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Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 41:53

Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 41:53

And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.

Gen 41:53-57

Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians

The seven years of famine


I.

JOSEPHS ADMINISTRATION.

1. It showed great prudence and skill.

2. It showed a spirit of dependence upon God.

3. It was the exhibition of a character worthy of the highest confidence.


II.
Lessons:

1. How quickly adversity awaits upon prosperity.

2. What an advantage to have a true and powerful friend in the day of calamity.

3. God often brings about His purposes of love and mercy by affliction. (T. H. Leale.)

Joseph opening the storehouses


I.
JOSEPH OPENED THE STOREHOUSES BY ROYAL AUTHORITY.

1. The king was only to be approached through Joseph (Gen 41:55). So with Jesus (Joh 14:6).

2. The king commanded that Joseph should be obeyed (Gen 41:55; see Joh 5:23).

3. In all the land no other could open a storehouse save Joseph (see Joh 3:35).


II.
JOSEPH WAS A FIT PERSON TO BE THUS AUTHORIZED TO OPEN THE STOREHOUSES,

1. He planned the storehouses, and was justly appointed to control them (Gen 41:33-36; Gen 41:38).

2. He carried out the storage, and so proved himself practical as well as inventive (Gen 41:49).

3. He did it on a noble scale (Gen 41:49).

4. He had wisdom to distribute well (see Col 1:9; Joh 1:16).


III.
JOSEPH ACTUALLY OPENED THE STOREHOUSES.

1. For this purpose he filled them. Grace is meant to be used.

2. To have kept them closed would have been no gain to him.

3. He opened them at a fit time (Gen 41:55-56).

4. He kept them open while the famine lasted.


IV.
JOSEPH OPENED THE STOREHOUSE TO ALL COMERS. Yet Joseph did but sell, while Jesus gives without money.


V.
JOSEPH ACQUIRED POSSESSION OF ALL EGYPT FOR THE KING. Full submission and consecration are the grand result of infinite love. (C. H.Spurgeon.)

Lessons

1. Providence puts an end to plenty at His will, however sensual men think not of it.

2. The fruitfulest land becometh barren if God speak the word; even Egypt.

3. Periods of full conditions are observable by men; Gods Spirit notes them (Gen 41:54).

4. In the design of Providence, wants succeed plenty at the heels.

5. Entrance of dearth, though grievous, yet may make but small impression on souls.

6. Not a word of God falleth to the ground, but as He saith, so it is.

7. Providence orders lands for scarcity as well as plenty.

8. God can give bread to Egypt when He denieth it to other nations for His own ends (Gen 41:54). (G. Hughes, B. D.)

Lessons

1. Providence orders some countries to depend on others for their sustenance.

2. Wants make nations stoop and seek about for the support of life.

3. Grace can make poor captives become preservers of nations.

4. Sore plagues may be made to make men inquire after and prize abused mercies.

5. General judgments are sent to manifest Gods special ends of grace to His (Gen 41:57). (G. Hughes, B. D.)

Egypts indebtedness to Joseph

Egypts indebtedness to Joseph was, in fact, twofold. In the first place he succeeded in doing what many strong governments have failed to do: he enabled a large population to survive a long and severe famine. Even with all modern facilities for transport and for making the abundance of remote countries available for times of scarcity, it has not always been found possible to save our own fellow-subjects from starvation. In a prolonged famine which occurred in Egypt during the middle ages, the inhabitants, reduced to the unnatural habits which are the most painful feature of such times, not only ate their own dead, but kidnapped the living on the streets of Cairo and consumed them in secret. One of the most touching memorials of the famine with which Joseph had to deal is found in a sepulchral inscription in Arabia. A flood of rain laid bare a tomb in which lay a woman having on her person a profusion of jewels which represented a very large value. At her head stood a coffer filled with treasure, and a tablet with this inscription: In Thy name, O God, the God of Himyar, I, Tayar, the daughter of Dzu Shefar, sent my steward to Joseph, and he delaying to return to me, I sent my handmaid with a measure of silver to bring me back a measure of flour; and not being able to procure it, I sent her with a measure of gold; and not being able to procure it, I sent her with a measure of pearls; and not being able to procure it, I commanded them to be ground; and finding no profit in them, I am shut up here. If this inscription is genuine–and there seems no reason to call it in question–it shows that there is no exaggeration in the statement of our narrator that the famine was very grievous in other lands as well as Egypt. And, whether genuine or not, one cannot but admire the grim humour of the starving woman getting herself buried in the jewels which had suddenly dropped to less than the value of a loaf of bread. But besides being indebted to Joseph for their preservation, the Egyptians owed to him an extension of their influence; for, as all the lands round about became dependent on Egypt for provision, they must have contracted a respect for the Egyptian administration. They must also have added greatly to Egypts wealth, and during those years of constant traffic many commercial connections must have been formed which in future years would be of untold value to Egypt. But, above all, the permanent alterations made by Joseph on their tenure of land, and on their places of abode, may have convinced the most sagacious of the Egyptians that it was well for them that their money had failed, and that they had been compelled to yield themselves unconditionally into the hands of this remarkable ruler. It is the mark of a competent statesman that he makes temporary distress the occasion for permanent benefit; and from the confidence Joseph won with the people, there seems every reason to believe that the permanent alterations he introduced were considered as beneficial as certainly they were bold. And for our own spiritual uses it is this point which seems chiefly important. In Joseph is illustrated the principle that, in order to the attainment of certain blessings, unconditional submission to Gods delegate is required. (M. Doris, D. D.)

Christs storehouse

William Bridge says: There is enough in Jesus Christ to serve us all. If two, or six, or twenty men be athirst, and they go to drink out of a bottle, while one is drinking, the other envies, because he thinks there will not be enough for him too; but if a hundred be athirst, and go to the river, while one is drinking, the other envies not, because there is enough to serve them all.

Riches in Christ

Dr. Conyers was for some years a preacher before he had felt the power of the gospel. As he was reading his Greek Testament he came to Eph 3:8 : Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. Riches of Christ! said he to himself; Unsearchable riches of Christ! What have I preached of these? What do I know of these? Under the blessing of the Spirit of God he was thus awakened to a new life and a new ministry. Are there not some yet living who might put to their own consciences similar questions? (C. H.Spurgeon.)

Spiritual blessings by Christ

All the spiritual blessings wherewith the Church is enriched are in and by Christ. The apostle instances some of the choicest (Eph 1:3). Our election is by Him (Gen 41:4). Our adoption is by Him (Gen 41:5). Our redemption and remission of sins are both through Him. All the gracious transactions between God and His people are through Christ. God loves us through Christ; He hears our prayers through Christ; He forgives us all our sins through Christ. Through Christ He justifies us; through Christ He sanctifies us; through Christ Pie upholds us; through Christ He perfects us. All His relations to us are through Christ; all we have is from Christ; all we expect to have hangs upon Him. He is the golden hinge upon which all our salvation turns. (Ralph Robinson.)

Christ the only source of supply

If any of the people of Egypt had refused to go to Joseph, they would have despised not Joseph only, but the king, and would have deserved to be denied that sustenance which he only could give them. Are not the despisers of our great Redeemer in like manner despisers of His Father, who has set Him as His King upon the holy hill of Zion?. . . If Joseph had thrown open his storehouses before the Egyptians felt the pressure of hunger, they might soon have wasted the fruits of his prudent care . . . Hunger, though very unpleasant, is often more useful than fulness of bread. They were very willing to give the price demanded for their food as long as their money lasted. What is the reason why so many are unwilling to come and receive wine and milk without money and without price? They feel no appetite for it. They are not sensible of their need of it. (George Lawson, D. D.)

.


Fuente: Biblical Illustrator Edited by Joseph S. Exell

53-56. The seven years ofplenteousness . . . endedOver and above the proportionpurchased for the government during the years of plenty, the peoplecould still have husbanded much for future use. But improvident asmen commonly are in the time of prosperity, they found themselves inwant, and would have starved by thousands had not Joseph anticipatedand provided for the protracted calamity.

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And the seven years of plenteousness that was in the land of Egypt were ended. Perhaps quickly after the birth of Ephraim, Joseph’s second son; since the account follows upon that, and it is certain that he was born before the years of famine began, Ge 41:50; some connect the words, “moreover when” the seven years of plenty were ended, then began, as follows, seven years of famine; these events were fulfilled just as Joseph had predicted.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

When the years of scarcity commenced, at the close of the years of plenty, the famine spread over all (the neighbouring) lands; only in Egypt was there bread. As the famine increased in the land, and the people cried to Pharaoh for bread, he directed them to Joseph, who “opened all in which was” (bread), i.e., all the granaries, and sold corn ( , denom. from , signifies to trade in corn, to buy and sell corn) to the Egyptians, and (as the writer adds, with a view to what follows) to all the world ( , Gen 41:57), that came thither to buy corn, because the famine was great on every hand. – Years of famine have frequently fallen, like this one, upon Egypt, and the neighbouring countries to the north. The cause of this is to be seen in the fact, that the overflowing of the Nile, to which Egypt is indebted for its fertility, is produced by torrents of rain falling in the alpine regions of Abyssinia, which proceed from clouds formed in the Mediterranean and carried thither by the wind; consequently it has a common origin with the rains of Palestine (see the proofs in Hengst. pp. 37ff.).

Fuente: Keil & Delitzsch Commentary on the Old Testament

Verses 53-57:

The seven years of abundance ended, and the years of famine began, just as God had revealed by Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dream. The “dearth” or famine extended “in all lands,” or the adjoining countries including Palestine. When the famine began to be felt in Egypt and the people cried out to Pharaoh for food, he instructed them to go to Joseph and follow his orders. Joseph then ordered the storage magazines to be opened for the beginning of the sale of food-grains to the people.

Word circulated among the surrounding countries that there was food-grain available for sale in Egypt. People came from far and near to buy, because the famine that blasted Egypt also prevailed in all the neighboring countries.

God vindicated His word in a most dramatic way. And His plan and purpose for the Chosen People moved along right on schedule.

Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary

53. And the seven years… were ended. Already the former unwonted fertility, which showed Joseph to have been a true prophet, had procured for him a name and reputation; and in this way the Egyptians had been restrained from raising any tumult against him. Nevertheless, it is wonderful that a people so proud should have borne, in the time of prosperity, the rule of a foreigner. But the famine which followed proved a more sharp and severe curb for the subjugation of their lofty and ferocious spirits, in order that they might be brought into subjection to authority. When, however, Moses says that there was corn in all the land of Egypt, while the neighboring regions were suffering from hunger, he seems to intimate that wheat had also been laid up by private persons. And, indeed, (as we have said elsewhere,) it was impossible but the rumor of the approaching famine would be spread abroad, and would everywhere infuse fears and solicitude, so that each person would make some provision for himself. Nevertheless, however provident each might be, what they had preserved would, in a short time, be consumed. Whence it appeared with what skill and prudence Joseph had perceived from the beginning, that Egypt would not be safe, unless provisions were publicly gathered together under the hand of the king.

Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary

MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.Gen. 41:53-57

THE SEVEN YEARS OF FAMINE

I. Josephs administration.

1. It showed great prudence and skill. During the years of plenty he laid up for the years of famine. He was the prudent man that forseeth the evil. The time of plenty was the time of political and social salvation, and Joseph used it well. He did his work systematically and thoroughly. (Gen. 41:48). Consequently he has plenty of bread for the people throughout the years of famine. The policy of selling the corn, instead of giving it, was both good and wise. The people would thus have the motive for exertion, and at the same time be able to maintain the dignity of, at least, a nominal purchase.

2. It showed a spirit of dependence upon God. The meaning of the dream was given to Joseph by the inspiration of God, and he had faith that God would carry out His own word.

3. It was the exhibition of a character worthy of the highest confidence. Pharaoh could only say to the Egyptians: Go unto Joseph, what he saith to you, do. Both intellectual and spiritual qualities are required in a true ruler of men, and with both, in a remarkable degree, Joseph was endowed. A pious disposition, modest and retiring graces of character may adorn obscure lives, but he who has to deal much with mankind, and to take a position of command and influence in this worlds business, must possess the wisdom of the serpent as well as the harmlessness of the dove. Mere piety by itself is not sufficient. Eli was a good, but a weak man, and therefore unfit to guide and command others. The power of intellect alone may be a power for evil, but combined with piety towards God it is a power for good.

II. Lessons. There are useful and important lessons to be learned from Josephs administration during these seven years of famine.

1. How quickly adversity waits upon prosperity! It is thus in the experience of individual lives. God hath set one over against the other. Blessings grow out of our afflictions, and also afflictions grow out of our blessings. A man may live many years in prosperity, and rejoice in them all; yet let him remember the days of darkness, for they shall be many. (Ecc. 11:7.)

2. What an advantage to have a true and powerful friend in the day of calamity! This Joseph was the temporal saviour of his country, and of many surrounding nations. All stores were laid up with him, and their administration committed to him alone. We have a Saviour and Deliverer from greater evils than those which fell upon Egypt, even Jesus in whom all fulness dwells, and to whom all are invited to go who are perishing for lack of the bread of life.

3. God often brings about His purposes of love and mercy by affliction. His beneficent purposes concerning nations, families, individuals. God is represented as calling for a famine, and breaking the whole staff of bread. (Psa. 105:16.) He called for it that He might bring Jacob and his whole family into Egypt, and thus prepare those great events which were at length to bring his first begotten into the world for the salvation of mankind.

SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS ON THE VERSES

Gen. 41:53. When the people heard that the days of plenteousness were to be seven years, thousands would no doubt be strongly tempted to say to their souls, Eat, drink, and be merry; to-morrow shall be as this day, and so shall the next and many following days and years be, and much more abundantly. But the day of prosperity was now at an end, and the days of adversity had arrived. The end of all the changing things in this world of change will soon come, and then the beginning of them will appear like yesterday when it is past. A perpetuity of bliss is bliss, and that only.(Bush.)

Gen. 41:54. The evils threatened by God will fall heavily upon those who use not the proper means for averting them. Joseph could look forward with a steady eye, and without terror, to the days of famine, which came at the time specified, and were as grievous as he had predicted. When they came he knew that his wisdom would be acknowledged by all the land of Egypt, and by all the people of the surrounding countries.(Bush.)

Good Jacob is pinched with the common famine. No piety can exempt us from the evils of neighbourhood. No man can tell, by outward events, which is the patriarch, and which the Canaanite.(Bp. Hall.)

Gen. 41:55. If any of the people had refused to go to Joseph, they would have despised not Joseph only, but the king who had clothed him with power. And are not the despisers of our great Redeemer in like manner despisers of His Father, who has set Him as King in His holy hill of Zion? If we need food for our souls, to whom are we to have recourse but to Jesus, whom God has appointed as the sole dispenser of that bread which nourisheth unto everlasting life? Those who will not come to Him for the bread of life are despisers of their own mercies.(Bush.)

Gen. 41:56. Joseph did not throw open his storehouses until the people felt the pressure of hunger, else they would have wasted the fruits of his provident care. God reserves the blessings of His salvation until we feel the want of them.

Gen. 41:57. All that a man hath will he give for his life, and for those things that are necessary to preserve life. He will travel into the most distant regions rather than perish with hunger in the land of his nativity. Why, then, do men grudge a little labour, or a little expense, for what is no less necessary for our souls, than the bread that perisheth is for our bodies?(Bush.)

Joseph is now filling up his generation work in useful and important labours; and like a true son of Abraham, he is blessed and made a blessing. Yet it was in the midst of this career of activity that his father Jacob said with a deep sigh, Joseph is not! What a large portion of our troubles would subside, if we knew but the whole truth!(Fuller.)

CRITICAL NOTES.

Gen. 41:54. In all lands.] All the lands adjacent to Egypt, such as Arabia and Palestine. The word all in popular discourse is taken in a relative sense, to be ascertained by the context. We are not aware that this famine was felt beyond the distance of Hebron.(Murphy.)

Fuente: The Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary Edited by Joseph S. Exell

‘And the seven years of plenty that were in Egypt came to an end, and the seven years of famine began to come in the way that Joseph had said, and there was famine in all lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. And when all the land of Egypt was becoming hungry the people cried to Pharaoh for bread and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph. Do what he says to you.” And the famine was over the face of the whole earth, and Joseph opened all the storehouses and sold to the Egyptians, and the famine was severe in the land of Egypt, and all countries came to Egypt, to Joseph, to buy corn because the famine was severe in all the earth.’

As predicted seven years of plenty passed and the particularly severe famine eventually came, and it was clearly very widespread. But everything was ready. The storehouses were opened and the people were able to buy corn to meet their needs, and many in the surrounding area, hearing there was corn in Egypt, came too to buy corn.

“There was famine in all lands.” ‘The famine was over the face of the whole earth’. ‘All countries came to Egypt to buy corn.’ ‘The famine was severe in all the earth.’ Notice the stress on ‘all’. As far as their knowledge reached there was severe famine. But these universal sayings are not to be taken literally. They speak of the world from Egypt’s point of view. As far as Egypt was cognisant there was extended famine, and people and requests for corn seemed to come from everywhere. This was the meaning of the words to the Egyptians who did not have a concept of the whole earth as we know it. But Canaan, which was close by and which was totally dependent on rain, would suffer grievously.

“Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians.” That is, through orders to his officials throughout the land (probably sealed by Joseph, his vizier).

Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett

The Beginning of the Famine

v. 53. And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended. Everything was fulfilled just as the Lord had revealed through the mouth of Joseph.

v. 54. And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said; and the dearth was in all lands; but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. All the surrounding countries were stricken with the famine, just as they all had probably partaken of the rich and plentiful years, for the winds from the Mediterranean which deposit their moisture in the highlands of Abyssinia and thus produce the annual overflow of the Nile do the same for the mountains of Palestine.

v. 55. And when all the land of Egypt was famished, when the inhabitants had eaten their supply and were beginning to feel the effects of the famine, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you do. Joseph had charge of the matter, and therefore he would supply their wants.

v. 56. And the famine was over all the face of the earth, over all the countries far and wide which ordinarily depended upon Egypt for grain. And Joseph opened all the storehouses, all the places where he had stored grain, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt, it made its effects felt throughout the country.

v. 57. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn because that the famine was so sore in all lands. Joseph’s example in this story is one of true prudence and foresight. God is well able to keep His children in the midst of want, but He also wants us to be careful stewards over that which He has given us, that we do not suffer needlessly.

Fuente: The Popular Commentary on the Bible by Kretzmann

Gen 41:53 And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.

Ver. 53. And the seven years of plenteousness, &c. ] All earthly felicities will determine; they are called “a sea of glass mingled with fire”; Rev 15:2 that is, with affliction. Henry VI, that had been the most potent monarch for dominions that ever England had, was, when deposed, not the master of a molehill nor owner of his own liberty; so various are the changes and chances of this mortal life. a

a Dan., Hist. of England, contin. by Trussel, 189.

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)

NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Gen 41:53-57

53When the seven years of plenty which had been in the land of Egypt came to an end, 54and the seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said, then there was famine in all the lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried out to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, “Go to Joseph; whatever he says to you, you shall do.” 56When the famine was spread over all the face of the earth, then Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold to the Egyptians; and the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57The people of all the earth came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because the famine was severe in all the earth.

Gen 41:53-57 This explains historically how Pharaoh came to own all the land of Egypt (cf. Gen 47:20-26). The Egyptians sold their land to the king to buy grain to feed themselves and their families.

It must be noted that famine would have shown the failure of Egyptian religion (i.e., sun god, fertility gods, and the Nile itself) to be able to deliver Egypt, but YHWH could!

Gen 41:56

NASB, NKJV,

NRSV, TEV,

VULGATE”all the storehouses”

NJB, LXX,

REB”all the granaries”

JPSOA”all that was within”

The Hebrew text is literally translated by JPSOA. It can refer to

1. all the places where Joseph stored the grain

2. all the places where the Egyptians could buy grain throughout the land

Gen 41:57 This verse describes the terrible drought and famine over the whole Near East and Mediterranean area. Many nations came to Egypt to buy food. Joseph saved

1. Egypt

2. many other surrounding people groups

3. especially the chosen family of Jacob!

God’s providence functions on several levels!

Note the hyperbole in the phrase “all the earth.” This is parallel to the phrase used in Genesis 6-7 about the extent of the flood (cf. Gen 7:19, , ‘eres, BDB 75, , see Special Topic: Land, Country, Earth () .

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

This is a study guide commentary, which means that you are responsible for your own interpretation of the Bible. Each of us must walk in the light we have. You, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit are priority in interpretation. You must not relinquish this to a commentator.

These discussion questions are provided to help you think through the major issues of this section of the book. They are meant to be thought-provoking, not definitive.

1. List all of the Egyptian loan words in this chapter and the uniquely Egyptian customs.

2. Describe magicians and their function in the Ancient Near East

3. List all of the ways that Joseph’s new position is described in Gen 41:41-44.

4. What is the meaning of the names of Joseph’s sons and what is their significance (Gen 41:50-52)?

Fuente: You Can Understand the Bible: Study Guide Commentary Series by Bob Utley

was = came to pass. See note on Gen 1:2.

Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics

am 2296, bc 1708, Gen 41:29-31, Psa 73:20, Luk 16:25

Reciprocal: Gen 41:26 – are

Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge