Genesis 39
39Meanwhile, Joseph had been delivered to Egypt and turned over to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh's court officials and the commander-in-chief of the imperial guards. An Egyptian, he bought Joseph from the Ishmaelites, who had brought him down there.H3130H3381H4714H6318H5631H6547H8269H2876H376H4713H7069H3027H3459H33812But the Lord was with Joseph. He became a very prosperous man while in the house of his Egyptian master.H3068H3130H6743H376H1004H113H47133His master could see that the Lord was with him, because the Lord made everything that he did prosper.H113H7200H3068H3068H6213H6743H30274That's how Joseph found favor in his sight as he ministered to him. Eventually, Potiphar appointed Joseph overseer of his entire household. Moreover, he entrusted everything that he owned into his responsibility.H3130H4672H2580H5869H8334H6485H1004H3426H5414H30275From the time he appointed Joseph to be overseer over his entire household and everything that he owned, the Lord blessed the household of the Egyptian because of Joseph. The blessing of the Lord rested on him, whether in Potiphar's household or in Potiphar's fields.H227H6485H1004H3426H3068H1288H4713H1004H3130H1558H1293H3068H3426H1004H77046Everything that he owned, he entrusted into Joseph's care. He never worried about anything, except for the food he ate. Now Joseph was well built and handsome in appearance.H5800H3130H3027H3045H3972H518H3899H398H3130H8389H3303H47587That's why, some time later, Joseph's master's wife looked straight at Joseph and propositioned him: "Come on! Let's have a little sex!"H310H1697H113H802H5375H5869H3130H559H79018But he refused. He replied to his master's wife, "Look! My master doesn't have to worry about anything in the house with me in charge, and he has entrusted everything into my charge.H3985H559H113H802H113H3045H1004H5414H3426H30279No one has more authority in this house than I do. He has withheld nothing from me, except you, and that's because you're his wife. So how can I do this great evil - How can I sin against God -H1419H1004H3808H2820H3972H834H859H802H6213H1419H7451H2398H43010She kept on talking to him like this day after day, but he wouldn't listen to her. Not only would he refuse to have sex with her, he refused even to stay around her.H1696H3130H3117H3117H8085H7901H68111One day, though, he went into the house to do his work. None of the household servants were inside,H3117H935H1004H6213H4399H376H582H100412so she grabbed him by his outer garment and demanded "Let's have some sex!" Instead, Joseph ran outside, leaving his outer garment still in her hand.H8610H899H559H7901H5800H899H3027H5127H3318H235113When she realized that he had left his outer garment right there in her hand, she ran outsideH7200H5800H899H3027H5127H235114and yelled for her household servants. "Look!" she cried out. "He has brought in a Hebrew man to humiliate us. He came in to have sex with me, but I screamed out loud!H7121H582H1004H559H559H7200H935H376H5680H6711H935H7901H7121H1419H696315When he heard that I was raising my voice to scream, he left his outer garment with me and fled outside."1439H8085H7311H6963H7121H5800H899H681H5127H3318H235116She kept his outer garment by her side until Joseph's master came home,H3240H899H681H113H935H100417and then she told him these words: "That Hebrew slave whom you brought to us came in here to rape me.H1696H1697H559H5680H5650H935H935H671118But when I raised my voice and screamed, he left his outer garment with me and ran outside."H7311H6963H7121H5800H899H681H5127H235119When Joseph's master heard that his wife was saying words to the effect that "This is how your servant treated me," he flew into a rage,H113H8085H1697H802H1696H559H1697H6213H5650H639H273420arrested Joseph, and locked him up in the same prison where the king's prisoners were confined. So Joseph remained there in prison.H3130H113H3947H5414H1004H5470H4725H4428H615H631H1004H547021But the Lord was with Joseph. He extended gracious love to him, granting him favor with the prison warden.H3068H3130H5186H2617H5414H2580H5869H8269H1004H547022So the prison warden entrusted into Joseph's care all the prisoners who were confined in prison. Whatever they did, Joseph was in charge of the work detail.H8269H1004H5470H5414H3130H3027H615H1004H5470H6213H621323The prison warden did not have to worry about anything under Joseph's care, because the Lord was with him. That's why Joseph prospered in everything he did.H8269H1004H5470H7200H3972H3027H3068H6213H3068H6743
Genesis 40
40Some time after these things, both the senior security advisor to the king of Egypt and his head chef offended their master, Egypt's king.H310H1697H8248H4428H4714H644H2398H113H4428H47142Pharaoh was so angry with his two officers - his senior security advisor and his head chef -H6547H7107H5921H8147H5631H8269H8248H8269H6443tha the locked them up in the prison dungeon operated by the captain of the guard, the very place where Joseph was imprisoned.H5414H4929H1004H8269H2876H1004H5470H4725H3130H6314The captain of the guard entrusted them to Joseph's custody, who ministered to them, since they were to remain there in custody for a number of days.H8269H2876H6485H3130H8334H3117H49295Then the two of them each had a dream. They both had their dreams the same night and they both had their own unique interpretations for their dreams - the senior security advisor and the head chef to the king of Egypt, who had confined them in prison.H2492H2472H8147H376H2472H259H3915H376H6623H2472H8248H644H4428H4714H631H1004H54706When Joseph came to see them in the morning, he noticed how downcast they looked! They were both very sad.H3130H935H1242H7200H21967So he asked the officers of Pharaoh, who were with him in prison in his master's house, "Why are you so sad today?"H7592H6547H5631H4929H113H1004H559H6440H7451H31178They responded to him, "We had a dream, but there's no one to interpret it." Then Joseph said to them, "Interpretations belong to God. Please tell me your stories."H559H2492H2472H6622H3130H559H6623H430H56089So the senior security advisor related his dream to Joseph. "In my dream," he said, "all of a sudden there was a vine in front of me!H8269H8248H5608H2472H3130H559H2472H1612H644010On the vine were three branches. It budded, blossoms shot out, and clusters grew up and produced ripe grapes.H1612H7969H8299H6524H5322H5927H811H1310H602511Then, with Pharaoh's cup in my hand, I took the grapes, squeezed them into Pharaoh's cup, then handed the cup directly to Pharaoh."H6547H3563H3027H3947H6025H7818H6547H3563H5414H3563H6547H370912Then Joseph said to him, "This is its interpretation. The three branches are three days.H3130H559H6623H7969H8299H7969H311713Withinthreedays, Pharaohwillencourageyou and return you to your responsibilities. You'll attend to Pharaoh's personal wine cup, just as you did when you were his senior security advisor.H5750H7969H3117H6547H5375H7218H7725H3653H5414H6547H3563H3027H7223H4941H824814But keep me in mind when things go well for you. Be sure to extend kindness to me by remembering me to Pharaoh. Bring me out of this prison,H2142H3190H6213H2617H2142H6547H3318H100415because I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews. Not only that, I haven't done anything that deserves me being confined to this pit."H1589H776H5680H6213H3972H7760H95316When the head chef heard that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, "I was also in my dream. All of a sudden, there were three baskets with white bread stacked on top of my head.H8269H644H7200H6622H2896H559H3130H637H2472H7969H2751H5536H721817On th e basket that was uppermost, there were all kinds of food, including baked food for Pharaoh. The birds were eating them from the basket on my head.H5945H5536H3978H4639H644H6547H5775H398H5536H5921H721818Joseph replied, "This is its interpretation: The three baskets are also three days.H3130H6030H559H6623H7969H5536H7969H311719Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift your head from you and hang you on gallows, where birds will eat your flesh from you."H7969H3117H6547H5375H7218H8518H6086H5775H398H132020On the third day, which just happened to be Pharaoh's birthday, he threw a party for all his servants. He lifted the head of his senior security advisor and of his head chef in front of his servants -H7992H3117H6547H3117H3205H6213H4960H5650H5375H7218H8269H8248H8269H644H8432H565021he restored his senior security advisor to his former responsibilities, including attending to Pharaoh's personal wine cup,H7725H8269H8248H4945H7725H5414H3563H6547H370922but he hanged the head chef, just as Joseph had interpreted for them.H8518H8269H644H3130H662223Despite all of this, the senior security advisor not only didn't remember Joseph, he deliberately forgot him.H8269H8248H2142H3130H7911
Genesis 41
41Two years later - to the day - Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile River,H7093H3117H8141H6547H2492H5975H29752when all of a sudden seven healthy, plump cows emerged from the Nile to graze in the grass that grew in the reeds that lined the bank.H5927H2975H7651H3303H4758H6510H1277H1320H7462H2603Right after that, seven more cows came up out of the Nile. Ugly and gaunt, they stood next to the other cows on the bank of the Nile River.H7651H312H6510H5927H310H2975H7451H4758H1851H1320H5975H681H6510H8193H29754But all of a sudden they ate up the seven healthy, plump cows! Then Pharaoh woke up.3H7451H4758H1851H1320H6510H398H7651H3303H4758H1277H6510H6547H33645After he had fallen back to sleep, he had a second dream, in which seven ears of plump, fruit-filled grain grew up on a single stalk.H3462H2492H8145H7651H7641H5927H259H7070H1277H28966Suddenly seven thin ears of grain that had been scorched by an east wind sprouted up right after themH7651H1851H7641H7710H6921H6779H3107and ate up the seven plump, fruit-filled ears. Then Pharaoh woke up a second time, and it had been a very vivid dream!H1851H7641H1104H7651H1277H4392H7641H6547H3364H24728The very next morning, he was frustrated about the dream, so he sent word to summon all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. Pharaoh told them what he had dreamed, but no one could interpret the dreams for Pharaoh.H1242H7307H6470H7971H7121H2748H4714H2450H6547H5608H2472H6622H65479Then Pharaoh's senior security advisor spoke up. "Maybe I should make a confession.H1696H8269H8248H6547H559H2142H2399H311710When Pharaoh was angry with some of his servants, he incarcerated me in custody of the captain of the bodyguard, along with Pharaoh's senior chef.H6547H7107H5650H5414H4929H8269H2876H1004H8269H64411We each had a dream on the same night, and each dream had its own meaning.H2492H2472H259H3915H2492H376H6623H247212There was a Hebrew young man incarcerated with us, who was also serving as a servant to the captain of the bodyguard. "We each related our dreams, and then he interpreted them for us. He provided specific meanings for each of our dreams.H5288H5680H5650H8269H2876H5608H6622H2472H376H2472H662213And what he interpreted for each of us came true! Pharaoh restored me to my responsibilities, but he executed the other man.H6622H7725H3653H851814Pharoah sent word to summon Joseph quickly from the dungeon, so they shaved his beard, changed his clothes, and then sent him straight to Pharaoh.H6547H7971H7121H3130H7323H953H1548H2498H8071H935H654715"I've had a dream," Pharaoh told Joseph, "but nobody can interpret it. I've heard that you can interpret dreams."H6547H559H3130H2492H2472H6622H8085H559H8085H2472H662216"I cannot do that," Joseph replied, "but God is concerned about Pharaoh's well-being."H3130H6030H6547H559H1107H430H6030H6547H6030H796517So Pharaoh told Joseph, "In my dream, I was standing on the bank of the Nile River,H6547H1696H3130H2472H5975H8193H297518and all of a sudden seven healthy, plump, beautiful cows emerged from the Nile and began to graze among the reeds that line the bank.H5927H2975H7651H6510H1277H1320H3303H8389H7462H26019Just then, seven other cows emerged after them. Poor, ugly, and appearing very gaunt in their flesh, I've never seen anything as ugly as those cows throughout the entire land of Egypt!H7651H312H6510H5927H310H1803H3966H7451H8389H7534H1320H2007H3808H7200H776H4714H745520But those thin, gaunt cows gobbled up the first seven healthy cows!H7534H7451H6510H398H7223H7651H1277H651021"Not only that," Pharaoh continued, "after they had finished devouring the cows, nobody could tell that they had gobbled them up, because they were just as ugly as before. Then I woke up.H935H7130H3045H935H7130H4758H7451H8462H336422Later, I also dreamed about seven plump, fruit-filled ears of grain that grew up out of a single stalk.H7200H2472H7651H7641H5927H259H7070H4392H289623All of a sudden, seven thin, withered ears of grain, scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them.H7651H7641H6798H1851H7710H6921H6779H31024But the thin ears gobbled up the seven good ears. I told all this to my advisors, but nobody was able to explain it to me."H1851H7641H1104H7651H2896H7641H559H2748H504625"Pharaoh's dreams are identical," Joseph replied. "God has told Pharaoh what he is getting ready to do.H3130H559H6547H2472H6547H259H430H5046H6547H621326The seven healthy cows represent seven years, as do the seven healthy ears. The dreams are identical.H7651H2896H6510H7651H8141H7651H2896H7641H7651H8141H2472H25927The seven gaunt cows that arose after the healthy cows are seven years, as are the seven gaunt ears scorched by the east wind. There will be seven years of famine.H7651H7534H7451H6510H5927H310H7651H8141H7651H7386H7641H7710H6921H7651H8141H745828So the message that I have for Pharaoh is that God is telling Pharaoh what he is getting ready to do.H1697H1696H6547H430H6213H7200H654729Be advised that seven years of phenomenal abundance are coming throughout all the land of Egypt, 01Gn 41:30 but after them seven years of famine are ahead, during which all of the abundance will be forgotten throughout the land of Egypt. The famine will ravage the land so severely thatH935H7651H8141H1419H7647H776H471431surplus will be unknown in the land due to the coming famine, because it will be very severe.H7647H3045H776H6440H7458H310H3651H3966H351532"Now about the repeating of that dream twice for the benefit of Pharaoh, this event has been scheduled by God, and God will bring it to pass very soon.H2472H8138H6547H6471H1697H3559H5973H430H430H4116H621333Therefore let the Pharaoh select a wise, discerning person to place in charge over the land of Egypt.H6547H7200H376H995H2450H7896H776H471434Also, let the Pharaoh immediately proceed to appoint supervisors over the land of Egypt, who will collect one fifth of its agricultural production during the coming seven years of abundance.H6547H6213H6485H6496H776H2567H776H4714H7651H7647H814135"Let them collect all the food during the coming fruitful years, store up the grain in cities governed by the Pharaoh's authority, and place it under guard.H6908H400H2896H8141H935H6651H1250H3027H6547H8104H400H589236Let the food be kept in reserve to feed the land for the seven years of famine that will occur throughout Egypt, so the land won't perish during the famine."35H400H6487H776H7651H8141H7458H776H4714H776H3772H745837What Joseph proposed pleased Pharaoh and all of his advisors,H1697H3190H5869H6547H5869H565038so Pharaoh asked his servants, "Can we find anyone else like this - someone in whom the Spirit of God lives -H6547H559H5650H4672H2088H376H834H7307H43039Since God has revealed all of this to you," Pharaoh said to Joseph, "there is no one so wise and discerning as you.H6547H559H3130H310H430H3045H995H245040So you are to be appointed in charge over my palace, and all of my people are to do whatever you command them to do. Only the throne will have greater authority than you."39H1961H1004H6310H5971H5401H3678H143141"Look!" Pharaoh confirmed to Joseph, "I've put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt!"H6547H559H3130H7200H5414H776H471442Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand, placed it on Joseph's hand, had him clothed in fine linen garments, and placed a gold chain around his neck.H6547H5493H2885H3027H5414H3130H3027H3847H899H8336H7760H2091H7242H667743Then he provided him with a chariot for his second-in-command, outfitted with a group of people who shouted out in front of him, "Bow your knees!" And that's how Pharaoh set Joseph over the entire land of Egypt.H7392H4932H4818H7121H6440H86H5414H776H471444Furthermore, Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I'm still Pharaoh, but without your permission nobody in all of the land of Egypt will so much as lift up their hands or take a step!"H6547H559H3130H6547H1107H376H7311H3027H7272H776H471445Pharaoh also changed Joseph's name to Zaphenath-paneah and gave Asenath, daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On, as his wife. And so Joseph gained authority throughout the land of Egypt.H6547H7121H3130H8034H6847H5414H802H621H1323H6319H3548H204H3130H3318H776H471446Joseph was 30 years old when he began to serve Pharaoh, king of Egypt, by traveling throughout the land of Egypt, away from the oversight of Pharaoh.H3130H7970H8141H1121H5975H6440H6547H4428H4714H3130H3318H6440H6547H5674H776H471447While the earth was producing bumper crops during the seven abundant years,H7651H7647H8141H776H6213H706248he collected the surplus food during the seven years of plenty throughout the land of Egypt, storing food in cities; that is, he gathered the food from fields that surrounded every city and stored it there.H6908H400H7651H8141H776H4714H5414H400H5892H400H7704H5439H5892H5414H843249Joseph stored up so much grain in so much abundance - like sand on the seashore! - that he stopped keeping records because it was proving to be impossible to measure how much they were gathering.H3130H6651H1250H2344H3220H3966H7235H2308H5608H369H455750Before the years of famine arrived, Joseph fathered two sons by Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of On.H3130H3205H8147H1121H8141H7458H935H621H1323H6319H3548H204H320551Joseph named his firstborn son Manasseh because, he claimed, "God has made me forget all of my hard life and my father's house."H3130H7121H8034H1060H4519H430H5382H5999H1H100452He named his second son Ephraim because, he claimed, "God has made me fruitful in the land of my troubles."H8034H8145H7121H669H430H6509H776H604053As soon as the seven years of abundance that pervaded the land of Egypt came to a conclusion,H7651H8141H7647H776H4714H361554the seven years of famine started, just as Joseph had predicted. It was an international famine, but there was food everywhere throughout the land of Egypt.H7651H8141H7458H2490H935H3130H559H7458H776H776H4714H389955Eventually, the land of Egypt began to feel the effects of the famine, so they cried out to Pharaoh for food. "Go see Joseph," Pharaoh announced to all the Egyptians, "and do whatever he tells you to do."H776H4714H7456H5971H6817H6547H3899H6547H559H4714H3212H3130H559H621356Because the famine had spread nationwide, Joseph opened all of the storehouses and sold grain to the Egyptians, because the famine was beginning to be severe throughout the land of Egypt.H7458H6440H776H3130H6605H7666H4714H7458H2388H776H471457In addition, all of the surrounding nations came to Joseph to buy grain from Egypt, because the famine had become severe throughout the world.H776H935H4714H3130H7666H7458H2388H776
Columbus, OH
