GRIFFIN COMMENTS GEN 41 (Gen 41:1) And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river. For the third time dreams played a part in Joseph’s rise to the throne. The first was a promise that God would give him dominance over his people, the second was to help others know their way, and this third was ordained to get him to the throne. This was after two full years, probably after the prisoner had received his answer. Pharaoh stood by the river (Heb. Yero or yeh-ore, a channel or canal, a term used frequently for the Nile River. How full are your years? Joseph had full years even in prison (Gen 41:2) And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow. The Nile was known as being the source of all life in Egypt. Their food and all sustenance came from its waters, thus it appeared to him that these cattle were coming from the very source of life itself. He very likely would associate these dreams to the work of his own idol gods since the circumstances fit their domain, thus it took an interpretation by Joseph to show that it was from the Living God. (Gen 41:3) And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river. Then the next seven came from the same source, but were thin and scrawny with their bones sticking out, showing their signs of malnutrition, because the source of life had dried up. These had no meadow to feed in so simply stood by the fat ones. This portrayed a harsh contrast with the ones healthy and fat, while the others were thin and haggard.
GRIFFIN COMMENTS GEN 41—PAGE 1