Being troubled about this double dream, Pharaoh sent the next morning for all the scribes and wise men of Egypt, to have it interpreted. חרטתּים, from חרט a stylus (pencil), and the ίερογραμματεῖς, men of the priestly caste, who occupied themselves with the sacred arts and sciences of the Egyptians, the hieroglyphic writings, astrology, the interpretation of dreams, the foretelling of events, magic, and conjuring, and who were regarded as the possessors of secret arts (vid., Exodus 7:11) and the wise men of the nation. But not one of these could interpret it, although the clue to the interpretation was to be found in the religious symbols of Egypt. For the cow was the symbol of Isis, the goddess of the all-sustaining earth, and in the hieroglyphics it represented the earth, agriculture, and food; and the Nile, by its overflowing, was the source of the fertility of the land. But however simple the explanation of the fat and lean cows ascending out of the Nile appears to be, it is "the fate of the wisdom of this world, that where it suffices it is compelled to be silent. For it belongs to the government of God to close the lips of the eloquent, and take away the understanding of the aged (Job 12:20)." Baumgarten.

Genesis 41:14 Parallel Commentaries

sent.

1 Samuel 2:7,8 The LORD makes poor, and makes rich: he brings low, and lifts up...

Psalm 105:19-22 Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him...

Psalm 113:7,8 He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the dunghill...

and they brought him hastily. Heb. made him run.

Exodus 10:16 Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron in haste; and he said, I have sinned against the LORD your God, and against you.

1 Samuel 2:8 He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes...

Psalm 113:7,8 He raises up the poor out of the dust, and lifts the needy out of the dunghill...

Daniel 2:25 Then Arioch brought in Daniel before the king in haste, and said thus to him, I have found a man of the captives of Judah...

he shaved.

2 Samuel 19:24 And Mephibosheth the son of Saul came down to meet the king, and had neither dressed his feet, nor trimmed his beard...

2 Kings 25:29 And changed his prison garments: and he did eat bread continually before him all the days of his life.

Esther 4:1-4 When Mordecai perceived all that was done, Mordecai rent his clothes, and put on sackcloth with ashes...

Esther 5:1 Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house...

Isaiah 61:3,10 To appoint to them that mourn in Zion, to give to them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning...

Jeremiah 52:32,33 And spoke kindly to him, and set his throne above the throne of the kings that were with him in Babylon...