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JANUARY 21
us, so it happened. He restored me to my one-fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in
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office, and he hanged him.” the seven plentiful years. And let them gath-
14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and er all the food of those good years that are
they brought him quickly out of the dungeon; coming, and store up grain under the author-
and he shaved, changed his clothing, and ity of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the
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came to Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said to cities. Then that food shall be as a reserve for
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Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no the land for the seven years of famine which
one who can interpret it. But I have heard it shall be in the land of Egypt, that the land may
said of you that you can understand a dream, not perish during the famine.”
to interpret it.” 37 So the advice was good in the eyes of
16 So Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants.
not in me; God will give Pharaoh an answer of 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we
peace.” find such a one as this, a man in whom is the
17 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph: “Behold, in Spirit of God?”
my dream I stood on the bank of the river. 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Inasmuch
18 Suddenly seven cows came up out of the as God has shown you all this, there is no one
river, fine looking and fat; and they fed in the as discerning and wise as you. You shall be
40
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meadow. Then behold, seven other cows over my house, and all my people shall be
came up after them, poor and very ugly and ruled according to your word; only in regard
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gaunt, such ugliness as I have never seen in all to the throne will I be greater than you.” And
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the land of Egypt. And the gaunt and ugly Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you
cows ate up the first seven, the fat cows. over all the land of Egypt.”
21 When they had eaten them up, no one would 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his
have known that they had eaten them, for they hand and put it on Joseph’s hand; and he
were just as ugly as at the beginning. So I clothed him in garments of fine linen and put
awoke. Also I saw in my dream, and sudden- a gold chain around his neck. And he had
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ly seven heads came up on one stalk, full and him ride in the second chariot which he had;
good. Then behold, seven heads, withered, and they cried out before him, “Bow the
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thin, and blighted by the east wind, sprang up knee!” So he set him over all the land of Egypt.
after them. And the thin heads devoured the 44 Pharaoh also said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh,
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seven good heads. So I told this to the magi- and without your consent no man may lift his
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cians, but there was no one who could explain hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” And
it to me.” Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-
25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “The dreams Paaneah. And he gave him as a wife Asenath,
of Pharaoh are one; God has shown Pharaoh the daughter of Poti-Pherah priest of On. So
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what He is about to do: The seven good cows Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.
are seven years, and the seven good heads are
seven years; the dreams are one. And the
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seven thin and ugly cows which came up after
them are seven years, and the seven empty 41:42 signet ring…garments…gold chain.
heads blighted by the east wind are seven Emblems of office and a reward of clothing and
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years of famine. This is the thing which I jewelry suitable to the new rank accompanied
have spoken to Pharaoh. God has shown Pharaoh’s appointment of Joseph as vizier, or
Pharaoh what He is about to do. Indeed prime minister, the second-in-command (v. 40;
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seven years of great plenty will come through- 45:8,26). Joseph wore the royal seal on his fin-
out all the land of Egypt; but after them seven ger, authorizing him to transact the affairs of
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years of famine will arise, and all the plenty state on behalf of Pharaoh himself.
will be forgotten in the land of Egypt; and the
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famine will deplete the land. So the plenty
will not be known in the land because of the 46 Joseph was thirty years old when he stood
famine following, for it will be very severe. before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph
32 And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and
twice because the thing is established by God, went throughout all the land of Egypt. Now in
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and God will shortly bring it to pass. the seven plentiful years the ground brought
33 “Now therefore, let Pharaoh select a dis- forth abundantly. So he gathered up all the
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cerning and wise man, and set him over the food of the seven years which were in the land
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land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh do this, and let of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities; he
him appoint officers over the land, to collect laid up in every city the food of the fields
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