—5-7. The second dream is, if possible, more fantastic and
at the same time more explicit.—6. blasted with the east-wind
(G (
Greek characters))] 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. 4712 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 (405): 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. (Hebrew characters)] 'was perturbed'; as Dn. 23 (21 Hithp.), Ps. 775.—(Hebrew characters)]
Only in this ch., in Ex. 7-9 (P), and (by imitation) in Dn. 22. The
word is thus practically confined to Egyptian magicians, though no
Eg. etymology has been found; and it may be plausibly derived from
Heb. (Hebrew characters), stylus.—(Hebrew characters)] Read with G (Hebrew characters), after (Hebrew characters); the dream is 'one
(vv.25. 26).—9. (Hebrew characters)] [E] better (Hebrew characters).—(Hebrew characters)] G (Hebrew characters) (sing.). The resemblance
of the cl. (9b) to 401 does not prove it to be from J (Gu.).—10. (Hebrew characters)] [E]
(Hebrew characters), G (Hebrew characters).—11. (Hebrew characters)] G-K. § 49 e.—12. (Hebrew characters)—(Hebrew characters)] G (Greek characters).
