence may have been termed "the land of the Hebrews," as they had been there such a length of time, independent, and in alliance with the natives. Dr. Graves. duction, as it has been often supposed to be. A species of wheat, which grows in Egypt, actually bears, when perfect, this number of ears on one stalk. The stem is solid, or at least full of pith, in order to yield sufficient nourishment and support to so great a weight as the ears it bears; whereas the stem of our own wheat is a mere hollow straw. Fragments to Calmet. 6. - blasted with the east wind] To this wind is ascribed in Scripture all the mischief done to corn or fruit, by blasting, smutting, mildews, locusts, &c. It was more pernicious in Egypt than other places, because it came through the vast deserts of Arabia. Bp. Patrick. 8. the magicians] Men who professed a skill in or by consulting demons, or by the foolish art of astrology, or by certain superstitious characters, pictures, images, and figures, engraven with magical rites and ceremonies, is uncertain. Bp. Patrick. 23. Yet did not remember Joseph,] Prosperity is very apt to puff men up; to incline them to vanity; and to make them overlook the concerns of other men. This we see in the instance before us. The chief butler bestowed not one kind thought on Joseph for full two years. He contented himself with following his own pleasures, and enjoying the good fortune which had be-interpreting dreams: whether by natural observations, fallen him whilst this innocent and extraordinary person was left friendless in prison, and supported only by the consciousness of his innocence, and the favour of his God. Bp. Conybeare. : 9. — I do remember my faults this day:] His offences against Pharaoh; or more probably his ingratitude towards Joseph, Bp. Patrick. 12 And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told a Chap. 40. him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret. 12, &c. b Ps. 105. 20. him run. who interpreteth his dreams. they had eaten them; but they were 22 And I saw in my dream, and, Before CHRIST 1715. 23 And, behold, seven ears, || wi- || Or, small. thered, 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. 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 Heb. made called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh.raoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: 15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, God hath shewed Pharaoh what he I have dreamed a dream, and there is is about to do. none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee, that || thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. [ Or, when thou hearest a dream, thou canst interpret it. + Heb. come to the inward parts of them. 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, fat-fleshed 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 lean-fleshed, such as I never saw in all the land of Egypt for badness: 25 And Joseph said unto Pha 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. 29 Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: 30 And there shall arise after them 21 And when they had eaten them it could not be known that up, 13.- me he restored unto mine office,] He foretold that I should be restored to mine office; and he told the other he should be hanged. Bp. Patrick. See the note on Jer. i. 10. 14.-out of the dungeon:] Where he was possibly ministering to the prisoners committed to his charge. Bp. Kidder. - he shaved himself, &c.] It was the custom in most countries, when men were in a mournful condition, to neglect their hair, both of the head and beard; and not to shift their clothes as in prosperity; but to continue in a sorrowful dress, expressing thereby the sense they had of their calamity. Bp. Patrick. 16. It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh &c.] He had previously ascribed his skill in divination to its all-wise Giver; see chap. xl. 8. The instrument of any extraordinary action ought not to arrogate that praise, which is due only to the author of it. Even our ordinary powers proceed from God: and therefore, as we should do every thing to his glory, so, when we have 31 And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very + grievous. + Heb. heavy. 34 Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint || officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous 35.-gather all the food] The fifth part of the growth, as before stated. Bp. Patrick. 36. the land perish not] That is, the people of the land. Bp. Patrick. 38. a man in whom the Spirit of God is ?] Pharaoh forms this conclusion from the interpretation which Joseph had given of his dream; compare Dan. v. 11; as also from Joseph's words before, ver. 16. Bp. Kidder. 40. · shall all my people be ruled:] In the margin it is kiss; as it signifies in the second Psalm, "kiss the Son," that is, submit to Him and obey Him. Bp. Patrick. Bp. Pococke, when he describes the Egyptian compliments, tells us, that on persons taking any thing from the hand of a superiour, or that is sent from such an one, they kiss it, and as the highest respect put it to their foreheads. The same custom prevails in other Eastern countries. Is not this what Pharaoh refers to in this passage? "according unto thy word," or on account of thy word, "shall all my people kiss:" that is, I imagine, the orders of Joseph were to be received with the greatest respect by all, and kissed by the most illustrious princes of Egypt. Harmer. 42.-took off his ring &c.] Both in token of the dignity to which he was preferred, and that he might seal letters or patents in the king's name. Bp. Patrick. vestures of fine linen,] Not "silk," as in the margin; nor common linen; but that which the ancients called Byssus; a sort of linen very pure and soft, and very dear. In garments made of this, great men only were clothed; kings themselves, it appears by Solomon, being arrayed in such vestures. Bp. Patrick. 44.without thee shall no man lift up &c.] No man shall have power to do any thing without thy leave, at least not against thy will. Bp. Kidder. Joseph is advanced. 39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: C 40 Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. 41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of || fine linen, and put a gold || Or, silk. chain about his neck; 43 And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, || + Bow the knee: Or, Tender and he made him ruler over all the father. land of Egypt. 44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt. ↑ Heb. Abrech. 45 And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnath-paaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah || priest of On. 1 Or, prince. We have now followed Joseph to the height of his advancement. We have seen him in all the several parts of his life virtuous and religious; patient and courageous under the greatest misfortunes; and modest and temperate in the greatest successes. His virtue indeed had been for some time ill requited. He was imprisoned by his master, for being just and faithful to him, in a point in which his peace and honour were in the greatest degree concerned. Yet, though he suffered, his own innocence gave him some comfort, and the Spirit of God greater. He resigned himself up entirely to the Divine will; as knowing, that whatever happens, it will" work together for good to them that love God." The Divine workings are indeed many times to us unsearchable; but they are always managed by infinite goodness and wisdom. Joseph trusted in God; who not only delivered him from the prison, where he had been confined, but at once advanced him to be first minister to the king of Egypt. Such was the reward of his piety! And thus was it done to that person, whom the Lord delighted to honour. Bp. Conybeare. 45. And Pharaoh called Joseph's name &c.] It was an ancient custom among Eastern princes, on their promotion of a favourite, to give him a new name. Thus Nebuchadnezzar did to Daniel and his companions in Babylon: and to this day the Mogul never advances a man, without giving him a new name, significant of something belonging to him. Joseph's new name signified a revealer of secrets; or, more probably, a prime minister, or, the prince of lords. Stackhouse. 66 -priest of On.] Or prince" of On, as in the margin; for the original word signifies both priest and prince. Bp. Patrick. On among the Egyptians signifies the sun. Hence the city On was uniformly rendered Heliopolis, or the city of the Sun. The authors |