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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadPaul Kretzmann Commentary - Genesis 41:37 - 41:45
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Joseph Made Ruler over all Egypt
v. 37. And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. They were highly pleased both with the interpretation of the dreams and with the advice which Joseph added.
v. 38. And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? He acknowledged the divine illumination, the supernatural understanding and wisdom of Joseph.
v. 39. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art, Joseph did not have his equal in the entire kingdom.
v. 40. Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled, the entire nation would be subject to his command; only in the throne will I be greater than thou. So Joseph was elevated to a much higher position than that of chief overseer or tax-collector, being nominated Pharaoh's grand vizier.
v. 41. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. Formally and solemnly the dignity was conferred upon him.
v. 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 chain about his neck. These were the insignia of his exalted office, the seal-ring to affix to the royal decrees, the fine white byssus robe, which placed him on a level with the highest priests in the land, the gold chain as a special mark of royal favor.
v. 43. And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee, an Egyptian word being here taken up into the Hebrew text; and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.
v. 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. By virtue of the authority which Pharaoh, as the supreme ruler, vested in Joseph, the actions of the entire nation should be subject to Joseph's command.
v. 45. And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah (preserver of life, or: revealer of secrets);and he gave him to wife Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah, priest of On. On, or Heliopolis (throne of the sun), was the leading city in Egypt in learning, the priests of the sun goddess having a college of their own, which ranked with the best of the ancient universities. Thus it was a great honor which was conferred upon Joseph. But the hand of God, who lifted him out of the depths of his disgrace, kept him from being engulfed by the Egyptian heathendom. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt, thus becoming acquainted with the country, its people, and its institutions, all of which stood him in good stead as ruler.