INTERPRETATION OF THE DREAM.

33

not be known that they had eaten them; but they still were ill-favoured, as at the beginning. So I awoke. And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good: and, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them: 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.'-GEN. xli.

J

OSEPH immediately explained these two dreams, as

having one meaning conveyed with double emphasis

and force that there should be seven years of great plenty in the land of Egypt, to be followed by a famine so severe, as to consume all their produce, and make even the memory of abundance to pass away. He therefore

C

recommended prompt measures to be taken to lay up corn for store, under the superintendence of a man discreet and wise, for that occasion. 'And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is none so discreet and so wise as thou art: 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.' -GEN. xli.

IT

JOSEPH'S DIGNITY AND HONOURS.

T is well when the caprice of ancient eastern monarchs takes a good turn, as in the case of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, towards Joseph. We know how calamitous the difference was, when in a succeeding period there

JOSEPH'S DIGNITY AND HONOURS.

35

arose a king who knew not Joseph. The history of his advancement we have in these words :-' And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. 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 chain about his neck: and he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.' Thus was this once helpless captive, the victim of fraternal envy, rage, and cruelty, not only rescued from all want, peril, and servitude, but raised, by the special favour of his father's God, and the instrumentality of a mighty earthly prince, to the highest dignity next to the throne itself: having the still greater honour of saving, by his forecast, wisdom, and humanity, a nation from perishing with famine, and, as we shall see in the end, preserving his own parent and brethren in the prevailing misery of the period.-GEN. xli.

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ND in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls. And he gathered up all the

food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same. And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering: for it was without number. And the seven years of plenteousness were ended. And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in the land of Egypt there was bread. And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do. And the famine was over all the face of the earth. And Joseph opened all the store-houses, and sold unto the

JOSEPH SALUTED BY HIS BRETHREN. 37

Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.'-GEN. xli.

IT

JOSEPH SALUTED BY HIS BRETHREN.

T is well now to call to mind Joseph's two dreams, and the scornful reproach which their obvious interpretation drew forth even from his father. 'What is the dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I, and thy mother, and thy brethren, indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?' Now let us see. 'And the sons of Israel came to buy corn among those that came for the famine was in the land of Canaan. And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph's brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the