Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/566

to the exposure of the decapitated corpse. Decapitation is said to have been a commoner punishment in Egypt than hanging, but the latter was not unknown (Ebers, 334). The destruction of the corpse by birds must have been specially abhorrent to Egyptians, from the importance they attached to the preservation of the body after death. For OT examples, see Dt. 21^22f., Jos. 10²⁶, 2 Sa. 4¹², and esp. 2 Sa. 21^{9. 10}.

20-23. The dreams fulfilled.—20. That it was customary for the Pharaoh to celebrate his birthday by court assemblies and granting of amnesties, is proved for the Ptolemaic period by the tables of Rosetta and Canopus.—lifted the head] see on v.¹⁹.—23. The notice of the butler's ingratitude forms an effective close, leaving the reader expectant of further developments.

Ch. XLI. Joseph becomes Viceroy of Egypt (JE, P).

Two years after the events of ch. 40, the king of Egypt has a wonderful double dream, which none of his magicians is able to interpret (^1-8). The chief butler is naturally reminded of his own experience, and mentions Joseph, who is forthwith summoned into the royal presence (^9-14). Having interpreted the dreams as a prophecy of a great famine (^15-32), Joseph adds some sage advice on the right way to cope with the emergency (^33-36); and Pharaoh is so impressed by his sagacity that he entrusts him with the execution of the scheme, and makes him absolute ruler of Egypt (^37-46). In pursuance of the policy he had foreshadowed, Joseph stores the surplus of seven years of plenty, and sells it during the subsequent famine (^47-57).

Analysis.—The connexion of this chapter with the preceding appears from ^1a and ^9-13: note (Hebrew characters), (Hebrew characters), (Hebrew characters), (Hebrew characters) (40²); Joseph

rest on Aramaic (Field).—19. (Hebrew characters)¹] Om. by two MSS and V (Ba. Kit.).—20. (Hebrew characters)] as Ezk. 16⁵; cf. G-K. § 69 w, 121 b.—21. (Hebrew characters)] is never elsewhere used of the office of butler: perhaps 'over his [Pharaoh's] drink' (as we should say, 'his cellar'), as Lv. 11³⁴, 1 Ki. 10²¹, Is. 32⁶ (so Ges. Th., Di.).—23. (Hebrew characters)] Expressing "a logical or necessary consequence of that which immediately precedes" (G-K. § 111 l); cf. Dav. § 47.