Genesis 41:35-45

Genesis 41:35-45

And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.

And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt; that the land perish not through the famine.

And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.

And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art:

Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.

And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.

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;

And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.

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.

And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt.

a.    Some Jewish tradition says Joseph’s new name means “he who explains what is hidden”. [Edersheim: Joseph’s name is changed to Zaphnath-paaneah, which most probably means “the supporter of life”, or “food for the living.]

b. Henry M.Morris: Joseph’s name change was to confer upon him Egyptian citizenship and make it easier for the people to accept a non-Egyptian as their ruler under Pharaoh .

c.  Jewish tradition and conservative Christian writers agree that Joseph would not have married her if she would not have converted to the worship of Jehovah.

d. Jewish tradition teaches that Potiphera is Potiphar, Joseph’s former master. “That he allowed his daughter to marry Joseph vindicated Joseph in the eyes of the Egyptians from the charge that he assaulted Potiphar’s wife. [Chumash.]

e. I do not agree with this Jewish tradition for the following reason. Potiphar was “an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard” [Genesis 39:1], while “Potipherah”, was a “priest of On” [Genesis 41:45]. The two different titles make it reasonable to me they were two different persons. Even though the Egyptian names mean the same, “given by Ra—the Sun god” it is no different than in our culture with similar names. Pat, Patrick, Charles, Charlie.

f. Alfred Edersheim: “In point of fact he naturalized him, made him his grand vizer, and publicly proclaimed him “ruler over all the land”. Once more every trait in the description is purely Egyptian. Pharaoh gives him his signet, which, “was of so much importance with the ancient Egyptian kings, that their names were always enclosed in an oval which represented and elongated signet. He arrays him “in vestures of byssus,” the noble and also the priestly dress; he puts a chain or the “collar of gold” about his neck, which was always the mode of investiture of high Egyptian officials; he makes him ride “in the second chariot which he had”, and he has it proclaimed before him, “fall down” or “bend the knee”, or “do obeisance.” To complete all, on his naturalization Joseph’s name is changed to Zaphnath-paaneah, which most probably means “the supporter of life”, or “food for the living.”

g. Joseph was second in command to Pharaoh. Scriptures declares Joseph was given almost supreme authority.

1). Psalm 105:21, 22 He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:

To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.