Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/563

 The rise of household slaves to high civil dignity seems to have been characteristic of the Egyptian government under the 19th dynasty (Erman, LAE, 105). Titles corresponding to those here used are 'scribe of the sideboard,' 'superintendent of the bakehouse,' etc. (Erman, 187).—3a. The officers are not incarcerated, but merely detained in custody pending investigation (Gu.).—3b (J). bound] i.e. 'confined'; cf. 39$22f.$.—4. Joseph is charged with the duty of waiting on them ( as 39$4$, 2 Sa. 13$17$). 5-8 is a skilful piece of narration: the effect of the dreams is vividly depicted before their character is disclosed.—5. each according to the interpretation of his dream] a sort of idem per idem construction, meaning that the dreams had each a peculiar significance.—5b (J).—8. no one to interpret it] No professional interpreter, such as they would certainly have consulted had they been at liberty.—interpretations belong to God] The maxim is quite in accord with Egyptian sentiment (Herod, ii. 83), but in the mouth of Joseph it expresses the Hebrew idea that inspiration comes directly from God and is not a (Is. 29$13$).

On the Egyptian belief in divinely inspired dreams, see Ebers, 321 f.; Wiedemann, ''Rel. of the Ancient Eg.'' 266 ff.; Heyes, 174 ff.: on the belief in classical antiquity, Hom. Il. ii. 5-34, Od. iv. 795 ff.; Cicero, De divin. i. § 39 ff. etc.; in modern Egypt, Lane, ME$5$, i. 330. While this idea was fully shared by the Israelites, the interpretation of dreams, as a distinct art or gift, is rarely referred to in OT (only in the case of Joseph, and that of Daniel, which is largely modelled on it). Elsewhere the dream either contains the revelation (20$3ff.$ etc.), or carries its significance on its face (28$12ff.$ 37$10$). See Sta. BTh. § 63. 1.

9-19. The dreams interpreted.—9-11. The butler had seen a vine pass rapidly through the stages of its growth; had seemed to squeeze the ripe grapes into a cup and present

(40$7$ etc.).—3. ] Better perhaps (cf. v.$4$), with  as acc. of place. So v.$7$.—4. = 'for some time'; G-K. § 139 h.—6. ] 'be fretful'; elsewhere late (Dn. 1$10$, Pr. 19$3$, 2 Ch. 2$19$ † ).—8. ] On the order, G-K. § 152 o.—] G.

10. ] Not 'when it budded' (ST$O$), for such a use of with a ptcp. (G-K. § 164 g) is dubious even in the Mishnah (JQR, 1908, 697 f.). If the text be retained we must render 'as if budding' (Dri. T. p. 172$2$).