Page:A critical and exegetical commentary on Genesis (1910).djvu/568

 —5-7. The second dream is, if possible, more fantastic and at the same time more explicit.—6. blasted with the east-wind (G )] the dreaded sirocco or, Ḥamsīn, which blows from the SE from February to June, destroying vegetation, and even killing the seed-corn in the clods (Ebers, 340; Erman, LAE, 9; Smith, HG, 67 ff.).—8. all the magicians and wise men of Egypt] The possessors of occult knowledge of all sorts, including the interpretation of dreams (see p. 461); comp. Tac. Hist. iv. 83: "Ptolemæus sacerdotibus Ægyptiorum, quibus mos talia intellegere, nocturnos visus aperit"; see Ebers, 341-349. The motive—the confutation of heathen magic by a representative of the true religion—is repeated in the histories of Moses (Ex. 7-9) and Daniel (chs. 2. 5); cf. Is. 47$12$ etc.

9-14. Joseph summoned to interpret the dreams.—9. The butler's ungrateful memory is stimulated by the opportunity of ingratiating himself with his royal master, though this requires him to make mention of his old offence.—12. according to each man's dream he interpreted] Note the order of ideas as contrasted with v.$11$ (40$5$): there is a pre-*established harmony between the interpretation and the dream, and the office of the interpreter is to penetrate the imagery of the dream and reach the truth it was sent to convey.—13. I was restored he was hanged] Lit. 'Me one restored,' etc., according to G-K. § 144 d, e. To suppose the omission of Pharaoh, or to make Joseph the subj., is barely admissible.—14. and they brought him hastily from the dungeon] is a clause inserted from J.—shaved himself] his head and beard,—a custom which seems to have been peculiar to the priests under the New Empire (Erman, LAE, 219; cf. Herod. ii. 37).

8. ] 'was perturbed'; as Dn. 2$3$ (2$1$ Hithp.), Ps. 77$5$.—] Only in this ch., in Ex. 7-9 (P), and (by imitation) in Dn. 2$2$. The word is thus practically confined to Egyptian magicians, though no Eg. etymology has been found; and it may be plausibly derived from Heb. , stylus.—] Read with G, after ; the dream is 'one (vv.$25. 26$).—9. ] [E] better .—] G (sing.). The resemblance of the cl. ($9b$) to 40$1$ does not prove it to be from J (Gu.).—10. ] [E] , G .—11. ] G-K. § 49 e.—12. —] G.