Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 41:54
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.
53 57. The Years of Famine
54. all lands ] Cf. Gen 41:57. The famine is represented as afflicting not only Egypt, but all the neighbouring lands which constituted the known world of the Israelites. Cf. Gen 43:1. For a similar hyperbole, cf. “all the world” (Luk 2:1; Joh 21:25); “a great famine over all the world” (Act 11:28).
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 54. The seven years of dearth began to come] Owing in Egypt to the Nile not rising more than twelve or thirteen cubits; (See Clarke on Ge 41:31😉 but there must have been other causes which affected other countries, not immediately dependent on the Nile, though remotely connected with Egypt and Canaan.
The dearth was in all lands] All the countries dependent on the Nile. And it appears that a general drought had taken place, at least through all Egypt and Canaan; for it is said, Ge 41:57, that the famine was sore in all lands – Egypt and Canaan, and their respective dependencies.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
In all lands; in all the neighbouring countries, appears by comparing this with Gen 42:1.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And the seven years of dearth began to come, as Joseph had said,…. In the interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams; as soon as the seven years of plenty were over, there were quickly some appearances of the famine coming on; as particularly the river Nile not flowing to its usual height at the season of it; hence there was a drought, the earth was parched, and everything began to wither and decay, and the seed that was sown sprung not up:
and the dearth was in all lands; adjoining to Egypt, as Syria, Arabia, Palestine, Canaan, c.
but in all the land of Egypt there was bread which was in the hands of everyone, and remained of their old stores in the years of plenty not yet exhausted, and which continued for some time after the dearth began. It is very probable that to this seven years’ drought in Egypt Ovid t refers, which he makes to be nine; as does also Apollodorus u.
t “Dicitur Aegyptus caruisse juvantibus arva Imbribus, atque annis sicca fuisse novem.” –Ovid de Artc Amandi, l. 1. ver. 647. u De Deor Orig. l. 2. p. 104.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(54) The dearth.As the Nile at this early period was not assisted and regulated in its overflow by dams and canals, famines were much more common in Egypt than when subsequently the kings had done so much to provide against this danger. As, too, this dearth was in all lands, in Arabia, Palestine, Ethiopia, &c., there was evidently a long period of excessive drought. Still Egypt is always liable to famine, and Bar Hebrus (Chronicon, p. 260) gives terrible details of the sufferings of Egypt in the year of the Hejra 462, when so great was the loss of life, that whereas in the city of Tanis (Zoan) 300,000 men paid poll-tax in the previous year, there remained in it less than a hundred souls at the end of the dearth.
One argument adduced by Canon Cook, Excursus on the Bearings of Egyptian History on the Pentateuch, p. 451, for placing the descent of the Israelites into Egypt in the reign of Amenemha III., is that it was this monarch who first established a complete system of dykes, canals, locks, and reservoirs, by which the inundations of the Nile were henceforth regulated. The artificial lake of Moeris was also made by his orders, and other works of extraordinary vastness. Now not only would such works be suggested by a dearth of unusually long continuance, but the measures taken by Joseph during the seven years of famine would place the whole resources of the country at the Pharaohs disposal.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 41:54. The dearth was in all lands It extended itself to Syria, to the land of Canaan; and, in general, throughout the neighbouring countries. When any thing spreads far and wide, it is said, in the language of almost all nations, to be propagated through the world, over all lands, or all the earth. Bishop Patrick thinks that a general drought was the cause of this famine.
In all the land of AEgypt there was bread Sufficient provisions of all kinds.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Isa 21:12 .
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 41:54 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.
Ver. 54. According as Joseph had said. ] Joseph foresaw and foretold the famine, but caused it not: so God’s prescience, &c.
In all the land of Egypt.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
dearth. One of 13 famines. See note on Gen 12:10. Gen 12:57
all countries. Figure of speech Metonymy (of Subject). i.e. people from all countries.
all lands. Figure of speech Synecdoche (of the Whole). i.e. all neighbouring lands,
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the seven: Gen 41:3, Gen 41:4, Gen 41:6, Gen 41:7, Gen 41:27, Gen 45:11, Psa 105:16, Act 7:11
according: Gen 41:30
and the dearth: Gen 42:2, Gen 42:5, Gen 42:6, Gen 43:1, Gen 45:11, Gen 47:13
Reciprocal: Gen 41:57 – in all lands Gen 42:1 – when Jacob Gen 45:6 – two years
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 41:54. The seven years of death began to come Not only in Egypt, but in other lands, that is, all the neighbouring countries.