The thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?” Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Because God has shown you all of this, there is no one so discreet and wise as you. You shall be over my house. All my people will be ruled according to your word. Only in the throne I will be greater than you.” Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Behold, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” Pharaoh took off his signet ring from his hand, and put it on Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in robes of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck. He made him ride in the second chariot which he had. They cried before him, “Bow the knee!” He set him over all the land of Egypt. Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh. Without you, no man shall lift up his hand or his foot in all the land of Egypt.” Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphenath-Paneah. He gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of On as a wife. Joseph went out over the land of Egypt.
Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.
John Calvin 1540 · Public Domain On vv38, 40, 46 38. Can we find such a one as this?…
38. Can we find such a one as this? We see that necessity is an excellent teacher. If prefects or judges are to be created, some one is advanced to the honor because he is a favorite, without consideration of his desert; whence it happens that they who are most unworthy frequently creep into office. And although we see political order disturbed and mankind involved in many inconveniences, because they who are least suitable, rashly push themselves, by wicked contrivances, into affairs for which they are not able to manage; nevertheless, ambition triumphs, and subverts equity. But necessity extorts a sober judgment. Pharaoh says nothing but what is naturally engraven on the hearts of all men, that honors ought to be conferred on none but competent persons, and such as God has furnished with the necessary qualifications. Experience, however, abundantly teaches, that this law of nature slips from the memory, whenever men are free to offend against it with impunity. Therefore the pride of Pharaoh was wisely so subdued, that he, setting aside ambition, preferred a foreigner just brought out of prison, to all his courtiers, because he excelled them in virtue. The same necessity restrained the nobles of the kingdom, so that they did not each contend, according to their custom, to obtain the priority of rank for themselves. And although it was but a compulsory modesty, inasmuch as they were ashamed to resist the public good; yet there is no doubt, that God inspired them with fear, so that, by the common consent of all, Joseph was made president of the whole kingdom. It is also to be observed that Pharaoh, though he had been infatuated by his soothsayers, nevertheless honors the gifts of the spirit in Joseph: because God, indeed, never suffers man to become so brutalized, as not to feel his power, even in their darkness. And therefore whatever impious defection may hurry them away, there still abides with them a remaining sense of Deity. Meanwhile, that knowledge is of little worth, which does not correct a man’s former madness; for he despises the God whom with his mouth he proclaims: and has no conception of any other than I know not what confused divinity. This kind of knowledge often enlightens profane men, yet not so as to cause them to repent. Whereby we are admonished to regard any particular principle as of small value, till solid piety springs from it and flourishes.
John Calvin's Commentaries (1540-1563) — public domain. Text from the Calvin Translation Society English edition (1840s-50s) via the Christian Classics Ethereal Library (ccel.org). Calvin's coverage is partial (roughly two-thirds of the Bible); uncommented books and verses are honest gaps, never fabricated. The 19th-century editor's footnotes and remarks are omitted so the notes are faithfully Calvin's own voice.
Geneva Bible translators 1599 · Public Domain On vv38, 40, 42, 43, 45, 46 None should be preferred to honor that have not…
None should be preferred to honor that have not gifts of God meet for the same.
Geneva Bible (1599) marginal notes — public domain.
John Trapp 1656 · Public Domain On vv37–46 Gen 41:37 And the thing was good in the…
Gen 41:37 And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.
Ver. 37. And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh.] The devil, no doubt, by the magicians and politicians of those times, did his utmost to hinder the king’s purpose of preferring Joseph; as he did here for Cromwell, that great reformer, whom King Henry VIII, of a smith’s son, made Earl of Essex. {a} But "there is neither counsel nor wisdom against the Lord." {Pro 21:30}
Read full note →
{a} Act. and Mon., 1070.
John Trapp, A Commentary or Exposition upon All the Books of the Old and New Testament (1647–1656) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Matthew Poole 1685 · Public Domain On vv38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 Or, of the gods, in his heathen language. One…
Or, of the gods, in his heathen language. One whom God hath endowed with such admirable knowledge and wisdom.
Matthew Poole's English Annotations on the Holy Bible (1683–1685) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Matthew Henry 1710 · Public Domain On v46 Observe here, I. The building of Joseph's family in…
Observe here, I. The building of Joseph's family in the birth of two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, Gen 41:50-52. In the names he gave them, he owned the divine Providence giving this happy turn to his affairs, 1. He was made to forget his misery, Job 11:16. We should bear our afflictions when they are present as those that know not but Providence may so outweigh them by after-comforts as that we may even forget them when they are past. But could he be so unnatural as to forget all his father's house? He means the unkindness he received from his brethren, or perhaps the wealth and honour he expected from his father, with the birthright. The robes he now wore made him forget the coat of divers colours which he wore in his father's house. 2. He was made fruitful in the land of his affliction. It had been the land of his affliction, and in some sense it was still so, for it was not Canaan, the land of promise. His distance from his father was still his affliction. Note, Light is sometimes sown for the righteous in a barren and unlikely soil; and yet if God sow it, and water it, it will come up again. The afflictions of the saints promote their fruitfulness. Ephraim signifies fruitfulness, and Manasseh forgetfulness, for these two often go together; when Jeshurun waxed fat, he forgot God his Maker.
II. The accomplishment of Joseph's predictions. Pharaoh had great confidence in the truth of them, perhaps finding in his own mind, beyond what another person could, an exact correspondence between them and his dreams, as between the key and the lock; and the event showed that he was not deceived. The seven plenteous years came (Gen 41:47), and, at length, they were ended, Gen 41:53. Note, We ought to foresee the approaching period of the days both of our prosperity and of our opportunity, and therefore must not be secure in the enjoyment of our prosperity nor slothful in the improvement of our opportunity; years of plenty will end, therefore, Whatever thy hand finds to do do it; and gather in gathering time. The morning cometh and also the night (Isa 21:12), the plenty and also the famine. The seven years of dearth began to come, Gen 41:54. See what changes of condition we are liable to in this world, and what need we have to be joyful in a day of prosperity and in a day of adversity to consider, Ecc 7:14. This famine, it seems, was not only in Egypt, but in other lands, in all lands, that is, all the neighbouring countries; fruitful lands are soon turned into barrenness for the iniquity of those that dwell therein, Psa 107:34. It is here said that in the land of Egypt there was bread, meaning probably, not only that which Joseph had bought up for the king, but that which private persons, by his example, and upon the public notice of this prediction, as well as by the rules of common prudence, had laid up.
Read full note →
III. The performance of Joseph's trust. He was found faithful to it, as a steward ought to be. 1. He was diligent in laying up, while the plenty lasted, Gen 41:48, Gen 41:49. He that thus gathers is a wise son. 2. He was prudent and careful in giving out, when the famine came, and kept the markets low by furnishing them at reasonable rates out of his stores. The people in distress cried to Pharaoh, as that woman to the king of Israel (Kg2 6:26), Help, my lord, O king: he sent them to his treasurer, Go to Joseph. Thus God in the gospel directs those that apply to him for mercy and grace to go to the Lord Jesus, in whom all fulness dwells; and, What he saith to you, do. Joseph, no doubt, with wisdom and justice fixed the price of the corn he sold, so that Pharaoh, whose money had bought it up, might have a reasonable profit, and yet the country might not be oppressed, nor advantage taken of their prevailing necessity; while he that withholdest corn when it is dear, in hopes it will yet grow dearer, though people perish for want of it, has many a curse for so doing (and it is not a curse causeless), blessings shall be upon the head of him that thus selleth it, Pro 11:26. And let the price be determined by that golden rule of justice, to do as we would be done by.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on the Whole Bible (1708–1710) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Gill 1763 · Public Domain On vv37–46 Thou shall be over my house,...., Have the care…
Thou shall be over my house,...., Have the care of his domestic affairs, and be the principal man in his palace and court:
and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled; not only in his family, but in his whole kingdom; whatever he ordered and commanded them to do, they should it, or "all my people shall kiss" (s), that is, either their hand at the sight of him, or meeting him, in token of respect and veneration shall yield a ready and cheerful obedience to him, of which the kiss was a sign, see Psa 2:12. The Targum of Onkelos renders it, "shall be fed" (t), supplied with corn, and with all necessary provisions, and so Jarchi interprets it; which is restraining it to that part of his office which concerned the gathering and laying up their stores for time to come; but the Targum of Jonathan is, "shall be armed" (u); and so Aben Ezra makes him the prince or general of the army, or who had the militia at his command, and could arm them when he pleased; but it seems to denote a more large and unlimited power than either of these, even the government of the whole land under the king, who only excepts himself:
Read full note →
only in the throne will I be greater than thou; that is, he alone would be king, wear the crown sit upon the throne, and have all the ensigns of royal majesty, in which Joseph was to have no share; otherwise he was to have an executive power and authority over all his subjects in the land, even to bind his princes at pleasure, and to teach, instruct, and direct his senators, Psa 105:21.
(s) "osculabitur", Montanus, Junius, & Tremellius, Piscator, Schmidt. (t) Cibabitur, Fagius; "cibum capiet", Tigurine version. (u) Armabitur, Pagninus, Munster, Drusius, Cartwright; so Kimchi.
John Gill's Exposition of the Whole Bible (1746–1763) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
John Wesley 1765 · Public Domain On v44 Without thee shall no man lift up his hand…
Without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot - All the affairs of the kingdom must pass through his hand. Only in the throne will I be greater than thou - It is probable there were those about court that opposed Joseph's preferment, which occasioned Pharaoh so oft to repeat the grant, and with that solemn sanction, I am Pharaoh. He gave him his own ring as a ratification of his commission, and in token of peculiar favour; or it was like delivering him the great seal. He put fine clothes upon him instead of his prison garments, and adorned him with a chain of gold. He made him ride in the second chariot next his own, and ordered all to do obeisance to him, as to Pharaoh himself; he gave him a new name and such a name as spoke the value he had for him, Zaphnath-paaneah, a Revealer of secrets. He married him honourably to a prince's daughter. Where God had been liberal in giving wisdom and other merits, Pharaoh was not sparing in conferring honours. Now this preferment of Joseph, was, 1st, an abundant recompense for his innocent and patient suffering, a lasting instance of the equity and goodness of providence, and an encouragement to all to trust in a good God. 2ndly, It was typical of the exaltation of Christ, that great revealer of secrets, (John i, 18,) or as some translate Joseph's new name, the saviour of the world. The brightest glories of the upper world are upon him, the highest trusts lodged in his hand, and all power given him both in heaven and earth. He is gatherer, keeper, and disposer of all the stores of divine grace, and chief ruler of the kingdom of God among men. The work of ministers is to cry before him; Bow the knee; kiss the Son.
John Wesley, Explanatory Notes Upon the Whole Bible (1754–1765) — public domain. Text via the GEBible commentary corpus.
Adam Clarke 1810 · Public Domain On vv37, 38, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46 Verse 37. The thing was good] Pharaoh and his…
Verse 37. The thing was good] Pharaoh and his courtiers saw that the counsel was prudent, and should be carefully followed.
Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (1810–1826) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword/MySword module.
Joseph Benson 1811 · Public Domain On vv40, 42, 44, 46 Gen 41:40. According to thy word — Thy direction…
Gen 41:40. According to thy word — Thy direction and command, the word mouth, as the Hebrew is, being often put for command; shall all my people be ruled — Or be fed. They shall receive their provisions from thy hand, and according to thy disposal. But the Hebrew is, at thy mouth shall my people kiss, which may be understood literally; for inferiors used sometimes to kiss their superiors in token of their homage; or rather metaphorically, as the same phrase is used, Psa 2:12, and Pro 24:26, they shall receive all thy commands with reverence and submission.
Joseph Benson's Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1811–1818) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Haydock's Catholic Bible Commentary 1859 · Public Domain On vv38, 40, 42, 43, 44, 45 God. Hebrew, of the gods Elohim. Pharao was probably…
God. Hebrew, of the gods Elohim. Pharao was probably an idolater.
George Leo Haydock (1774–1849), Haydock's Catholic Family Bible and Commentary, 1859 edition — public domain. Excludes Psalms (Douay-Rheims chapter numbering differs from Protestant) and Deuterocanonical books (Catholic canon only).
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown 1871 · Public Domain On vv38, 40, 41, 43, 44, 45, 46 JOSEPH MADE RULER OF EGYPT. (Gen. 41:37-57)
JOSEPH MADE RULER OF EGYPT. (Gen. 41:37-57)
Pharaoh said unto his servants--The kings of ancient Egypt were assisted in the management of state affairs by the advice of the most distinguished members of the priestly order; and, accordingly, before admitting Joseph to the new and extraordinary office that was to be created, those ministers were consulted as to the expediency and propriety of the appointment.
Read full note →
a man in whom the Spirit of God is--An acknowledgment of the being and power of the true God, though faint and feeble, continued to linger amongst the higher classes long after idolatry had come to prevail.
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown — Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871) — public domain (CC PDM 1.0). Text via the HelloAO Bible API.
Daniel D. Whedon 1874 · Public Domain On vv38, 40, 42, 43, 45, 46 JOSEPH MADE OVERSEER OF EGYPT, Gem 41:37-57.
JOSEPH MADE OVERSEER OF EGYPT, Gem 41:37-57.
38. In whom the Spirit of God is — Pharaoh recognises the message as from God, and Joseph as a man inspired by the Holy One.
Read full note →
89504e470d0a1a0a0000000d494844520000012d000000a10803000000a53819cb00000300504c54450000000101010202020303030404040505050606060707070808080909090a0a0a0b0b0b0c0c0c0d0d0d0e0e0e0f0f0f1010101111111212121313131414141515151616161717171818181919191a1a1a1b1b1b1c1c1c1d1d1d1e1e1e1f1f1f2020202020202222222323232424242424242626262727272828282828282a2a2a2b2b2b2c2c2c2c2c2c2e2e2e2f2f2f3030303030303232323333333434343434343636363737373838383838383a3a3a3b3b3b3c3c3c3c3c3c3e3e3e3f3f3f4040404141414141414343434444444545454646464747474848484949494949494b4b4b4c4c4c4d4d4d4e4e4e4f4f4f5050505151515151515353535454545555555656565757575858585959595959595b5b5b5c5c5c5d5d5d5e5e5e5f5f5f6060606161616161616363636464646565656666666767676868686969696969696b6b6b6c6c6c6d6d6d6e6e6e6f6f6f7070707171717171717373737474747575757676767777777878787979797979797b7b7b7c7c7c7d7d7d7e7e7e7f7f7f8080808181818282828383838383838585858686868787878888888989898a8a8a8b8b8b8c8c8c8d8d8d8e8e8e8f8f8f9090909191919292929393939393939595959696969797979898989999999a9a9a9b9b9b9c9c9c9d9d9d9e9e9e9f9f9fa0a0a0a1a1a1a2a2a2a3a3a3a3a3a3a5a5a5a6a6a6a7a7a7a8a8a8a9a9a9aaaaaaabababacacacadadadaeaeaeafafafb0b0b0b1b1b1b2b2b2b3b3b3b3b3b3b5b5b5b6b6b6b7b7b7b8b8b8b9b9b9babababbbbbbbcbcbcbdbdbdbebebebfbfbfc0c0c0c1c1c1c2c2c2c3c3c3c3c3c3c5c5c5c6c6c6c7c7c7c8c8c8c9c9c9cacacacbcbcbcccccccdcdcdcecececfcfcfd0d0d0d1d1d1d2d2d2d3d3d3d3d3d3d5d5d5d6d6d6d7d7d7d8d8d8d9d9d9dadadadbdbdbdcdcdcdddddddedededfdfdfe0e0e0e1e1e1e2e2e2e3e3e3e3e3e3e5e5e5e6e6e6e7e7e7e8e8e8e9e9e9eaeaeaebebebecececedededeeeeeeefefeff0f0f0f1f1f1f2f2f2f3f3f3f3f3f3f5f5f5f6f6f6f7f7f7f8f8f8f9f9f9fafafafbfbfbfcfcfcfdfdfdfefefeffffff0e79e2e400000001624b47440088051d48000000097048597300000ec400000ec401952b0e1b0000200049444154789cecbd076054c5f63fee2b9484249b4d36db77936c4fd99aed09a46f7aaff484123a2884228874a4d850c04247948e749ea8a014693e54e0294541aa34915eb2f7cef9df3bf76e2010107cf0decfefff8d1a77efde993b73e69c339f5366ee73f0f40bda3ee291bf0f7b06cf7cb0ac9e38e9d5499f511f364f9b3f62f26f4fa5cde79e4a2bff7f29ffa3d693943f4c2df4347bf167297f985ae4ff1fc9f53f6a3d49f99f243e49f99f967f92f23f6a3d49f9e37a8b92458468892400ff8fba8048c0df689d46ffc6882bc277ff9f287f5c6f919804c84b538340e0c52421bc50475387a06f21498a64e8ff12b9fe1d49f462aa902c0bd5014d9cd35eeac29d6bbe5b30e510c150efcf5ffe0d4924686220965808ce7dfd72a7647bcb788f4d6b71e7550e5db107104d248291daff13e5dfe02d446029a3186acbb83e6eb556a6b304eb54e260ae58cee78b842291c2d16337a3c1d0ff11e6fae3bc45502c4329adb52f66641a954abe5816291289e5a152219fcfe1f338c1f2203e5f67ac7ce57be2ff88d2827f8bb748f8bcd2a8920a240291532c54aa63a3dc6d4757d6eedcd421ca2453cb4491d1c2160181ca587bfaa8fff116599b1a67517339a13ca9c11e5cb5d091acd11a5a9973e6d53a73c78dea3caea0a3511dd28227904619e35d779e669fff7be509a845e27f3026206f8c7798a461523f69ac48a0d1274527f41efaf1966bccfa7870efba5123aa5b570ceafef9d431528d26802310496c3dae634c060c34fb930ae763538b6480133d4a020e27a922b802a14caa1d9eaab20fdd779616340a50c0d53bccf2477dbf786ad1f02e8b3bac7c5e2ee6f085bca8c42f8001ae5edcdc3319cdb32e8fcf5b34d664e0d53abb992fe58984ba11d1164fed269a0847264c7963d2890df3676ffce2e0e2ef26b7ea3676ea5a2fcd69abc7ef3dd2ad2021982b15866b5e65b417fab312eb09a8c55831087e28b2a80d2102bea5439bb4f21db7005d3a36badddcafcf7ef14a0f4f3b8f2329dd595c56bcfcd4bfd62d2a7e9f86aa3fce9b71fd40a7d06051b828b62303eb49f24f4aaec7a6964fdbb432985a70a472cd92179d7d286cfa6e75f9ab6f0d5e303c365c131c2808937282051c811f472453d8e3477ffec3ba36b3005d1bd36163a2452a0c5068935f22d19f9350b83c196f9175fd637982a8484dca9ad6a55b006617148c58e88e0a354b655cb154e78ed5982225aa709954c06b11248cd0b59fbaeb9341ab295dd5cfb9b09f52a2f08f73bf4eb5e2fd93b2d693e82d4a75bf2b0bf50f15c9cb174ce8731b6ef57965cfce4a255fc7e171746a557cb7c9137fb976db4be3d61f764eec97d8526a0857195c0bf74fec7f14d02bafac4e89d484f06352f66168fba72c4f2089007d0cc14162a1d4baa0fc5504678b471c5c6508a68c1c99257df4be53b43ec2fc878d21846ecc6def518489544afbbc63ebe750d7fb1cac8a918a644ad76c1f96f8d395dfa51676cb6067d5f90c8d3094eba76a5b98b316a0aa6c7d678524901b9fb4e67863481dd1142156a538942a9139fff4caf1c760578f4dfdd52112b16536f20112064efc69caeff316e96506e64d10058704f98557b9f37e84fd456d5aca347c59dce01d0caa78905718b703da91ef140470e2a76fcabd051b73c62ac2798628c71b04f68cfde94221bf4b2dcc00349ff414c8fd9aaa55a5ae43004b07d72a951c8954330fd19e40b251b9a2163fecb2b9de461b2e0e54ceef59488227b7521aa911682760fad6fdd98221bfcf5b88f1928ed306868aa423cb72d68077ce966a855c20b377ddc5fa981b1934e3cec1fe2f58ead608e4f28efd2b881faa6acab5112112c7684675fdb988f518d4c23aa96e988a1fec679e9fdd0ec8b78b46526b9b4edf6f03fd0bf68e12a8d161938c2390420ceb12342a4e70eaae03e4a2ea65efab8254d12fd304fd9311eb71d644da3ff5795cc05f9a067f3ca0cba92b636c95d1a23075ea1cea873a8ccb29817a9049eab0939e2ed8737f23d7c89387a7a4ae834dad7fca0d0b0956cf7bda43f90f94c7a016b5b49d96f1439b2a15ee7104a835f23095c4331161ccc4389ab117b5917a34b02268df167d2f596c090873777a0d111f7d5521086922db4c53facf05bc1e4bcb436a4470a09f39f525afb7383fad5968444b1c00c3fa8c35641e2017be818d902166a198a7100854eabe006d96f1457fe75b9f4e4ed57fb23c8a5a5e1f11066a0222028266a601bc5061e6064626ee7a727449136f825d162a8ffa118daf79432f352b72eb89fc18fa8b5d136846bedb31926427839e18df679f53e8199487530b514f25bc348b1c090f0a0fe269260391f2ee789e549bf3c794333d04ab41afec3a9780f2b5ea10017f247e0e7a6cd4e53315982826bd801cbfe6bbce7499f93fa34a9f417938b5089febef466a242f9437241988c9a919c20061d9ad3fe6a042d4daf875a230b424f357e8999b1d1124356f654d8527821275eccdbbfb273a8d71d6c494c13d26d2a08f117c9a62e4b38a033c945a4cb4999e23b346cce519934f414546aa96eb2c24893f0293e89595e6a20e9a10996d3afcd06eb5252cc45eef7cfefd8249816d30aa6b5baa939d4e7bc6bcda57264deed525d1d9697f5ecf5d0cd3317d7f36d8e4117a8b992c34ca2a0ae487a72c265ed77592852b1cbbc87a6cf08485c0ffd68a790ad52ff0d2587da848d41191c89734f1e8529f5741e9aa9383e34c4979238fdc62fb796ed9c099f945856d3710c00ac43302720fa516c26140aa8f2611971fa6eb06676325c1e142eb252c867f00575202c45848edb55c95e33ce159e8e00a63463f89203277cd6ced4aed729ceedde9bd278eaf7a71f4e0ed3769a5b8c6a1284bbf403e4b7fd023b43c60a7dd5655b0489be621bda5c56291386611b0ee85272db42aa127801a4a17b1a0683640f90a69883a9500785c6ad137d5919f39dcd91f501f7f999a6c36c61b458a50adc45d7b949ec3e54e856920413cbb98d22324110fe25d8d90cf1b944c4261be2044625f8ec7ccaeda4f5ed828467ea444dc1b41b7192aa1eb57e22146f983bda18af7aadb5af911f5edbd48b94424118882645a51889f58a07ff9371afefde4d0166d69d46e7d2ae5e192c8fc97ac6fd634ac730704b6becd43b4e9ffbe8b8566d9375d228e641e397d83ddaa2ea32f3c520d22d60b46eb86ad2ea3871236225eecf777a154a2cb74d9fb94c5db9365113a43eba314998e549be27ec4d5c887c49610c9fe84585dc81814be1c34bc1ef96a622b77ff678b6aba30e37e9496a76bc74404c9ba772289bc1794a1f2ed4f67caeae040ab703f6e7b889f2a12488bd1ef2cb224e308a3a1c13b6eed514ad22af572b9cc369ab205eeb0b38ae093c23867ca183a4632d7358f6257acf01b8998e0a5e6f48a4dcb576fdbbbe69f1bb62ddbb1f5bb2dfb572f7bf31feb2f2def5efd72554d71a7caa2bce2ce6d52935c6abb5a19ae50f224aaf771e587530b1bc39bf461fcb8c107e1b57c0d57e8c206ccbf5be8d923fada020566282d09e30a1cf4a81ea19719d087075a1267df88e0409e50693476384fb072ed13bc93356e430605f4c9ccb4bde063ab072d32ea875b6eab36d2a2b1475b0c1ab94ae76895a073c9b5f1764dac385a1729e5e9c26363b4a2b08010ad43238b709b39a1828f70e54769798a09124582b8cf7ac375e3276142cbe8a7b8d62c3770d5ffba1d2f08f6537e811ea9079954394a5c7639acc954b7728305867236cb8ec0000b1bee341441bf8e769ea718ae387b2b5d856c0c48d0894187e2fc0522ae88a70c97cb8402a75267552b654a954a6dd74498ac51526e844463d4a813a2b273320bec4e834528fc12577e143a25e062ac58fa6a9703e4cb864c61b8e3b117af4717840148ae52d11b0dd79a44a276e4a3d758c49af0b99aa40308755271b573991457264fd307ed3186ff3683323ee1b4cbf67088438b7d5ca8cc9557d371dea839ce41bd260f797ef2ea8f5fdbb265cfeea5b3d7efbd7e6adbbb33b68effeeeb435ffd40ad3f5eeafe6ba29015b8ee23f416356b56855031fd28cc714b397e765afb3d05ff1dc9ccc4528fc6b68f48df2c0f88df0df0704b05db00f4dfcedab654e5cea161258b483a6507d16084d1d3e7b6ac7f6bedd0ca9256fd52e1d3ac5180d6585d27b1367f5073d0d5c8145515631ab0d3ef05f0a5cfde39b2e8ddf772aae24a87bf38ab6bd7d6a5d979a9240a537e8a2b3f12cb23ad5811efac83c25cb3409981c8a7c15bf5f41eaf974f858fcaf47c55cf4786af1937194cb664515cd94f27eda6d5f459f8f2a8f1df12f5eb5b8a41637865792b7571eb6c04ed9d8b09581eed7918eaa29f5f1038047a2f9c3ba66fc7d26edd3b9624a6e5b4cfc819d9ada6ebd03e03fa8f28ec573b7bc5e665b3d675eaa38decb33b010197bf14d77d04822091472496d48c87a3ca7c3f99ed04dc35f2ffbd42320371a9b24868f78a9fd1fa48d38711d39a541bf5b1bf8e22ed58812830489671b03eca46a4a76a3e7a0f6e269a5599544bcb0d5d49a830bde3b3ddee7f3aa502cdd2ee6855d6aa29d32cb2aad195b22865b22dc9a34fcb73a4b8d3f25aa76414e414550d7bb1efdbd317ee2e9ced04d008dfc1751fce5b241c8b0d150b5b9f84d22c75a87436ab269e5a41230cbae1c42f0b9532ddefb12ca59a0a5b4ea5705a84d80068073f5c2694be46f8488c488f361fd656cf7a4bcd7b9b6e2a5db70ad024c779682c04470f82b48807a313fb4695643b738a5a577a5ca6ac82be4327cffff6d4992f76c3e5138c69c764809e2ece234027588e2b3f0acb97484421d254d86848e1aa5c087be188a76651500d654b3408f2d2fcc4958fba91d6685f39b34f2098a797675f05e24e34bfb92cd6871be89f0bc5a5ed28db3a95abb985155dbe6a28406e323c049820e40999022b5665ec275897056282758c3f98cd93f5321a163d3f04bc52dee7b8e6a3108449c29747cc862e0b3422e72bcc089f1e73516dbd22959f426539dcbf7a1e85e5699490239b0f70d0fd57513535825fc521cf71dd0c7060fc17f3e4c7bfe9b10d66a58a996d0e3f456b116c4dbcd158060106242561e361fbc6c94c3f98bfbe2429965f19784fd330b70c2052f63b7a8b7aaa511216150fe7ccd97c550178eb1ff5940a8594ac8a54389fa27a4e3de0512c4b3d52a906f29c4aa2e9440fff94a499bf3ccd071b70105793be0f0615ff069ace9839d06bd20a2facecdce8b6068ac664a1743e31675439e622d69178eebb1ff7cc1ff2e2f4f7972c5fb9e8dd8103460c1c94935245dd9ddaf57b904ae6e0ba8f90c41daae6bcc16dc9451a69886ccf538ffed1bec1ea18ed76c8efc90df43cdc46a055c87cc95b240c9071edb7686e59270bf93b3f9efe8ddd61042bed0b4aaf9147ca8f1b7209265e97a69c0f75592f36d21e5ea8b2c4db6073872aaa81dec58536b331dd69b21b75268d99abd6c9c2d526b94624974588e5d4a201d6412b296a2dc3951fb126761504a8f2ce40bc5412a0c10a8beaf8d3f577a3a42003ba95637dceb6f3e13711b0cfd605e040b44677164b4b92821f248d20592f2abdc8652601bc3011e0754916fd9d9e5753741d4c2f68349e4155aa526f4473ac14dc00874a17a1e1889472b3ca18975dd627afb8aabc3c3d52cde52c9953993b979a9ca4217b41a5f83d3b91b08b43aa9d40740f17d01622104fd77f4b2374628b460144e6d8a6dada47ddd9467a00ad4be5895be1580119378be7d73c9c4533d8db638ba18cb2797d11386cbe2e266af6c3cdbc2d8dcc2e9d9d51c59f89168fec4d35d1bacdd23387b4a12e43c9303ac398f57b6fe8a8e2975e24b0e2774c594a68825fc0751fce5b1f99b841233251694e4833f33f991588784a800bb78f5b4a10de82ca17e4dcc24749a25e0b84531e967e1e63987785ddf31421fc453ef4495d74b8f7753b0e64cfe3e966bc6d8d6aec448c9d84c12d1f9c5face99215dfc0ede91ec6a822976b938eb25a9ef44d02ecb74533ee8df8c11b40cc1d872b3f482dc486ebda3a4552cff3d7dca93c7ffb53a1cffd8fa1a96f940d84412ed1dfa2d805aeb13259980f776461d62d0c213cbd9dfb139a342b43741c0c2ff2647a0d40efcf4818e236d5d7ca36edf66e722c7f707669b21444ac839fcab219bbea83f8ec0bf79ac04cc898bc5ad00b7f75b6db072ad144fcf9016a31962aa5756dc2e616d337632a394d78039f852f122b9ee9c6d8b3179225a1f2cbf4a5467d0627adf6ebd09da36c0f58ee862a6342df2113b8d66bacd6a2fe8b4bdf48c25bfd8134a8ebeb5d8b700299dab29107235ab68fc22aa51d7f59ad6e73d71348c70e709a1ef5b1ce34936e3daf7c19e8d50fe32d927555c6858476698db25f1572d557eb9e3eb958c3c0a55a40140b65fc0d8c7ba511419fa6c8825fd5c1e93f915eda2d98cc57854aa66ee6c6500b1e81b5961739778d6e0768de36f47ce4dd7a160d22736d8d394f11648bdf87ed6dec144fa08baef6e798ace14f97523d709502d1e135805bd4cc783c749f72d7ec40ca581c287e905a0c40a9839fc40161ed4f43c6140e8d9b9f455080a0316081c0069f8e15fa51b2543f4f0d4b51d8174447a1064f2e451dadecd540ff08450b9e9bf11c506d5c71fc84a697dcac5b5cf086f8b2af1a992faf827d290fa8793c47199cf1685a5a2afdad653a80676551729faf6da6cc9559464b762b93a665acb92bc09956748712df9c8694e285b872235a1e6ff585f90aa15c013746ae0a09753f56c0ef890b3d5862b4d440a0b6064e2ef9b05059ba860095d87913fb6dd029356f5eaeacbf4d1c1645df7c87fe73ce350ec8dc8c75ab4f3855c7ebeb75d3bb00b5fcb49107a3ba8c80d76158fb343a3c642b07d26a333a7405dfc6c76a8cf35c3a7bef44517835dd70d60ceaee8c1d8b412e1f8e6b3e482ddac34c69d04c297f7836fc6b8eb68576f0b388cf118c83e0b6d64631fbac800c3603e40126be2a8df35e55722a1103602a054d0263e2c547078719188f0d757d5e3b58d215ad366c845db1ffaaaff89b5bfd2b4a2cbfbf3dfc803cd500d8f89e8bfab25a779c84cbdbf1b86175c25404f914126e5388ef9b917e03c89ca5ab203abc0a576e4c6f618320aa69f3e993c9119d2502fb20f46cd26969da785d9245a878b7a4887888206e1165c1a130e9ebccfd446ea9b069e8ab19a9553c1d5eebe93fb3d2bf213e7e913c647ffbb06a5afd30501bed31a84a6eecb1902bad46b346e651432d73b2ca1dfb6757816fcb099da843de895f0f50befc73d2ac1c8dab36228998fad3947e9c921b37539d0279d2b38964b22138b77a3074586732ef258168cc3fdf5db61ade09e6ec63e5d41818c0d108e73838fe6626a24bfd29fd7649df7968cc6698fe31bffbdd9a03d559e8ab46c10f2a5476860fba6753d5dd7626df00fbf3b0378765725c1cb5087558b91ac4fea9f8fb83d462d6e54e729ea30cce77d0cb4c839e69a6b64b570e3bc79646d502791fb110560a1de5c7617e53c16f6c3e814326332b9fb74ecf9064d7ef96ccea727146ecf737975f83d99a4492190389c89f28338f8c3bc23446ded32c90c5c12fc2086b21f5c5964fdd7d7beb88d1571908819836991d12505540e1ce9796915cff245cb711bc85979e2c6d48f67058f0ae62b866f033cd6a4f32677a7f2b692b29bccf506063a39060ac83360209f6c253975ae648e6c77f3cd2a895f40416b3796d7dca7fd045565e19f5d5718915703017ef9754e9bde0fe92a5408376336573ea46b4a1287bc754042b2a937bf570240d05669da963a3b6f4644d4a23c133650de81eca5b0c46d418453dbf83ac5a414b2dad4c9edd4693b526c5267084f05bb15dbc7758d49f430e3d206b733d62ac7a54b2b8443f2f7eccbe58d705468008b854887ecd519494a52fecde3a58d98bc9dda2c71dcea326a3338d31ee8dbed02de5aa27c082fc1c20f7ea5cf08597227a9bc1a90c5549d860b5db9dced63f50b71ea396d5d2195f81352ceb61d4c2fa2346c4ed45a2fc2a49baf569b9e31b2fe7ddea8f51a99f280e98b5b8be60d71339c36022213b20dab75cd6c822f4c9937413cc3d7c1c8f3e328ee8ae2c3d3374802adca9556f642ad29e62bd7c27599efba0131379e34533e1ade281407ea68c27f1fafc4adf786c099f1c9d90181b156d494ae844d1dd9b08d07fec12880c49c3351fa016b38ea328b1a48442862d03a54974bcf259254451a595691431442654fa14866f48cc7f43624a093071d5186cd1936f9594be553436c28e70c89f362f67c5a548d57b5c63d35d31bd1cc2ce78a70dd67136792dcc72a0bb27ea30e3a33ec6cb1791a32a28c0bb26d6cc28ea21622b10778a1c2ab122ae62fc5526e24b42cb4b30a0cb62b0480a1ba7163bbf910233c59a23a2fe1a321800e0d9118bc811b8618a5410dd604cbe84691861a3e08f35408569436bde94c2887126a938cd67756c3df8f2770be51c4db04e102196b66842dbd50c34f3daf965e84b03bb74d6175aa9a5876d81feade6022cc06b224597512a153adf5a172d4cdfc4f8cd107650e61c41dd3bac84e8d087510bf7b42eaab9733fec898d0835dec6cec867278b6f4b63e0e718a9151aee64c1bb8748f4ae8ab24cf4c228af2f1de2a285c79188ac2b980c66445acd11f149a2f8e8d0b43e417f0f0d92f35c8835926176bc195d369f25ea570c5f21722c9bc971d58588fc4099c9385df6857738a6ebae52cf66b9dacb0cda7118d5967e02e6a00eb86263e894bafda82034cd0b430d32beebd9983d771fb7536b871b1a9906dd17a2611eba54970da43e448d0124befa9e28a409c7be8f01b3084c42e9c753446909915a7193169cbf70e49e9f7d91885b4e339c539fbb6f003483e6a8b6c228931ec8beeafecc98c9ddd056c05165019b75c15a55ee33d039e3137005a7e3ba8d48223d131f709abe8c2057d842910e2c64f6e574b20b2ce0d5007ba918d6f5e2950731c600c1ea3fe61f3cdbc47dcce32b84da46c12885f832d100d7212613635e5216204b73852f239e6acd1c11a2406c0e108234ab563b4caf5ef9e585f7fc32be324bf77859ad4e556f455955e6a9d07049a7fb5810b618e618c700f453ac61497b61964a94be85f94c028b0350e91ae235556fc8953c1441d0cf1a16fad736e84e41987fcc52a85f5448bc47853da48c99681213a13eb6448f16a7d8b3c90b770b599f52fe4089b4506a572dfa0e1a12130773d01c5d1b204d12135d1d3b5676f4547235920bb777cfc6590e64f785096d2fc46b368d797f9cfae06e437b2f6b41d1dd4c545d42aee144c3c596c66d2592393056fb06450d0abed0cfec645769a5d1a5d80dcdcc338927aba21ae6296a203322094f6423d4a2e95111da7c14ec2897735ad6b1cf22ee6a4b2f9be28faf1f3dba6ed6a4b7df195a90555c52d4bbaa2c33afa0cfc84ff71e3c791e738297a94b0041de459c0d0a994df196c712b5e47e49645cdbc6bed4af02294b6b2fa4f343c582c0704b166bcd016c72cfb9a6d59984d43a618e3ceeb3cee9fe7553ed84ccce64030c81975e8f762e314c3c9332812269a5feab8bc391f2b4e308369d87d25a278e51163f45d6de689ea12bca1766e067358220e8fb7382fd67c3079325015dd86c031267246359225826a8830b5b7b3be3b41a91263a3cc6a812eb23b4a172a52c401a1d1566d6598aba8eff708ecfafe00b813c402d4426b901d5bca91ae23392eb7fc10472a522e8240aff144f12f5eb47e501a28010e7c77bf036351a2e5cb0c7b6fbe8a5f4ea3557c6e85c98863e5e1f1d39901850e273e0b3ad52ffd41549a6c1bb82b1246408f7538f19a59708a4712f93f55ae67c89213e29e705b8535e03b38c43c12d4bc51ea5c63dcd643a97730bd23fe5445d24ee1922a39a685edefc4eaa3145ab52caf9b2e01641c1828040f15f03b8011c1ec72fd49f13a4928a642269942046a1d4394bf7b0915f2f6a34d49e6b02efca01ea8e70bf7ec1daa3ad7b178034a40ff5f183348bf51b003b47adba5ecf7e14d38eb00ab2175ffe304313d506b11427b0f6dc11d10526e4d1db5cee792ecd0e45f25751adb4138254c369ead24e857acc59021b97982d08b7aa26c28f13ff33bc9508ff2cfe0a4c121cbf7cd89ae8080b47d07d9f4ec93212ab81eb986f4b4b540aa1541926e0b6e035e30964e210bedd1d122d570a5572a95aa493c85482e632754050a080172656a8e25fbe89702cb231bf3bb82201fe3125280d1a480c9bea8c86c7bc749674704a29a1ae6c1fa729056f9e549d7677d9a16fb2abf89204ad419540c7a1bdec6242f5f75743291a94010d5cbfb89ed3e88052ed724aae75e7a82be79cc3995b2677c05bae968aa56b5f6ace757e0ea33ac22f59bb21999f89bbd658cc87ba6c1050e8397772583abb699acda3a07ebad42bce2c1507f9f19a069a94fab88c1953b3b2e7ae1cf98f758b1679f292a7be3f6ad57bdb468c59b36d4c8756c1321e2f342c442c8c088f8ee97e0987241ba157452b2fcc9a2a4e7c20e50db3e22d6da6171c11f2e1e4fc5cf03adbc197ef1cbc056c9710934cb9bb4b4b8721cdb1db17f1269835d15ba7cc85feae1fa101d3d27d7006551385a52f019121bd4e93c1483b9d09729c2a170f323552146d8de63b01bd564442d11c70863140a4514924c0c0d72394f5bcac04580f08bbc16690cd29e687b40812f2ec4acbfc79ebdbf59ed1cb11df29eae5d40e3d4af3477448ecf4e29c3e6b06d972bb675665caa3264f68258b51f19b8b39c15ad704688cb910945026e2eca94a2701f7ba4e114b0de4b612b0c52c883be6ea0028bb1cf6c78d61190fb17da3f9e5d62fe74ec3ddf3435975694881815143e03e8b0a4142e45c7098fb525adc7083aee5d69da0eeeea52afc097345aa4da6e04839eb101a930fe7ec53c02ad5d01e9d8748e2154b880b88cdb99abeac74d0c43affa243290b6cf61c3fbca863f76ec3325e7d69d38669357959b1328b82af0d15f8fb29045c99324c2b90a823235431b9267e89896b9b79fcb31a235f22946a4c7955a79931926c4a3a66a6fc5840d3064ba21b3faf852c89db4bdddbcdad751dfb75b522e3bc8e5fe5c37dbe45ba1ec120dfb2cb821c693af4b1b0bfdcdba653f829744bee029068a16bef3566d3b7672bbfc2b8115aabf9cd040219d5c00c1bd4990b214becdad2286f618d7132aa456fe2e8271ae52af029930b539c268998d74c903c736e992dbb7cd694576a5aea5315b2b288c87e7d25e1528e4cd63c4c356252a456670ce1ca824343a52e91249abf1aae2c31cbfbf4534b05765b6acd36bc4a20df28a9c613ed94026f1766bb43369aae3bca594dc755eada8e43b6e821b60f84616e8cfa6834c60019ba4e1df2a5a8b25b3d3184306443cfa4fba845439978e577305a9f83c804196d3da59956d3790be9e28eab302cd9ab950406a972a8561758d1455b0f38f826000020004944415431644a2d27e9ba8d7b03a71a85e3c9d9b304065f66c0e922a3a85970a05f8b90b8b8b15307a8e22224625bb3f0156795e99f4509a745a9deea2a8c9236f17f79924cf4de69734046953471ccf9c521eacf5422a566ac5c923365fd3be9e1bc6089c89430d287269873785b4511686b994c7dc9f7f8fb58bd95ee63169cf303436466becacc9e398b575a26290dd56b0b8a3948c4ee4c03f58bc4b098551401ef099451328ce2749f93c3e293e9ad26241cee661f4b5d9ff3815525d6d630f3757444d7ddb4cba3bf138ed992897c890b35aee5e951fc431a319b983a479ec05e3918af960be576575a4854ed90caf11259bfd031afc9c2f5fb8a9549e5a191259230be446cf56f12a0314a8d13268ac53d3401eef76698a2e72cd104a7af5ec80d529a15f94e839823e25a34fa9aebac3062eba530057937f48fd09cf136ba6715f5165b7732fb0f744259f1cb4a8ec3174eeec40cedee7e610a50628a7981813bea57618bb34d8329f0d2ffdae5eb517b551901c99424ba07e5c16f57d22c76d56ab53f6565d62742534f288847371c1d21571d8be7a611bd45f5e5b030fc040c7d85f712462a375b49fd84953b4719fab51dd85a173676b9d063959438f57ca5d2d22faddc3848f9b95ee578cdcc13a67db1343efad5bc8438a1415c3a737687b058914eff925bed97bde54c0a5f6c0c944a559c16dc70cb5b24bb02125ec8a1e6b86895dd79b271c71049d929f2185a79d706c7129016ccd131e4f8394b5fcac232128ef52e49492ff7ccf03581b0bda32b21bf899d0fd0e01051ea0eb37a25d40ca0d64487017e8d10bcd3354a296ade24302a446e5ecc62549c334a14a402e92e806cb905356af9e0bcfdb79516f0266784bd4b5f99e788e09adb9ff8a8fdcc7602dbc70af1d5aad02cabf6d3012d023af1740aae4c55e9eca70991ab799121cacc56a19c36efbc5a2c0cb3f6dd38a94b688825225dc515841eb852a32b1c3a5ac6173842f9c28016aa5c3ccfd831529e51076d0eda4cc77c20eafefe4c48e0a866205866a0d016850485623ac24f92e36caaa84bd8ed3728bbc0d9d95d122510a83b7f01aca38c1ac62dd928d814b7b30126c676a039fa14bc5dfb2a821c3b782d1c79809f26f42fdce65abe3c7e162dcf753eba764c20213b83cc6e91822f341a21236be4bd09c80d0da4a875225dcc131973cc9f8f368528fd53cff3748bdc999dd7cfeed52b50a6521774faecdce92b6c9ce0f6d9e3de3b176e9e58b4e1d0c1d6292979665564aa3f274bad0d126ac491dc3ca35cd9794c8ef8f3b1919a5069ca129f68645422b4e44da5e50c6aec1c59bc2fc711162cebe51139a807b9435394589b5fd070fde51eaabbc3322ba7feb6fbcd135dcff64baf52e8b246fb761d1075c202b226fe92cfdbc3b687e0ba3976377a356a0241ba54b4d7b079a840c97f8e23e45e616f3a029fb49b4cf3e7d85474cb588c8a250ebc4bb9f10859a26515900e2167071ccbf413c97a193915fd8bd3f9d314a22502c3f4ed3b5e9d6ecab26617cefd9eead5b1db70fe97af7edab2fd9fdfefde7ff5b77d57f090bd378f1e9ef34266bc4d32305e156595fd3d2ec4d9b6fc08091f86af29c833c688c5ea9f99944f683d1ad0d60a93e987fbbd9cecdc51376d732a357c6930ed7c49934e52e04ece12fd5d2a4a41a89b67e1d83b43ae8d59786dd615cfa1aa89d2c8fe24bb0ade92f68321ce071bfc45a9ff0d5e96bd4101320dedbc6e1116d0ace9df353cce9b14557f2a03b2a8ebebe6e4b7a83646a4c0cfe9852827d48647d5980f02c872e56e00933870e10459d300433847a94c977c305ab869b05cbfe7d407836c711d975ca66a9f9edd21cfea7668e2d5269bd191d9ae66d8d43eee8a6e95699939d5eda62d3e7401a1934737b4332b0c2d54996dda0fecb6e6569167347c2552e6397812fb3c06219526013a9a6ad21f418d427d84b7dad66a0303a54ba80ff6c0813803829c18d68423537cac2fb931f652bf9ffb5e9efdd29541e8ed532baaac511676695faa5d009d8b5183900fcd76e7b491bb61a9712e20b516d69c3718244249936027cffff85b4b504902a5ae4c502c4ca2e664672b6a152846b9721b46070f50eb0ead125355bbd01e0db7999c2f08e309b9cf0966fc122ad06b0b04219a3ee30d4943e834d10b03db64b85b9675ad1df0f58e8533579d2618afc12fd440beddb47b44aacd62b7b4eeb3ec1259b7f7fd6e0e9523c6585a967531bd37b92c53a5b674e4b550a4d661559a9941c2b7d53c03bdefabd17d9df840ab6a19378ea6a625a4831863a9597c4168339924e3e0d49bab2fbf77a904bebc73730baa3d3d3c2e22f62b8471d5cea8cd645a2ff26e7a37c30be417e111abe1e598b55e305a505aae8823564b9ff30b13069a6ddf43860591c96a182f6b49ddfd732aa05c8f374be8c449368d49e21d48e15f468b65417fffab5fb9236050400bffe1e3a657c6e7bd32921f9eb21c91e73e6c6d3164f559c6eec207d6ce40c87b62e1d291dd470deb56fc2335831bba6539e411e692b9dba91fd72687c9525e9fb3c0f97c48feae7fd924a6b79bfb3b56d0f5ab28207da2ba45fe6b64639b3d183fa617ad50f332eb56bcd3532e7489689e24d7684748c2220b4ff7bb38989875a4fbd9456f1f197475327c5bbecb1a95c6e8a7af4c57c0fad3fd5340c2f73a4e2565f4bc4c691b23ecd0050571b42d028551728eb53742768a75cb0d046854b710fc9801509a0a237963c7346ef9d0c512b60d8e48fefa5c9045ef6f8cfd4b0f2d27b85c307d843ada3de00cbab120c1593ef62c4e6fc12c7e875a4328a2dd1e5b12ad96ca78d1fa9c1041099e4fe29b8ef96ebb4e99fb99177e792b3fadad26a36c6cec1b256922596ca6a17988e626d5c0941e043a6d6aa13f08d817de48a175f4fa48e1b4056e7b49706a44109e9e1fc35649caa3d61e3cb2f1f46618b6f7856b1fef3b30aeaee391c11d3739747331b93e4ca1ac4ad60b53df18259607c5e205a88d7c2e09712ee26cad34c45f102a97c823237ea02ab9ade01d180d14ccff1aea3ea0cced8e6de13d8579f5432c1f6a718e966e223e8e9687944a9bf9c5d9fc7b9da9113836af50e7ef4217a77aa25b6efafefc6fb7292c79fde7559fddaec3dae7e28b0ab186cb33646af886d1765e7419364970421bd1db182e51b6d90a64ddc42c81a364b38bab516d441da505dc1614ee21c7d4002c51728cf37c8c743fafd380812853469e99bbb0b2ae7a4ea69059bac24758c3151fe67ba6a56eabfe6dc5ac8c99aba66daaadeb347e824e125180c52f3d9fcc6de985862c4b7ddb6dd6207068a792603453742c9684b5fd4b88ce14aea1691a6d06f88c92c22a3b8557be7220c82f854151365cb771de324867c35c29b789cad1b499fb5067516fa568d7d79d336f9e9a6857b933ce7eee31984dce38833146614a2aa539fd67075f18298877c7b64d72ebbe6bad91b998559bd90f7d6d75922ac15d31fd36c074774e4a0f79d4aa0be395322dc74f6aae83cd4524bcac16e93e6834df02fb8b28ce9da68d787d6df71d0389657201c6a375069bd3cc8b8b763a5cd9eabc2e251909151515399d73bba5d91c563d465c2d5f01770643a17b788b800332ed5528cbf81081c94ddbed1261c073c238798c846620b383842b0a406b282313becb0394d20166c4f4c10aef016ad1a78c8141b6061d92356b96a9e3c89af41686e47609539b4e419a522c7053baf144348fc315d95552115791d28d1ee3658dac664207e3feaa9172bb6ac0ac509138a9db76c4fad69908cad77996d4b20b75d7b6eb522c1de31446c7dce7058690d013649b6a4003db06f3a7fade4c721fb9d813b3d375eedd715dced57ea00cff95a6c54946aaf0ee4cccc2888d36f90e7722d6db11c42fbacfdd4f3f608d41f71b31b3fc4d80486a3d8618bef46fa1d1c9f976899d226027077547c15a041376227422953c96d696e82d9efe10dea2079fa29b0c1bb42d9a599a073b9a8472047d42823cebbd5343b902fd4d5a38964e128a871e3c5fabe5779a709596c4d396489d2e4c6e534943396152394f248d8cb2b3a887f4cdeeacf40acf28023657480c5313bb1ebabd315a1614d6090dad24890fad0ad9fac623bc8cefe54a17ad3afd9a63531fb452ceb9cc20025f28ea9eb3af7c5138ecdde8e2822b6d6ef998f39e16a7c814d761bce75d125436b893a08e35050753f8f39a3d3207c1f76e6a39f59c649c3e3f78e092be008dd4cfc153730fb598f80536935a4796a2859abf36e736f56b1efe5c0b4dbcbfeefcf7a9f26065c936a65bad045573bf3e7367bb3a8501e07529f6f4d2527b66b245ac51456ae32c825089bd271344247c910504fb2a5dedcf226f3b4d5e75fae28a48b158e31785a6952358192bd17ed93075a8013bdc4c33a94a7f3893b87fe772d0c81a6a22c47a237ce6a02faa090e1d1c2f7ab0350216484d002fb828ded2c741ffb8b86f7b8a238d8540f691db4844aeb84ac27ec6ad8e56e60059d99182d46f35e4ad7b4248401cb5d6c0b4167e7f6de217ca0be5cbfc9fd37cf5a64c1e967b18afdd800e444a9d613cbe6bd962751fa60ebbfa33934e40dd6f7bc66cfe8dfc17eb5bc2b4c262732addd3fb00fcece14e70c48eb870c21828e89642e986b91a81e6304023108296a3baaea99179141c23b2be19777144a2f6de409b970d177c3ca1dfb857e0d7c27c56f2a93ea50c858a5e0fb447fd3253633949bc5746990671566f55f800048b06fc420fc25472efad75807ab8bd905d70a3937a4c436a014e1363d35cbc09c3614478d340ad3fa7b9a447dbbff96db8a10c09d55e63248a80b5c129fb5a8a44e65e90669a40c7dd28ee5e38fdc32fbf3db37d3edb29f2d3d59d0a636b99fc4812161c637c4f706a787ac159728fb134cafd9df77a594284cee221618a596d38d4a8daa2c7fd619cac94f67ea1a21ff7bc75dba4bd8f05315765e8b5299ab804ab93c49249d4c1be8cab503aed81c6a8799da3541f8709c9140554c9689d348e51d688dc93f6b62fbd829df8ea24a84bcd80ceaa81f7538bf115517775c93e6d3f43be1b161af1cb2c6748b9c76a4cf416f2423d1711c13a2af323872138d059950eaf8b350cefa76a952a7e984c606752c6bc979c914281da588d8f880397c4791d9bf654f5eb033443d0c9f458be501c9ef5132724cdd1ff477b4a507c1d6ad4bd45407bb7aa23f376a59c33136ebda589807b988b64fc59b775b187e08e5665663669d3bdec9e471e7134467d344d65a4ec4bfd3092b4529452e98f32a275a4ac27031f49df141013120848cff14e8dea731fb57ccfbfda3e4e3e2612e03d492867e6a112c7f2b4a9c6a36f4a34bc034c549322fc1db57a09d5d6bfa46638a6d1d2a942f0658fb20c45985026b4b3190fdbb57a8d44acec0db40de2b50862fa30fe4f5a323b9b46dd2917c91344edcef78ef87b0b53e93687344483eee94403c6b95111ef44589cab7f3db4f65775d47d37d0ddaa550fa4964675caf474969949c89909af781ea415359b937586cb64956428a0280759975db2139848fe0f745f09df416134cc1b6a83ba64e7e531f2a207a945678fbd6609f9bb5f0b01a0372581a16a5e73bfee83e25f016598b81b09ec624cbeda2e96fef479840981d6c286a2019cce976a19dea2ba3473de3e98a55294e135fd4b854861a7f5ab97567be7476e459f5c1c915361da8972c2b9e22438ad15871b27226810abf68d8eaaff53a17d02cda2d94bba5cf85ce1bedd20f84c15f2c558070c9bb1331e86e6e3ee50f42a51415dab171b33a5607478e4656817df19489ddda75c7cbf019b8380d982989108e0729c1dad7036a4169b745960f07f8e6b0ae3dd842e61014db5219c607149c8c95f23840977eaa30530c46cb9ddcb5355296b498044c606b06f1ed4ab06664badbe4c198a154e4706e7e0a673a58270fd58f630a29506eb7280b997e3643a63912e422c75a0fd2aae8417bdbab163c6180db2c39e4b375af0fdaa0f76d1b1d7fbd17907676f589cb4e125e85ec32c2ce48b3203829c1b0fae1a54c72659b497c8dea95d81503b186e63d35a59bc46e019a099ab3d35c2e42c986bcbbc8fb7b0b0ce9106078f0c6cc10f3a818cbc16fea11abbfbb9bfa9a1ab50791c036806d824b92c27243ca9263c05905e8d1fd3daaa50070b5b7b94e9f5af0324a17b206f104dc85db102913534fc205edbfb684215ff00b4a9f712335f322d364ddaa2253a2a69122915a92d871a4d1543f0cf64737f9a9bdbafedba56a9cc6e101ac219166fc74c21c136e43a0cff065f4283ccca96b0b9b14da254e58191caabd04ed68d82e136e473095cd9f1e53f0f6c9abf61eb0f97cfa2b3cc69dd104f0976819bfc3ad2731f6fe1bf89415c2784074bd5e741d3e4b9bf040b74fe1c417a9d495e75cfc3c0ace90d09d1e2119f52a05a1389093db252278dc837f5373beab3b01069572966d05f86a925a22f62652b68517fd3c5f30f9f4ead4cb964776eeca9f1afcbff668215b280d77ba708ac23ebddea0d86076fa64abad21fdb6c3074d468d634b801aba9cb196381a8b8515556c66079d2ded5f50e51e87dd0eca4a1ce089dea67a8c8ad0132a688ea7c517c92c5e9b02569746ab5ca6a4e3627787219ce20db6622703b7f5d94647a80b74862bda559c0613087664aaea0d81681915cbfe75a044ade691322bc7ecf0309956621223f51292c15248a55d28777d032f4b32869717fbddecbbcc1801e4f99444e9f9c477a443c3daa144ca08766e6078788e97d2871d0911f98da411820ed47ae9185ce7a7f8433eeee81a577bb8555ee0a596c36f5a34b96f08136b721ff313ec4ec8e402653772e06cada272e7d6c2fcd20a79534ea5e24a08f4a380d72d3fb7ac148f1cc284db040238e50c4462ab46aadc8a850870bb258ed575606c8103bd063b7dc472d7abe3629ffc6a1b4354717b21e62829b729af2e4cd43c53f9885d1f73c8c847069676aa11d285646d6419c90996992ace35933d75aed8cb71377334b1e368d0e83791412234c96cca483a68a16cd05d2217570c4f9e3dbe1cd233b0bfd5543608db66976455b5d0eb0b9b9f7002a06a6a164a5722f029b6b7c8270a12fa38e1d3b765d4c4df4de4ed9e59ba69c57cd7100a9b31ac56f08466ae4f1cb4d86f6941ec9f5c2f30255acc25a505ad3a15b9bd6459503dfea200ed40293d859d0959a22134c8bd437a4160d0dc9bd267f0edca908885779af489bf28afd13fede9463011937a25effd2b0dd1c45fb15d19be1112468b475b4361a92dfc9ce4beb5912ad27eb3b45aaf9c2cfe98fc59182183810450bd31249b07f309f92ebdbae6aa4f4cb7cf5039eb20c46500f1307f94bba60d4df70bbbb9789ef75d6d8ef40ba766158b40f0ed5771c3fb1a7cee04874bb31fa7a3e79696226d44e6d6c1f389d36315b2f749269b1150468e301b59125efb9c1da1c58b35ecf50c7b20641eb2140e617c057c2fb798b6ef74753531ea51d0273236e9cf9db5f838705899a4964863a5ef0ddfdca74771ca2023c87ea18128c52cc5945ca709d20a7ec9f2a33806fa3615d3447820f93c952871a01628aa8ee8cd55978c1c1bda85f1d6ab0f8bd1723e3fb25c0c4d026c101cdf98ad8cc7b8ce3fae7e165912c327976bda275b4da480721ef2502dd936defba75bd0179b26835f6412b7e54fcb6c3e90ddab997b78ee89a254292b81450841b210fbf0b49dcb523287a65c56058e425c0d307a1f856e4992877436ad1f3409c8b170a4642b18813781afc9e8bd08a023c21611a9217a4bfdb374a2d68c453691620c2298aeb5424764d2e5a774cd13bb3382e9a89f4d20bf079ab20aa8e5e8cb3a294d472aea686832a94b27685ea4954d72639498372591f91846f802b26d9608ea807a9d296e297bbddab6d081fca33c9ec299f1f83fa8d76f583278b928c71432e421d497b6cd1f43e7c81face25cfcefac312ef2df40164eb2492259019980b5e5d228244919b610282cefba431e75251ccc7cc3c15517a37dd0547b425f7f116ddc725aee79e0b9fa5d77142eaae06378dd644384698436428cacfd5a077d2e0637013f6f5555810524a59e2102774b1b543940ef08558d071a320ea26d65f12adea0211358e7a46a95155b72b6a14458133bd203e74cff1791d3569c41d8daa5652750dd215ce7f301cd170cdc3aaac32569c8ca03dc34e77fb43428ff48cccacaeb513577c4e4bd2d02c43846614749adcc00778cf3001be50857f840c3c8af9222951c88cb4e2ad502493064ccdf63999ac1bf62e40c95c824cb5c0bf346deea3164dca7451d3407f6eda1bfe215746895bb4ad2d70350d09939cb6f14473e19e1b4d1a0219948a0821d57b8d79194e5f387d73adb9562f0f33b0e953d4dfcfa478f70e827c994494314dfb36d58381d2a0e3274deba83ba62f436ee9ca94de5a7aa38571d428ed208aac2ae38bd0502fd5bfe199808a2835a0eaac250dc940fa1c34187f5f6d579a1965fb0e4af3813ddef6be4237b45be73707d4713994fd6a24511a2fab1e21b24e004da80ddf08e994519464249729731b520bdf9e2b691ac669d1b1ba7960464893a6a1c220915012a4da323accd09e698d6123bbfcce256da436b2551fa8930a66d0d70f7a5c51f2bc11cef0b8fa1984716a8901373b5c2f552a4d263abd697e64f04bdf1651572f25ef473645c7181d8f2723213176a4fc4d40c5caf4fe08a0d1f45412ceaa7447618fd9dcb3c169beecd967cce8c8842475b2e30de857e27dc83e415acbad4fe5ce82b4100a9f1b5300d27825ec364e369dc90b51c2246cdbdcf69c0622d7045b5c65f7f1167ee8a2c890667ff30f6e1aac513469dafec417dd9617cad5332145ec628d7dac30ac5684dc8e546a4a28581c798606453b2b6d7ab1244a9460659c2274d75fb75176101e44a940d029aef8129d23621126620bb54d3c5a6a8d5a4c7d92866d26dca2790a4a3726463ace00d1a808d1a67a9eac0f41e6456ab281f12df952f009f6bc1a04b9f6689ee1d62f0559e44337555202b7323af20b32dedc9a44143a40f608fb5d508c3995300aade7e96b2b13a9bff15672bbaeb821b5d8fe9925823049a8c854b15a1d50fcfdfce4b44c4d7267e8218a62d420d371b98ec2e7d54001207280cccc3846e142bf3085a65817e78342080d8b96e8b0941047e562b830074f97c114e3a0cdcdb442225125527c874875f068c8e5270547ffbaca8843b08d9f4f88282891e5fe09b645eaacafb686fad78bd78734c9975b7737c995f14b4f67665d27d9d13f482caab36f44697f849ad05440a96620cc211e7c421945f3398c2c42acc831819e80b63452ca6e095b443defe72d7abe88ba69ef64e68ebd44b53a215c20f6cc5370cdebfb7a6f84cb3ab269d5745a8c4e8dd3c96863fdaa2c92354461812529c52d4966a02a3d4383d5b25860d4744b2dc9703bf1a539358f44a78a3ba14f2dea8ec65857548028b46b5f8e7f50a0dad8610df2b232f5006fe17d4aa654124d4bd5cbf2def7b2c00c21669749fbd6f1da9deac8fccfd0a7a96d7fe728e3d33afd5aa2a58802ec676cc7912ac2c2d2f6a791cf332eb838a190760710e9b4f64b4e875996b6f751cb270024a306e0929e1f7ef2b2cc4fddd9590b1e99fe18f8c08f3795de76f3e33adaf77b40abc369ff5d8ac69a9c69dd9f373b7de77c9230314a646160f79d440d3bb3003baa5f0028749e47d91677c7fd8b4618fd75e11182e6019c0847ffb3e0538e8d70057d697456bf73e87c5a8c3e7e27a0e78fd13b1c00be99dd07aaec3a7384c7d8c64bbe6d7d97799d7da3ac85b962bb51321b527352a867150e003ecf7198eef2810e46b9b67c27cd352e8d30875abbee78a6536d381ce4fbb1dd1b528b04dfd283494767110ac3b40aa1d0d1b1ca527b33953ef5c5cbbe0bab9a0228894a9d623809739471186e1599b5fcc8116523dd1a2f9b870be442952c8645320971382514b1d9b963addb9143593459f43eecd0a7fd669085e8ec9eb198bd09040f5dcb6828574a9fc2bcdb2874be9d2253aad32c511f3994728345ade44aecfd006dcee9dc90be0fb683608d5e3a1c65f6b552ddb9e5ba664dd8849bd74789245a313ea1a032d7bd93fa7f8987568c16131cb1d7de4f2d928eab33db82f0904ea9028449037b8b630c5d62374d54a84b4f02bb304e37c2c118a15048e9e56a5d57cc08c77a8c1ba06abdb3a719efa66494c9db36a19d163e9ab56d84efd06d8a146d13bf476375dcb8649136c32cfd91185f9e95d9bd5e59d56f56bbbfe0e332ce1766b7ae831fdf8d4988f597cb15a230b94817eca7914894d9df00b1ada203f8424c0f2b8858a189ac80ec70daa549c6bf99de817ea105b941a50ce106855ae9d745cc824d545fbfb38ca3db32eae186a643436af9facaa8172cbe4902ae1ac0229930549276f67395deb29e915734b5e54d90840771d249e4cebccc543c45ae32be99b3c66c267c1100b29342a46552b1914d7380f4b170d796692760bd4a15ed9c3ea0bac89d5d8f66d977cd303b931a610a564817a527788e21f4cd902c77b64ce6d64995aaf0f4b1db49b83da555ee4966040f5b1001db7fc7e2385d21dddf48fbfe5e4c38ca20b56e527928971f245c8f6fa2fbd0ca89d7a5c4b6b0d531fb7e6adddf3972b283239873fae5606de7fcc8deb05026b22e62ba71d0720cd90491c155e8a2a994a14c8794349558d5d6a436fb826524b8b56a1d3b0b49ba1d782f2b35deef9ca967c9378c83539df49e925d393f40e351c48714aaf5abeddceef1f8d549b7367df4c5c6a9b3376da33e5faf75e7cf3efe3bb571217e8b53d652782b067f4b7d91999fb9f66c39af4988b0c4a7f2485707faef1d8b832c37ad7f34b56843f66b4dd0a299611cff55ce22fd10d89b2c4b727f844fb0737582dd46a96e31f9a57e2b5edb21c710abd498cd5a89fd221b05205091436304c6102ad27dc2ee19ecdfe3081c6b6d4c1bf9836123092f78d843921f21390f0c963e4172a2a72caffbd80faf62a13ff5e5bbd54e9bb5cbb9c7a84de7da5f8e970c831c9902e3895934f2a67143764cb850c80f1fc6ee6e84cc7e78d93d9be2fe6db670d1a3a98559265976f8d32641cd63d35a4b352570a2abc69c8507e6b1df461b36ce0028d031b087189df3d9a5a3deebdf0daf22ea978a4eee82cc03f4f4203444db055f2247538f3d68d0e616149418cbba1769f218c0f4f8a737923ef4fe6161465c6ab2232d31dee6b6c5a595cebc088ff97613f25aa4e44dd226d5323c6dcd5c84113c7a2bdda23265312d90c4a0384c2cf4a335f6d0deb8dfe52deade1b1526456877b1aead55e75499e7c191d2e89c61d484ecb60dc4f9059f5952808976faac5f16fdd43128cfe72e402373268377c9f0fe632e7ffd4dbacabaa47846eba36f0e49d594b376ec13c822b651bccc747aef1c5af7feb64d272f910c3f3f068bd20faacb1698c020b6e09c6a639400000d54494441548945ebb3ac637cca92518ef4c969dfe7ad62fc6ca72cfa8fd69a3f7e34b598170d6d8b53735441c10285d19429570f3a726155892b8f9a8a4119a6c1474eff23cd5d85b03b8e5ae80ef7cbe8fd1a9e16d6aea6f5571d83e1bcb01dc184e497ff4590b931ea5855d4b22ef40ff9f643cc065aef13508b2188d7b78100bf0602d7ae8387aca5f70dac0e0827b7154a898b608fb938a8737c41cf2ec1805aba333db373d7e2df48b4d99cbab25ab7f5d1d4c2d4f6c2a924a990a31536f7b32d10b40995a752ba6664bbe2b4edded55dddce9cc27f7999759daaa0958447d95afb9637fcbf9bf833a567ea5675cd1e44e9e58bb97151f12b9224e31479fbf66de8a4efc79a7a8f7ad3c3fd83c566ef1da827126b2802d4bf17e4775b00972209f48268b62a9addde91fe1613b7a05b5a35c69d3e9671e953ed6d89779ff821fefca3a905ccde7774cb2269e1e286498686ab744e8ec23cea3b2057778def77eee6f7e758130d9f01025a61803c2699f4394e71888e39807752bed3d3693f224f8fb047b4fce8408a32ca1663b02824863c2ffa032f34657034c1067d914f2913f7f9c51e4a2b4a14d2c2f251a6269a2535f5dfda7463dae869db890bd3a6e7673b523a2ff1a5bf00ecb7504650dce9dfa1168bed81ac14c983fc850b62f84df9b6acbe516255ce0d8a885f8eed54f2d2a4d524bb4389446d3591d2de17703df625298858b4f7c83f0657bdf03665a67c37c32dd7e4af2d9bbacdedba46fdb6476f6fcb2223f2217ebb87d20a4f86efc5d850efb4793c2482cd5649294a1684d78f916ee6cbc95dcb33dc9e8215ac1665db463f5a92b2c07ae477a9e5eb5e89a9853f57240ed228cc869436e1d2e0e4d7d69ca31eba7f6a694945bf9716bcbd0ca38653956d191d05de5f4f00cca879b32035afefa49f2e538ffd7e88ad9dcd3c6566aff633d369870b821cfa54f3c752344fb760821a43fa405c988ccdc5c787b53007c5123e13950ddd53df2eb8aa3ff146ff842b3fc6dbbdeba0b546e4ef1f193ca9b359543884cf0d1769630d2f8cc23bf6e0d2f6b9d57979155fee3945def8edf09e57674c7da14b7e7a466e55f54b4b965cc04efa6f4696ea62abbb7d353bb7a64ff6fa9d6ae5c23173db657766cf4df88f178a27ad92f9a06dcef1693b9a2f597f18e1f51d1e51c712ceeb769efe5ecf0cf631defb8aa5d1aa0908e688d48634496865c7b884cf7bf753694411b12dbbccdb8f5916bf9de4c6a1ddfbbfbdc14e1576f0fc7398293c3cca99bce39f8b870e56e9dd73e8c72f54c92d6558f1fca1770bfe9b859ea0526912610a8938859533ebbb443e17a3d7c7f1ac64bbedb03c0e47fa1e8b5a3498d99b192e6d2efcf004d4a4e8cda5935f6d9d219954a29489055196e7272efffeeb75b7e1aebf905a83bf9df94e65ebd1564594ca54fbfcf201796bbf5ed5aabaa7a3efc770f3d8488d1da7ec11ff0dcec2bb660b94a6f7d51a158b6e08e69d3924832e906fd097b6ad1e5756bdf2e324377cec5c8baf3ed6fbaae93434f24c279b4c95ed701bc7162af84a6181ce6ca26058edb7eba6f6cc72c93842697894da6472c6445974317132b3cba0cdead3bfdb9425c69e23b7be9e3d6d4acc560ab2fff3c56c75acbddf55c20705ff2b04034f103798ab9324e5641524e6e4e6a6e795d75495b4ef51d5ae6d5e9127af654e9b53ddf22ada4fecd739b74bf72247156cd2be816b3ec63b85712218bd502fb2995b0817fce0fd5a21f36b2696d5ceb16acaed3963b7fe747cfb9c374d1a4554a4d2149399dfbad8d53d6de61bbdfa0d9c9bd8a943b9aab2d0ae5c04b7df2e7defd4d54323acfa2e1fa2bb2bd17fbc90f47b1cd3b85277cfd1bd9e7f6bfaa203e72e5dd87f78c1a6ed87af20df6b3f08066d22928551e450ed24fcc363bc391eb0a18199e15492d9a41189b59a7c35572b2f1ee912c915b637162e9bb8be7682738425565568eafd626d424d6b837ecac0a8fdf37bb828eb662a783d2574336f990dcefc5157803deec88b9ed139aabf570832274cd88e3e4505873f7c87bfb147ce2016bfb1ee72bc34b6d3dc9791f4b0e2f3a932d6605d2fa7412b0e4fe9c30911e57ff14ab8d496a18a76f6edf102a097a665480665953a164dec3676a255ea8c966ef8fe3ded9d5be5ad4958aeab397a6b446e6ae22b3f92be94e3bb6aee3f5ae8919cd607c8b8f1b5afcddeb2e1f4b13370e1d4e173d7197045fae873f257fc3e2a9238fccdcf70dbcc7fe8ded7df29bbcb12c52a91e86f7cb73332d50b7d2542c784551b57f657b9a4ca70c3c08dd1c3be32470e1778e6e5afa34c0cca1aad3657ccfdc0186b2f9d7cea0951fbb3287882e2b8d2880083d4d4c66550844b951a8db2a5c39e9396e22cf2e4b7edb01106752fcc2b4e496f5f5dd23a2dab5d9fc5635e6144f4c9a945d51be834a923449c10f536449ac2aa2e91703533e6f9739d65299b6087f95332e97972bc0b2e247d0ddd927e412bc572a5a762c6bec746dbcfb878e1686a7a9c27ae55c6445856d3b3a03467e80bfd7b4e5fbd6cd5d7a7d61cde7900db50377c813a74afcdffe4d46264e8f4985c8d49a5f098e435a7ae8cafb4472e21c9d729cb943ed9ea35e579729aeaf4feb0980c9155efca2d9b778c2408c61efcef538b3d6386c4efcff6c586085fdf989d436c2f09923e4aa70eea2db327a616ae8683044b5f6ed3de658dd41add9a30a9ee9ba5bdbc70a4737c47f4ad2ef483de6a554a6eac25bdfcd887cb6ffbb41322fe1f9044460d93f7f8de98b0898ff15923df175c00060eb0f4fb03bcc5acffec2124b777cee9e6493629d5b1d6b8ec0c93c5989694995b3da4ef8a3ddf7b59848c7b8648d478c4fe3f5e189fa197b103eb43da6c3a33f2bd3c8cac0fbaf80e67a3cb9353ab0ed8f745d6a7a5a0839b97bcd467fc0bef0e7ea1efd86f7d2f23c4e4ac3fa9da9703f3ff006fb153edd30accc62d5ceea614787d77327690efde3f208924b33198f10292acebd7374fecbbee09df659666a48fb6fffd7287e90ea3b9b0dc21df48009fee46d007c3fadec945b2ef7dfaa36b226b4721df068f7be880ead119eb00c1f9b6c8a710fe4b08ebfe827c877f3247c3d44f2143987b9457fd24d76b903fa0b71eb7b01259efac03a8ff3fabc2ee4df143acf4b29301f5316bc6a342fdf223fd0253268f165d477089b99184c3a7d1c5b327ae5cbef61bd692f43ceddd786de6b358839f1db5e8572530bc46904c9aa28f44de5fbe03fa5dafe80abaf7f63337e85f8f6e5b0167e7cddd4aae7a67ccc2357b7c0c4cc2e85df30603cc2fef4391e9f090b7fe390091dff52b3d076b7327c181bc361f2dafe90e1543abcba6b5a7432663470134b6a7fddf2bcf8c5a14a55696755cfe6e0dc0d637babe7c95f834af048889ed8ea29b155751bb3c80e2896f670dbf4b2fb2a28cf6e1909ed4abe8700f8a353f280734ba3dc68ad45dd34723348cbadaf21302667505d84f3b7d506a1e09d32988f48e1576dc1e8c7640ae1dd5a19243242c06c2e72c7e7ae5194a22a0a14940a4bf8e0822e37bea6b45da4c40e3807cbe02606521a09624747dedeecd57f2e2b0b6ebdabd33c058eae3da8e806e247fc062a159b93bef2ca7aea67e0e903180ba3089e6d4c33593880554edd71c30106e0151d72983ba7b5972e1a46fd838ca532dcf8c5af406bf2fd3616f397d3874deafd4b77e575bbe0c53013cef5002d21d812763cad89fef5628fed282df773812f5b39e7887e2895995142a8c2e65f5d6aff36a0a4bbe0064fc16206d120197b65ec73c9791ff1a85925ef09c6a83e5be5d3ed5c43aa8ebc1a4d53e4110fc71ca33e42d027e68b5ba1b3e3da4e43b9a19bcafb9d6bf4692ae213ffdf41e256ac33ad85485776feffc8bc74d6f741b4a108555e3a8ea5fe650ac943c808dac4ebb842e96750232e75304baf10872f3af6245b8a4e550aaedb139683dd07baaca32a9e78ea0eaf440e8e92bae67462dba9f1bdd70b10badc1dafc40b1c16804ef477723c1d6811a7316425500275306d4dfbff9eaa268bad2386aa86994ca826f72006e76676292042ced0ce8562f02dc8b11545520b2fcffebeeda591a0882f0ff126c14c434161241416d24514230083ec047a11151a29510308562a55103a21245d4ebfc055af940d3a408465048c0db9d716f77e6d42267e37ae8147b708f646f9919e6fb666eb65dfd45ed4de2eeb8badad52cf0c1fb02a0a355ddbd50022820c6323ffd52f6744b9945b10da1bf7408d877aa962059458844d599a8d20cb51211a5253d05be3df9882f4d334ab93af71162deb6e7472d88cb7e2052cc5ed5d6efa1da9da82028931d4d083c494dec21e400cf9646ce8f57d6041ec487ef102a78e1785552c9bfe3e501772607b2181faae354efec26e4a7d315bc5954d3df9e9b4f0f226eada6c63674ce45b9252797b92de69d4bbc2e97d5a3cf8ddf52971d3fd5adcd3b48acad1678b0c2f85820aa9aa22f5d84ad634cf795d0a32017e37257cf007f639aeed99a76b058f4f22684a7ae5354152181112b810c4aee0bdab108be4748544a108a58d42dfd3d0032ee66a42f083a9a0c9e3079629d29a32ce807cd14f4dbe1e0737baba547bf5a4f1031c9209c7b06bb5ca6aa358b4837291b333bf0e5f0cb623396d70d7f04415ddfe824d26e336c50a472e632f0debe41121a4b660f27b27b7281991c29d9c63467e43974ddab551a8f25d16cb5a94e0657bf7931ecbfd32d63755c57408304260c7d63051ef093736f6c894cc58621ef07b353177c866e570000000049454e44ae426082
Daniel D. Whedon (gen. ed.), Commentary on the Old and New Testaments (1874–1909) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges 1878 · Public Domain On vv38, 39, 40, 42, 43, 45, 46 37–46. Joseph as Grand Vizier
37–46. Joseph as Grand Vizier
38. such a one as this] Pharaoh and his servants are represented as discerning in Joseph the supreme gifts of one who combined the supernatural power of interpreting dreams with the practical wisdom and sagacity of a statesman.
Read full note →
in whom the spirit of God is] The same phrase is employed by Belshazzar when he addresses Daniel: Dan_5:14, “I have heard of thee, that the spirit of the gods is in thee, and that light and understanding and excellent wisdom is found in thee.” The presence and operation of the Spirit of God, in the O.T., account for those special manifestations which surpass the limits of ordinary human capacity, in wisdom or prowess. Cf. Exo_31:3; Num_27:18; Jdg_3:10; Jdg_14:6.
The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges (gen. ed. J. J. S. Perowne; Cambridge University Press, 1878–1918) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers 1878 · Public Domain On vv38, 40, 42, 43, 45 (38) In whom the Spirit of God is.—Joseph from…
(38) In whom the Spirit of God is.—Joseph from the first declared that he neither claimed for himself, nor possessed any art of divination, but that “Elohim would answer (that which would be for) the peace of Pharaoh” (Gen_41:16). And not only does Pharaoh now recognise the truth of Joseph’s words, but sees also in him the instrument by which Elohim had spoken. But besides the interpretation of the dreams, Joseph had given the king wise and prudent advice, and he justly felt that one so gifted by God, and so intelligent in counsel, was the person best fitted to carry Egypt through the years of trouble in store for her.
A Bible Commentary for English Readers, edited by Charles John Ellicott (1878–1897) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Pulpit Commentary 1880 · Public Domain On vv37, 39, 40, 41, 44, 45, 46 Vers. 37, 38. And the thing was good in…
Vers. 37, 38. And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants. The advice tendered recommended itself to the-king and his ministers. And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? The Ruach Elohim, as understood by Pharaoh, meant the sagacity and intelligence of a deity (cf. Num_27:18; Job_32:8; Dan_4:8, 18 5:11, 14 6:3)
The Pulpit Commentary (1880–1919), ed. H.D.M. Spence-Jones & Joseph S. Exell — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Biblical Illustrator 1887 · Public Domain On vv37, 45, 46 Pharaoh said unto his servants: Can we find such…
Gen_41:37-45
Pharaoh said unto his servants: Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?
Read full note →
--
Pharaoh and Joseph
In examining this narrative we find a most remarkable parallel in the relations of Joseph and Pharaoh to the relations of Christ and the sinner.
I. Following this line of thought, then, we notice PHARAOH AS REPRESENTING THE MAN OF THE WORLD DISCOVERING HIS NEED. Not one is there but sees that his resources are sure to vanish at some future day and leave him poverty-stricken and famine-pinched. What were the millions of Vanderbilt as he lay in the agonies of an apoplectic stroke? The day is coming when the man of largest wealth, of greatest intellect, of supremest power, shall be like a great steamer adrift in mid-ocean with its shaft broken, rolling in the trough of the sea and signalling for help.
II. Under such circumstances EVERY MAN DESIRES TO PUT HIS RELIANCE IN SOME ONE WHOSE QUALITIES FIT HIM TO GIVE HELP,
1. Joseph was a man in whom was the Spirit of God. Joseph was remarkably free from selfishness: he was not plotting for his own advancement. He was pure, controlled by the Spirit.
2. Joseph was a man who was discreet and wise.
3. Now, to trace our parallel, the qualities which distinguished Joseph are pre-eminently those which make Christ the one above all others to whom men turn for help. His character is beyond reproach. The Spirit of God is in him. He impresses the world with his purity, his unselfishness, his sinlessness, his inspiration. He is manifestly the messenger of God to men. He knows just what to do in the awful emergency in which we are placed. He inspires confidence in his wisdom as never has another.
III. Following the parallel, notice THE SUPREME AUTHORITY WHICH PHARAOH GAVE TO JOSEPH. Our relation to Christ is not one of abject dependence; it is not slavish; it is more like that of Pharaoh to Joseph: one of dignity, of co-operation. We yield to Christ because He has a right to be supreme; because He can do for us what we cannot do for ourselves. We do not lose our individuals. We do not yield the dignity of the individual choice. Sometimes children travel by express. They are labelled with a suitable tag; are cared for, fed, and sent along as merchandize would be; have no care, or responsibility, or duty. Not so do we pass on through life to heaven. There are those, indeed, who think that, having been once properly labelled by church membership, they have nothing further to do, but that the church or the clergy will assume all responsibility and guarantee them heaven. But such is not the gospel scheme. With our own clear understanding and deliberate decision, we step on board the gospel train and trust our Conductor. He knows best. He tells us what to do, and we intelligently and gladly do it.
IV. Another parallel is found in THE EXALTATION OF JOSEPH. (A. P. Foster, D. D.)
Joseph, the wise ruler
I. THE QUALITIES DEMANDED IN A WISE RULER.
1. Natural ability.
2. The ability to bear up under troubles.
3. Inspired wisdom.
II. THE CHARACTER OF JOSEPHS ADMINISTRATION.
1. It was characterized by a wise economy.
2. It was characterized by a wise method.
Frugality was to be enforced by lawful means. The amount received as taxes and purchased at a fair price, was not to be given away, but must be sold again. The nation must protect itself against the free expenditures of its citizens. The government, notwithstanding its despotism, was made the servant of the people. And Joseph and his officers, scattered over all the empire, outgeneraled all the ignorance of the realm. For this he was as truly inspired as ever was Isaiah. (D. O. Mears.)
Pharaoh accepts Josephs advice
In which he shows--
I. HIS WISDOM AND PRUDENCE.
1. In acting upon the best advice he had.
2. In choosing a fit man for the crisis.
3. In removing all social disabilities from this foreigner. New name. Marriage with daughter of priest of Ori.
II. HIS PIETY. (T. H. Leale.)
Josephs exaltation
I. EXALTED FROM BONDAGE.
1. A true basis of merit (Gen_41:38; see Num_27:18; Da Act_6:5; Act_11:24).
2. A natural fruit of godliness (Gen_41:39; see Joh_14:26; Ac 1Jn_2:20).
3. A grand field of usefulness (Gen_41:40; see 2Sa_23:3; Psa_105:21; Mat_25:21; Act_7:10).
1. Can we find such a one as this?
(1) High qualifications needed;
(2) High qualifications found.
2. God hath showed thee all this.
(1) A Divine Teacher;
(2) A Susceptible pupil;
(3) A blessed result.
3. Only in the throne will I be greater than thou.
(1) Extensive jurisdiction allotted.
(2) Supreme jurisdiction reserved.
(a) Josephs sway
(b) Pharaohs reservation
II. INVESTED WITH AUTHORITY.
1. The royal ring (Gen_41:42; see Est_3:10; Est_8:2; Luk_4:22).
2. The royal robe (Gen_41:42; see 1Ch_15:27; Est_8:15; Eze_16:10; Rev_19:14.
3. The royal rule (verse 44).
1. Ring, . . . vestures,. . . chain chariot.
(1) Symbols of royalty;
(2) Symbols of honour;
(3) Symbols of authority.
2. He set him over all the land of Egypt.
(1) To rule it;
(2) To save it
(a) To gather in its plenty;
(b) To support it in its poverty.
3. I am Pharaoh.
(1) Sovereignty recognized;
(2) Sovereignty asserted;
3. Sovereignty delegated.
III. RULING WITH WISDOM.
1. Planning the work (verse 45).
2. Gathering the food (verse 48).
3. Providing for emergency. (American Sunday School Times.)
From prison to palace
I. Josephs elevation is A CONCRETE INSTANCE OF THE GREAT DOCTRINE OF PROVIDENCE WHICH RUNS THROUGH THE WHOLE OLD TESTAMENT. We may almost take this history as a type of the ideal history of the good man as set forth there, and as a shadowy anticipation, therefore, at once of the fortunes of Israel as a nation, and of his course who is the realized ideal of the Old Testament righteous man, and of Israel. A late psalm (Psa_105:1-45) gives the key-note when it says Until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him. No mans freedom is interfered with, and yet all is carried out according to the plan in the mind of the great Architect. Thus God builds in silence, using even sins and follies. I girded thee, though thou hast not known Me. Not less clearly do we learn the uses of adversity, and see the law working which leads men into the pit, that they may there learn lessons which shall serve them on the heights, and that their lives may be manifestly ordered by God. The steel out of which God forges His polished shafts has to be
Heated hot with hopes and fears,
And plunged in baths of hissing tears,
And battered with the shocks of doom,
before it is ready for His service. So, in the apparent remoteness and real presence of Gods guiding hand in the moulding of the separate deeds into a whole, in the leading of His servant through suffering to authority, and making the sorrow, like emery-paper, the occasion of bringing out a finer polish, this history embodies Gods law of dealing with men.
II. This history points the lesson THAT THE BEST WAY TO BE FIT FOR, AND SO TO GET INTO, A WIDER SPHERE, IS TO FILL A NARROWER AS WELL AS WE CAN. Joseph served his apprenticeship to governing a nation in governing Potiphars house and the prison. The capacities tested and strengthened on the lower level are promoted to the higher. With many exceptions, no doubt, where pretenders are taken to be adepts, and modest merit is overlooked, still, on the whole, this is the law by which position and influence are allotted. The tools do, on the average, come to the hand that can use them.
III. We may learn, too, THAT THE MEANING OF ELEVATION IS SERVICE. Foolish ambition looks up and covets the outside trappings; a true man thinks of duty, not of show, and finds that every crown is a crown of thorns, and that place and influence only mean heavy responsibility and endless work, mostly repaid with thanklessness.
IV. This story teaches us, too, THE PLACE OF RELIGION IN COMMON LIFE. It is possible to keep up unbroken communion with God amid the roar of the busy street, as in the inmost corner of his secret place. The communion which expresses itself in the continual reference of all common actions to his will, and is fed by constant realizing of his help; and by lowly dependence on him for strength to do the prosaic tasks of business or statesmanship, is as real as that which gazes in absorbed contemplation on his beauty. True, the former will never be realized unless there is much of the latter. Joseph would not have been able to hold by God, when he was busy in the storehouses, if he had not held much intercourse with him in the blessed quiet of the prison. (A. Maclaren, D. D.)
Josephs promotion in Egypt
I. IT WAS UNEXPECTED
II. A PROMOTION WHICH DID NOT DESTROY THE MAN.
III. A PROMOTION FOR WHICH HE HAD BEEN TRAINED.
IV. A PROMOTION HIGHLY BENEFICIAL TO OTHERS. (Homilist.)
Joseph, the wise ruler
I. JOSEPHS UNEXPECTED PROMOTION.
II. JOSEPHS WISE ADMINISTRATION.
1. The trust now committed to Joseph was vast in its responsibility.
2. The manner in which he met the responsibility, and performed his official duty, proves him to have been as well qualified in mental ability as he was in moral character.
(1) He gave personal attention to his duty.
(2) He wisely prepared, during the years of plenty, for the years of want.
III. JOSEPHS RECOGNITION OF GOD IN HIS HOME-LIFE. Seen in names of sons. Lessons:
1. If children of God, we should learn from Josephs promotion not to be discouraged under any circumstances.
2. The personal attention of Joseph to his onerous and important duty, and his wisdom in organising his work, contain very wholesome and timely lessons for the young men of to-day.
3. Josephs recognition of God in his home, in the very flush of abundant prosperity and honour, not only reveals the beautiful symmetry of his character, but proves that neither positions of honour, nor the accumulation of wealth, need dim the light of piety or interrupt our relations with God. (D. G. Hughes, M. A.)
Pharaohs prime minister
I. PHARAOHS DREAMS.
II. JOSEPHS ADVICE.
1. He informs Pharaoh that the dreams were
(1) A warning;
(2) A benevolent warning.
2. He advises the king
(1)to choose a discreet man to undertake the special management of the measures which must be taken in view of the threatened period of scarcity;
(2) To make provision for one-fifth part o the land to be taken up (i.e., handed over to the king for governmental use);
(3) To store up the produce of the plentiful years that it might be in readiness for the coming time of dearth.
III. JOSEPHS ELEVATION. Lessons:
1. Patience of hope.
2. Assurance of hope. We may always--we should always--look forward confidently to the fulfilment of Gods promises which exceed all that we can desire. (W. S. Smith, B. D.)
Josephs exaltation
I. THE FORGOTTEN PRISONER. Forgotten by man, but remembered by God. While the butler was forgetting, God was thinking about Joseph, and so ordering events that even the forgetful butler should be presently of use.
II. THE TROUBLED MONARCH. Even kings have their troubles. It is often true that uneasy lies the head that wears the crown. Joseph in prison, and Daniel in the lions den, more to be envied than Pharaoh and Dairus. Pharaohs visions. Both different in machinery, but evidently the same in meaning. The great magicians, &c., summoned. Their wisdom is perfect folly. They knew not the mind of God. Could not explain visions that came from a Deity they did not serve.
III. THE EXALTED CAPTIVE. Josephs advice sounds wise and prudent in the ears of Pharaoh. Learn:
1. To remember those who have benefited us.
2. Jesus the great deliverer of the prisoner.
3. Let us prepare to enter the presence of the great King.
4. There is a palace in heaven for all who love, serve, and trust
God. (J. C. Gray.)
Governor of Egypt
The position given to Joseph in the Egyptian Empire was one seldom attained by foreigners, however distinguished. Still, an old papyrus relating to the story of Saneha tells of a similar exception. Joseph, as first officer under the king, was Tare, chief of the entire administration. It is probable that he bore the title so often found on the Egyptian monuments, where the rank claimed by this dignitary is the leader of the Lords of South and North; the second after the king in the vestibule of the palace. The position of tare was usually bestowed on a chief priest, hereditary prince, or even on one of the sons of the reigning monarch, and was eagerly sought after as long as it existed. The duties and powers of the office varied during different dynasties. In the so-called Old Empire (beginning about 2800 B.C.), as well as the Middle Empire (beginning about 2100 B.C.), and during the New Empire (beginning about 1530 B.C.), the tare-or governor, as we may call him--was also at the head of the department of justice, holding the office of supreme judge. Imitating their sublime pattern, Thor, the god of wisdom, who was believed to be the governor under the sun-god Ra, as they were under the Pharaoh, these earthly lords ruled with wisdom and mild heart. They gave laws, promoted subordinates, set up boundary stones, and settled the disputes of their officers They made all people walk in their light, satisfied the whole land, proved themselves men of probity in both countries, and witnesses as true as the god Thor. Indeed, the respect felt for these governors and supreme judges of the Pharaohs was so great that the blessing, life, health, and happiness, usually uttered by the Egyptians in connection with the royal and princely names, was often added to the name of the governor. No one was allowed to address the governor directly, but was permitted to speak or to lay a letter before him. During the middle Empire, the unity of the state was weakened, and a number of smaller states were organized under the control of independent monarchs. The governor under the god Horus took this opportunity to extend his authority, and frequently held what formally had but occasionally been allowed, the office of lord-high treasurer, and sometimes in addition, what became the rule under the New Empire, the office of commander of the royal chief town. As treasurer, the governor was often described on the monuments as principal of the silver magazine, or chief of the corn-houses--titles which describe two most important positions From what we can learn from the record in Genesis, we may believe that Joseph united in himself the three offices of governor, supreme judge, and the lord-high treasurer. Soon after his investiture, Joseph rode publicly in the second royal chariot (Gen_41:43), that the people might see him and show their respect. He doubtless wore all the insignia of his high position: rich garments, the golden chain, ring, and sceptre, and ostrich feather, so frequently represented on the monuments. How such a pageant appeared as that in which he was now the central figure, is well illustrated by an old Egyptian picture in the tomb of Mry-Ra at Tell el Amarna. This picture represents King Chueneten paying a visit to his god Ra. His majesty reclines in an elegant chariot drawn by richly comparisoned horses. Two heralds run before him swinging wands, to make a way through the curious crowds which press on to see the monarch. To the right and left, servants can be seen, scarcely able to keep up with the fiery stallions. The royal personage himself is attended on each side by his body-guard, with their standards, behind whom, in carriages, ride high officials, in richly coloured dresses. Directly behind the kings chariot rides the queen, and after her the little princesses, two together in one chariot. The elder governs the horses, which are decked with beautiful tufts of feathers, while the younger clings lovingly to her sister. Six court chariots filled with ladies, and as many more on each side occupied by chamberlains, close the procession. On the right and left of the entire party, servants swing their staffs. (Prof. Hilprecht.)
The secret of Josephs elevation
The way of preferment is never permanently closed against any man. If one does not--as the phrase is--get on in life, it is not his circumstances but himself that is to blame. Occasionally, indeed, there may come reverses of fortune for which he cannot be held responsible, but the man who is always out at elbows and unfortunate must have something amiss in himself. Either he has not fitted himself to take advantage of his opportunities, or there is a leak somewhere in his character, through which his energies and abilities are drained off into useless or expensive directions. In the England of to-day, and especially in these United States, no man needs be for ever a hewer of wood era drawer of water; and though sudden elevations like this of Joseph are not common in these days, yet there are men continually appearing among us who have come up from obscurity as great of Josephs to a position just as exalted as that which he ultimately reached. Both of our martyr-presidents may be referred to as cases in point. Let young men, therefore, be encouraged. Do not sink into despair; do not imagine that the world is in league against you; but learn to labour and to wait. Two things especially you ought to bear in mind: first, that the true way to rise to a higher position is to fill well the lower which you already occupy. To borrow here from Thomas Binney: Remember that to do as well as ever you can what happens to be the only thing within your power to do, is the best and surest preparation for higher service. Should things go against you, never give way to debilitating depression, but be hopeful, brave, courageous, careful not to waste in vain and unavailing regret the power you will need for endurance and endeavour. Learn well your business, whatever it be; make the best of every opportunity for acquiring any sort of knowledge that may enlarge your acquaintance with the business in general, and enable you to take advantage of any offer or opening that may come. Then, again, take note that piety is no hindrance to the right sort of success. Joseph did not hide his allegiance to God or his faith in God, and these even commended him to Pharaoh. So there are many heads of great establishments or corporations in the world who, though they care nothing for religion themselves, would prefer that their trusted servants should be godly men. Sometimes, no doubt, inflexible adherence to the right and the true may cost a man his place, even as here resistance to temptation sent Joseph for awhile to prison; but in the end I do not think that any man ever lost by his religion, provided his religion was the real thing, and not a make-believe. It may lengthen the road a little; it may add to the difficulties of the journey; it may take him through some very dark passages, but it will lead him generally at last to honour and influence; for godliness is profitable unto all things, having the promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. But there is a success higher and better than that of outward position and wealth, and even when riches are not gained that is always attainable. You cannot all become millionaires, or merchant princes, or political leaders, or governors of states, or presidents of the Republic--that is an impossibility; but you can all be good and noble men, if you will. (W. M. Taylor, D. D.)
Josephs qualification for ruling
Joseph was inspired in the highest and truest sense. Not only was he spiritually gifted to rule the nation, but he had also that higher gift which enabled him to refer the lower gift to God. Now there are three things required to fit a man to rule: intellectual power, a sense of dependence upon God, and unselfishness. All these were combined in Joseph; we are told that there was none so discreet and wise as he. In the interpretation that he gave to Pharaohs dreams we see how he referred all to God; his unselfishness we see in his forgiveness of his brethren. Without these qualities there can be no real rule; for it is these which make up saintliness, and saintliness alone fits a man to rule perfectly. But saintliness in the sense we use it must take in intellectual power. For mere spiritual goodness alone does not make a good ruler. Eli was a good man, he had the two latter qualities which go to make up a ruler; but he was wanting in the first, he was a weak man, and this it was which caused such troubles to his country. But it is a mistake still greater to suppose that intellectual power alone qualifies for rule. There must also be moral goodness and unselfishness. These are the qualities which clarify the intellect and purify the character. (F. W. Robertson, M. A.)
High endowments qualify for respect
Does any man appear plainly to have the Spirit of Cod enlightening his mind and sanctifying his heart? He is entitled to our warm regard as a member of that body of which Christ is the Head. Is a man furnished by the Spirit of God with endowments that eminently qualify him for service to his fellow-men, whether in the Church or State? He is entitled to a degree of respect proportioned to the gifts which he hath received. Office-bearers in the Church are to be chosen out of those whom the Spirit of God hath qualified for public usefulness. No man is called to fill any office in the house of God for which he is not fitted by the Divine Spirit. And none are fit to serve their generation by public offices in the state, unless the Spirit of God has adorned them with endowments suited to the stations which they are called to occupy. Although Cyrus was a heathen, he received from the Spirit of God those extraordinary qualifications by which he was enabled to accomplish the subversion of Babylon, that he might let go Gods captives and build His temple. That great prince was the Lords anointed at a time when he did not know the Lord (Isa_45:1; Isa_45:5). Can we find such a man as this, aman in whom the Spirit of God is? What had Joseph that he had not received? There was none like him in the land, because the Spirit of God had communicated to him an uncommon measure of wisdom. (G. Lawson, D. D.)
Ability discovered
In 1831 there was a musical society in Milan which was preparing to bring out Haydns Creation, when all of a sudden the maestro in charge took fright at the difficulty of his task, and laid down his baton. One Massini, a singing teacher, who was to direct the choral part, said to the committee, I know but one man here who can help us out of our plight. Who is he? said Count Borromeo, the president. His name is Verdi, and he reads the most puzzling scores at sight, was Massinis answer. Well, said the count, send for him. Massini obeyed, and Verdi soon made his appearance. He was handed the score of The Creation, and he undertook to direct the performance. Rehearsals commenced, and the final rendering of the oratorio was set down as most creditable to all concerned. From that time Verdis reputation was assured. (One Thousand New lllustrations.)
Leaders of men
The greatest part of men live by faith in powerful men. A small number of individuals lead the human race. (Vinet.)
Egyptian-fine linen
It is generally supposed that the fine linen of Scripture must have been very coarse in comparison with that now produced from our looms. There is, however, no sufficient ground for such a supposition. Sir Gardener Wilkinson says: The fine texture of the Egyptian linen is fully proved by its transparency, as represented in the paintings (where the lines of the body are often seen through the drapery), and by the statements of ancient writers, sacred as well as profane; and by the wonderful texture of a piece found near Memphis, part of which is in my possession. In general quality it is equal to the finest now made; and, for the evenness of the threads, without knot or break, it is far superior to any modern manufacture. It has in the inch 540 threads, or 270 double threads in the warp, and 110 in the woof. Pliny mentions four kinds of linen particularly noted in Egypt--the Tanitic, the Pelusiac, the Butiric, and the Tentyritic; and the same fineness of texture was extended to the nets of Egypt, which were so delicate that they could pass through a mans ring, and a single person could carry a sufficient number of them to surround a whole wood. (Things Not Generally Known.)
The Biblical Illustrator, edited by Joseph S. Exell (c. 1880s–1900s) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
The Expositor's Bible 1887 · Public Domain On v37 Gen_41:37-57, Gen_47:13-26
JOSEPHS ADMINISTRATION
Gen_41:37-57, Gen_47:13-26
Read full note →
"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." Psa_105:21-22.
"MANY a monument consecrated to the memory of some nobleman gone to his long home, who during life had held high rank at the court of Pharaoh, is decorated with the simple but laudatory inscription, His ancestors were unknown people.'" -so we are told by our most accurate informant regarding Egyptian affairs. Indeed, the tales we read of adventurers in the East, and the histories which recount how some dynasties have been founded, are sufficient evidence that, in other countries besides Egypt, sudden elevation from the lowest to the highest rank is not so unusual as amongst ourselves. Historians have recently made out that in one period of the history of Egypt there are traces of a kind of Semitic mania, a strong leaning towards Syrian and Arabian customs, phrases, and persons. Such manias have occurred in most countries. There was a period in the history of Rome when everything that had a Greek flavour was admired; an Anglomania once affected a portion of the French population, and reciprocally, French manners and ideas have at times found a welcome among ourselves. It is also clear that for a time Lower Egypt was under the dominion of foreign rulers who were in race more nearly allied to Joseph than to the native population. But there is no need that so complicated a question as the exact date of this foreign domination be debated here, for there was that in Josephs bearing which would have commended him to any sagacious monarch. Not only did the court accept him as a messenger from God, but they could not fail to recognise substantial and serviceable human qualities alongside of what was mysterious in him. The ready apprehension with which he appreciated the magnitude of the danger, the clear-sighted promptitude with which he met it, the resource and quiet capacity with which he handled a matter involving the entire condition of Egypt, showed them that they were in the presence of a true statesman, No doubt the confidence with which he described the best method of dealing with the emergency was the confidence of one who was convinced he was speaking for God. This was the great distinction they perceived between Joseph and ordinary dream-interpreters. It was not guesswork with him. The same distinction is always apparent between revelation and speculation. Revelation speaks with authority; speculation gropes its way, and when wisest is most diffident. At the same time Pharaoh was perfectly right in his inference: "Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art." He believed that God had chosen him to deal with this matter because he was wise in heart, and he believed his wisdom would remain because God had chosen him.
At length, then, Joseph saw the fulfilment of his dreams within his reach. The coat of many colours with which his father had paid a tribute to the princely person and ways of the boy, was now replaced by the robe of state and the heavy gold necklace which marked him out as second to Pharaoh. Whatever nerve and self-command and humble dependence on God his varied experience had wrought in him were all needed when Pharaoh took his hand and placed his own ring on it, thus transferring all his authority to him, and when turning from the king he received the acclamations of the court and the people, bowed to by his old masters, and acknowledged the superior of all the dignitaries and potentates of Egypt. Only once besides, so far as the Egyptian inscriptions have yet been deciphered, does it appear that any subject was raised to be Regent or Viceroy with similar powers. Joseph is, as far as possible, naturalised as an Egyptian. He receives a name easier of pronunciation than his own, at least to Egyptian tongues-Zaphnath-Paaneah, which, however, was perhaps only an official title meaning "Governor of the district of the place of life," the name by which one of the Egyptian counties or states was known. The king crowned his liberality and completed the process of naturalisation by providing him with a wife, Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah, priest of On. This city was not far from Avaris or Haouar, where Josephs Pharaoh, Raapepi II, at this time resided. The worship of the sun-god, Ra, had its centre at On (or Heliopolis, as it was called by the Greeks), and the priests of On took precedence of all Egyptian priests, Joseph was thus connected with one of the most influential families in the land, and if he had any scruples about marrying into an idolatrous family, they were too insignificant to influence his conduct, or leave any trace in the narrative.
His attitude towards God and his own family was disclosed in the names which he gave to his children. In giving names which had a meaning at all, and not merely a taking sound, he showed that he understood, as well he might, that every human life has a significance and expresses some principle or fact. And in giving names which recorded his acknowledgment of Gods goodness, he showed that prosperity had as little influence as adversity to move him from his allegiance to the God of his fathers. His first son he called Manasseh, Making to forget, " for God," said he, "hath made me forget all my toil and all my fathers house"-not as if he were now so abundantly satisfied in Egypt that the thought of his fathers house was blotted from his mind, but only that in this child the keen longings he had felt for kindred and home were somewhat alleviated. He again found an object for his strong family affection. The void in his heart he had so long felt was filled by the little babe. A new home was begun around him. But this new affection would not weaken, though it would alter the character of, his love for his father and brethren. The birth of this child would really be a new tie to the land from which he had been stolen. For, however ready men are to spend their own life in foreign service, you see them wishing that their children should spend their days among the scenes with which their own childhood was familiar.
In the naming of his second son Ephraim he recognises that God had made him fruitful in the most unlikely way. He does not leave it to us to interpret his life, but records what he himself saw in it. It has been said: "To get at the truth of any history is good; but a mans own history-when he reads that truly, and knows what he is about and has been about, it is a Bible to him." And now that Joseph, from the height he had reached, could look back on the way by which he had been led to it, he cordially approved of all that God had done. There was no resentment, no murmuring. He would often find himself looking back and thinking, Had I found my brothers where I thought they were, had the pit not been on the caravan-road, had the merchants not come up so opportunely, had I not been sold at all or to some other master, had I not been imprisoned, or had I been put in another ward-had any one of the many slender links in the chain of my career been absent, bow different might my present state have been. How plainly I now see that all those sad mishaps that crushed my hopes and tortured my spirit were steps in the only conceivable path to my present position.
Many a man has added his signature to this acknowledgment of Josephs, and confessed a providence guiding his life and working out good for him through injuries and sorrows, as well as through honours, marriages, births. As in the heat of summer it is difficult to recall the sensation of winters bitter cold, so the fruitless and barren periods of a mans life are sometimes quite obliterated from his memory. God has it in His power to raise a man higher above the level of ordinary happiness than ever he has sunk below it: and as winter and spring-time, when the seed is sown, are stormy and bleak and gusty, so in human life seed-time is not bright as summer nor cheerful as autumn; and yet it is then, when all the earth lies bare and will yield us nothing, that the precious seed is sown: and when we confidently commit our labour or patience of today to God, the land of our affliction, now bare and desolate, will certainly wave for us, as it has waved for others, with rich produce whitened to the harvest.
There is no doubt then that Joseph had learned to recognise the providence of God as a most important factor in his life. And the man who does so gains for his character all the strength and resolution that come with a capacity for waiting. He saw, most legibly written on his own life, that God is never in a hurry. And for the resolute adherence to his seven-years policy such a belief was most necessary. Nothing, indeed, is said of opposition or incredulity on the part of the Egyptians. But was there ever a policy of such magnitude carried out in any country without opposition or without evilly-disposed persons using it as a weapon against its promoter? No doubt during these years he had need of all the personal determination as well as of all the official authority he possessed. And if, on the whole, remarkable success attended his efforts, we must ascribe this partly to the unchallengeable justice of his arrangements, and partly to the impression of commanding genius Joseph seems everywhere to have made. As with his father and brethren he was felt to be superior, as in Potiphars house he was quickly recognised, as in the prison no prison-garb or slave-brand could disguise him, as in the court his superiority was instinctively felt, so in his administration the people seem to have believed in him.
And if, on the whole and in general, Joseph was reckoned a wise and equitable ruler, and even adored as a kind of saviour of the world, it would be idle in us to canvass the wisdom of his administration. When we have not sufficient historical material to apprehend the full significance of any policy, it is safe to accept the judgment of men who not only knew the facts, but were themselves so deeply involved in them that they would certainly have felt and expressed discontent had there been ground for doing so. The policy of Joseph was simply to economise during the seven years of abundance to such an extent that provision might be made against the seven years of famine. He calculated that one-fifth of the produce of years so extraordinarily plenteous would serve for the seven scarce years. This fifth he seems to have bought in the kings name from the people, buying it, no doubt, at the cheap rates of abundant years. When the years of famine came, the people were referred to Joseph; and, till their money was gone, he sold corn to them, probably not at famine prices. Next he acquired their cattle, and finally, in exchange for food, they yielded to him both their lands and their persons. So that the result of the whole was, that the people who would otherwise have perished were preserved, and in return for this preservation they paid a tax or rent on their farm-lands to the amount of one-fifth of their produce. The people ceased to be proprietors of their own farms, but they were not slaves with no interest in the soil, but tenants sitting at easy rents-a fair enough exchange for being preserved in life. This kind of taxation is eminently fair in principle, securing, as it does, that the wealth of the king and government shall vary with the prosperity of the whole land. The chief difficulty that has always been experienced in working it, has arisen from the necessity of leaving a good deal of discretionary power in the hands of the collectors, who have generally been found not slow to abuse this power.
The only semblance of despotism in Josephs policy is found in the curious circumstance that he interfered with the peoples choice of residence, and shifted them from one end of the land to another. This may have been necessary not only as a kind of seal on the deed by which the lands were conveyed to the king, and as a significant sign to them that they were mere tenants, but also Joseph probably saw that for the interests of the country, if not of agricultural prosperity, this shifting had become necessary for the breaking up of illegal associations, nests of sedition, and sectional prejudices and enmities which were endangering the community. Modern experience supplies us with instances in which, by such a policy, a country might be regenerated and a seven years famine hailed as a blessing if, without famishing the people, it put them unconditionally into the hands of an able, bold, and beneficent ruler. And this was a policy which could be much better devised and executed by a foreigner than by a native.
Egypts indebtedness to Joseph was, in fact, two-fold. In the first place he succeeded in doing what many strong governments have failed to do: he enabled a large population to survive a long and severe famine. Even with all modern facilities for transport and for making the abundance of remote countries available for times of scarcity, it has not always been found possible to save our own fellow-subjects from starvation. In a prolonged famine which occurred in Egypt during the Middle Ages, the inhabitants, reduced to the unnatural habits which are the most painful feature of such times, not only ate their own dead, but kidnapped the living on the streets of Cairo and consumed them in secret. One of the most touching memorials of the famine with which Joseph had to deal is found in a sepulchral inscription in Arabia. A flood of rain laid bare a tomb in which lay a woman having on her person a profusion of jewels which represented a very large value. At her head stood a coffer filled with treasure, and a tablet with this inscription: "In Thy name, O God, the God of Himyar, I, Tayar, the daughter of Dzu Shefar, sent my steward to Joseph, and he delaying to return to me, I sent my handmaid with a measure of silver to bring me back a measure of flour; and not being able to procure it, I sent her with a measure of gold; and not being able to procure it, I sent her with a measure of pearls; and not being able to procure it, I commanded them to be ground; and finding no profit in them, I am shut up here." If this inscription is genuine-and there seems no reason to call it in question-it shows that there is no exaggeration in the statement of our narrator that the famine was very grievous in other lands as well as in Egypt. And, whether genuine or not, one cannot but admire the grim humour of the starving woman getting herself buried in the jewels which had suddenly dropped to less than the value of a loaf of bread.
But besides being indebted to Joseph for their preservation, the Egyptians owed to him an extension of their influence; for, as all the lands round about became dependent on Egypt for provision, they must have contracted a respect for the Egyptian administration. They must also have added greatly to Egypts wealth and during those years of constant traffic many commercial connections must have been formed which in future years would be of untold value to Egypt. But above all, the permanent alterations made by Joseph on their tenure of land, and on their places of abode, may have convinced the most sagacious of the Egyptians that it was well for them that their money had failed, and that they had been compelled to yield themselves unconditionally into the hands of this remarkable ruler. It is the mark of a competent statesman that he makes temporary distress the occasion for permanent benefit; and from the confidence Joseph won with the people, there seems every reason to believe that the permanent alterations he introduced were considered as beneficial as certainly they were bold.
And for our own spiritual uses it is this point which seems chiefly important. In Joseph is illustrated the principle that, in order to the attainment of certain blessings, unconditional submission to Gods delegate is required. If we miss this, we miss a large part of what his history exhibits, and it becomes a mere pretty story. The prominent idea in his dreams was that he was to be worshipped by his brethren. In his exaltation by Pharaoh, the absolute authority given to him is again conspicuous: "Without thee shall no man lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt."
And still the same autocracy appears in the fact that not one Egyptian who was helpful to him in this matter is mentioned; and no one has received such exclusive possession of a considerable part of Scripture, so personal and outstanding a place. All this leaves upon the mind the impression that Joseph becomes a benefactor, and in his degree a saviour, to men by becoming their absolute master. When this was hinted in his dreams at first his brothers fiercely resented it. But when they were put to the push by famine, both they and the Egyptians recognised that he was appointed by God to be their saviour, while at the same time they markedly and consciously submitted themselves to him. Men may always be expected to recognise that he who can save them alive in famine has a right to order the bounds of their habitation; and also that in the hands of one who, from disinterested motives, has saved them, they are likely to be quite as safe as in their own. And it we are all quite sure of this, that men of great political sagacity can regulate our affairs with tenfold the judgment and success that we ourselves could achieve, we cannot wonder that in matters still higher, and for which we are notoriously incompetent, there should be One into whose hands it is well to commit ourselves-One whose judgment is not warped by the prejudices which blind all mere natives of this world, but who, separate from sinners yet naturalised among us, can both detect and rectify everything in our condition which is less than perfect. If there are certainly many cases in which explanations are out of the question, and in which the governed, if they are wise, will yield themselves to a trusted authority, and leave it to time and results to justify his measures, any one, I think, who anxiously considers our spiritual condition must see that here too obedience is for us the greater part of wisdom, and that, after all speculation and efforts at sufficing investigation, we can still do no better than yield ourselves absolutely to Jesus Christ. He alone understands our whole position; He alone speaks with the authority that commands confidence, because it is felt to be the authority of the truth. We feel the present pressure of famine; we have discernment enough, some of us, to know we are in danger, but we cannot penetrate deeply either into the cause or the possible consequences of our present state. But Christ-if we may continue the figure-legislates with a breadth of administrative capacity which includes not only our present distress but our future condition, and, with the boldness of one who is master of the whole case, requires that we put ourselves wholly into His hand. He takes the responsibility of all the changes we make in obedience to Him, and proposes so to relieve us that the relief shall be permanent, and that the very emergency which has thrown us upon His help shall be the occasion of our transference not merely out of the present evil, but into the best possible form of human life.
From this chapter, then, in the history of Joseph, we may reasonably take occasion to remind ourselves, first, that in all things pertaining to God unconditional submission to Christ is necessarily required of us. Apart from Christ we cannot tell what are the necessary elements of a permanently happy state; nor, indeed, even whether there is any such state awaiting us. There is a great deal of truth in what is urged by unbelievers to the effect that spiritual matters are in great measure beyond our cognizance, and that many of our religious phrases are but, as it were, thrown out in the direction of a truth but do not perfectly represent it. No doubt we are in a provisional state, in which we are not in direct contact with the absolute truth, nor in a final attitude of mind towards it; and certain representations of things given in the Word of God may seem to us not to cover the whole truth. But this only compels the conclusion that for us Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. To probe existence to the bottom is plainly not in our power. To say precisely what God is, and how we are to carry ourselves towards Him, is possible only to him who has been with God and is God. To submit to the Spirit of Christ, and to live under those influences and views which formed His life, is the only method that promises deliverance from that moral condition which makes spiritual vision impossible.
We may remind ourselves, secondly, that this submission to Christ should be consistently adhered to in connection with those outward occurrences in our life which give us opportunity of enlarging our spiritual capacity. There can be little doubt that there would be presented to Joseph many a plan for the better administration of this whole matter, and many a petition from individuals craving exemption from the seemingly arbitrary and certainly painful and troublesome edict regulating change of residence. Many a man would think himself much wiser than the minister of Pharaoh in whom was the Spirit of God. When we act in a similar manner, and take upon us to specify with precision the changes we should like to see in our condition, and the methods by which these changes might best be accomplished, we commonly manifest our own incompetence. The changes which the strong hand of Providence enforces, the dislocation which our life suffers from some irresistible blow, the necessity laid upon us to begin life again and on apparently disadvantageous terms, are naturally resented; but these things being certainly the result of some unguardedness, improvidence, or weakness in our past state, are necessarily the means most appropriate for disclosing to us these elements of calamity and for securing our permanent welfare. We rebel against such perilous and sweeping revolutions as the basing of our life on a new foundation demands; we would disregard the appointments of Providence if we could; but both our voluntary consent to the authority of Christ and the impossibility of resisting His providential arrangements, prevent us from refusing to fall in with them, however needless and tyrannical they seem, and however little we perceive that they are intended to accomplish our permanent well-being. And it is in after years, when the pain of severance from old friends and habits is healed, and when the discomfort of adapting ourselves to a new kind of life is replaced by peaceful and docile resignation to new conditions, that we reach the clear perception that the changes we resented have in point of fact rendered harmless the seeds of fresh disaster, and rescued us from the results of long bad government. He who has most keenly felt the hardship of being diverted from his original course in life will in after life tell you that had he been allowed to hold his own land, and remain his own master in his old loved abode, he would have lapsed into a condition from which no worthy harvest could be expected. If a man only wishes that his own conceptions of prosperity be realised, then let him keep his land in his own hand and work his material irrespective of Gods demands; for certainly, if he yields himself to God, his own ideas of prosperity will not be realised. But if he suspects that God may have a more liberal conception of prosperity and may understand better than he what is eternally beneficial, let him commit himself and all his material of prosperity without doubting into Gods hand, and let him greedily obey all Gods precepts; for in neglecting one of these, he so far neglects and misses what God would have him enter into.
William Robertson Nicoll, ed., The Expositor's Bible (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1887–1910) — public domain. 65 of 66 books (1 Corinthians is not separately keyed, as that volume carries no machine-parseable verse references); section-level commentary keyed to the opening verse. Introductory and overview sections not keyed to a specific passage are excluded.
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary 1892 · Public Domain On vv37, 46 Gen_41:40. According unto thy word shall all my people…
CRITICAL NOTES.—
Gen_41:40. According unto thy word shall all my people be ruled.] “Some of the Hebraists (e.g., Gesenius, Knobel) render it ‘on thy mouth shall my people kiss,’ and interpret it of the kiss of homage. But most of the others believe the meaning to be as in the text, objecting that the kiss of homage was reserved for princes.”—(Alford.)—
Read full note →
Gen_41:42. His ring.] Joseph is appointed grand vizier by giving him the signet ring of the monarch. (Est_3:10; Est_8:2.) Vestures of fine linen.] The priesthood, which was the foremost caste of Egypt, wore only linen and cotton garments; and no man was allowed to enter a temple in a woollen garment (Herod. ii. 37, 81). A gold chain about his neck.] The Egyptian monuments and wall-paintings show that the gold chain was worn by persons of distinction. It was especially the badge of office worn by the judge and the prime minister. This was also the custom in Persia and Babylonia. (Dan_5:7.)—
Gen_41:43. And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had.] The second state chariot in the public procession. Herodotus tells us that Egypt was noted for chariots both for peaceful and for warlike purposes. (Herod. ii. 108.) They cried before him. The heralds, whose office it was to prepare the way for the royal procession. Bow the knee. “Some render the word, ‘Father, of the king,’ others, Bow the knee. But it is rather an Egyptian word and not Hebrew, and means, Cast yourselves down—do homage.”—(Jacobus.)—
Gen_41:45. Zaphnath-paaneah.] His elevation is denoted by a new name (Gen_17:5; Dan_1:7), which means, Preserver of life. Jerome interpreted it in the Vulgate Salvator Mundi (Saviour of the world). Poti-pherah. “He who is of the sun,” There was a temple of the sun at On, which was the popular name for Heliopolis, meaning the house or city of the sun. It is called Aven (Exo_30:17), and Bethshemesh (Jer_43:13).—
MAIN HOMILETICS OF THE PARAGRAPH.—Gen_41:37-45
PHARAOH ACCEPTS JOSEPH’S ADVICE
In which he shows:—
I. His wisdom and prudence.
1. In acting upon the best evidence he had. The interpretation seemed to be clear and just; the course advised, reasonable. Pharaoh did not wait for a demonstrated certainty; but seeing that the next step before him was clear, he took that step. This is just our position with regard to the will and and purpose of God as revealed in the Bible. The Bible speaks to us of many things which now we cannot prove. We have to believe much upon evidence which our reason might persuade us is inconclusive, but which faith teaches us to receive. We are told of a time in which we may lay up for the future, and it is our wisdom to make that provision while we have opportunity. The message of Joseph carried with it the conviction of truth. So does the message of the Bible. To the Christian, faith is the verification of the invisible.
2. In choosing a fit man for the crisis. Everything now pointed to Joseph as the right man for the times. Pharaoh appeals to his courtiers as to whether it was not the wisest course to appoint Joseph at the head of affairs. They make no answer; as they were, perhaps, a little jealous of this foreigner, like as the Babylonish nobles were towards Daniel. And Pharaoh also shows his prudence in removing all social disabilities from this foreigner. He asserts his own authority as the fountain of rank. (Gen_41:40-41; Gen_41:44.) He invests Joseph with the symbols and array of dignity and honour. (Gen_41:42-43.) He naturalizes him by giving him a new name, and so removing Egyptian prejudices. Joseph was fitly named, “the salvation of life,” for he was in very deed the preserver of life, the salvation of his country. This new name would tend to exalt the character of Joseph in the eyes of all the people. Joseph’s social standing was further assured by his marriage with the daughter of the priest of On. (Gen_41:45.) The priests of Egypt were the highest class in the State, the landed aristocracy. They attended, and even controlled the kings. Besides, Joseph’s father-in-law was the chief priest of On—the royal city. By marriage into this high caste Joseph’s social position was at once determined and secured.
II. His piety. When we speak of Pharaoh’s piety, it is not intended that it should be reckoned by our modern Christian standard. God accepts according to what a man hath, and not according to what he hath not. Surely it was a heaven-taught instinct which led Pharaoh to recognise the spirit of God in Joseph. He believed that he had before him a man who enjoyed intercourse with God, and who was inspired by Him. (Gen_41:38-39.) And his conviction of the Godlike character and calling of Joseph was stronger than the tyranny of any feelings bred by a sense of propriety, or by the stern law of custom. It required strong principle to overcome national prejudices and the rigour of social order. But Pharaoh braved all consequences, so convinced was he that Joseph was a man taught of God. Even this promoting of Joseph’s alliance with the daughter of the priest of the sun does not forbid us to believe in the piety of Pharaoh. For in all this idolatry there can be discovered some lingering traces of the one true God. The world was then too young to have arrived at a rigid and sharply-defined distinction between polytheism and monotheism. The Pharaoh of Abraham’s day feels the power of Him whose name is Jehovah. (Gen_12:7.) Abimelech acknowledges the God of Abraham and Isaac. (Gen_20:3-7; Gen_21:22-23; Gen_26:28-29.) Joseph had mentioned the true God to Pharaoh, and this was not without its blessed effect. Joseph was permitted to worship the God of his fathers, and we have reason to believe that Pharaoh, to some extent, entered into the spirit of that worship. “In the account of Pharaoh’s dealings with Joseph, the Egyptian monarch appears to have acted with the strictest honesty and integrity, and as a reward he was supernaturally apprised of the famine which should come upon his land. When he exclaims concerning Joseph, ‘Can we find such a man as this, a man in whom the spirit of the Lord is?’ he seems to have been actuated by a spirit of real piety. Hard it would be, indeed, to question the salvability of a monarch who could come to this pious resolution, which is recorded in Gen_41:39. There are frequent allusions in Scripture to the tenderness with which God treated the heathen nations who beheld His judgments on the Israelites. (Eze_20:5-10.) This tenderness towards the Egyptians and other heathen nations, can be explained only on a desire not to aggravate their sins, and this affords us no slight ground for our general argument. “In whose sight I made myself known unto them (the heathen), by bringing them forth out of the land of Egypt.” (Gen_41:9.) “I will be sanctified in you before the heathen.” (Gen_41:41.)—(Grinfield “On the Salvability of the Heathen.”)
SUGGESTIVE COMMENTS ON THE VERSES
Gen_41:37-38. Can we find such a man as this? Hence some collect that Joseph preached many more things to the king, of God, His power, providence, goodness, etc., than are here recorded; and was therefore so admired, and advanced to the office of teaching his senators wisdom. “To bind his princes to his soul, and make wise his elders” (Psa_105:22), as the original hath it.—Trapp.
It is a sign of great wisdom to be able to give the best counsel; but it is a sign of wisdom also to be able to appreciate such counsel when it is given, and to be ready to follow it. Pharaoh was sensible that a divine person or a divine influence had enlightened Joseph’s mind and given him this extraordinary knowledge. His proposal therefore, to honour Joseph was a virtual honouring of the God whom he served. His affairs, he was convinced, would be most likely to prosper in the hands of a a man whom God loved and taught.—(Bush.)
Gen_41:39. The king’s conclusion shows how greatly Egypt esteemed the higher knowledge; since it confirms the opinion which made this nation so renowned for wisdom among the ancients.—(Lange.)
Joseph honoured God before Pharaoh, and God honoured Joseph in the sight of Pharaoh. A little time ago he was traduced as one of the vilest of men; now the king honours him as a man of incomparable worth. We may learn from this not to be greatly dejected by reproach, nor puffed up by praise. The best of men have passed through good report and evil report.—(Bush.)
Gen_41:40. They that bestow places of charge in Church or commonwealth upon undeserving persons, for by-respects, shall have Pharaoh to rise up in judgment against them.—(Trapp.)
Gen_41:41-45. Behold one hour hath changed his fetters into a chain of gold, his rags into fine linen, his stocks into a chariot, his jail into a palace; Potiphar’s captive into his master’s lord; the noise of his chains into Abrech. He, whose chastity refused the wanton allurements of the wife of Potiphar, had now given him to his wife the daughter of Potipherah. Humility goes before honour; serving and suffering are the best tutors to government. How well are God’s children paid for their patience! How happy are the issues of the faithful! Never any man repented him of the advancement of a good man.—(Bp. Hall.)
The Preacher's Complete Homiletical Commentary (gen. ed. Joseph S. Exell; Funk & Wagnalls, c. 1892) — public domain (pre-1929). A full-Bible homiletical/sermon-outline anthology covering 65 of 66 books (2 John is absent from the source module). Text from a community e-Sword module.
Alexander MacLaren 1905 · Public Domain On v38 Gen 41:38 - Gen 41:48.
Genesis
JOSEPH, THE PRIME MINISTER
Read full note →
Gen 41:38 - Gen 41:48.
At seventeen years of age Joseph was sold for a slave; at thirty he was prime minister of Egypt {Gen. xxxvii, 2; xli. 46}. How long his prison life lasted is uncertain; but it was long enough for the promises contained in his early dreams to ‘try him’ {Pro 5:19} whether his faith would stand apparent disappointment and weary delay. Like all the Scripture narratives, this history of Joseph has little to say about feelings, and prefers facts. But we can read between the lines, and be tolerably sure that the thirteen years of trial were well endured, and that the inward life had grown so as to fit him for his advancement. We have here a full-length portrait of the prime minister, or vizier, which brings out three points-his elevation, his naturalisation, and his administration.
Joseph had not only interpreted Pharaoh’s dream, but had suggested a policy in preparation for the coming famine. He had recommended the appointment of ‘a wise and discreet man,’ with supreme authority over the land. Pharaoh first consulted ‘his servants,’ and, with their consent, possibly not very hearty, appointed the proposer of the plan as its carrier-out, quoting to him his own words, ‘wise and discreet.’
The sudden installing of an unknown prisoner in high office has often been thought hard to believe, and has been pointed to as proof of the legendary character of the story. But the ground on which Pharaoh put it goes far to explain it. He and his servants had come to believe that ‘God’ spoke through this man, that ‘the Spirit of God’ was in him. So here was a divinely sent messenger, whom it would be impiety and madness to reject. Observe that Pharaoh and Joseph both speak in this chapter of ‘God.’ There was a common ground of recognition of a divine Being on which they met. The local colour of the story indicates a period before the fuller revelation, which drew so broad a line of demarcation between Israel and the other nations.
Joseph’s sudden promotion is made the more intelligible by the probability which the study of Egyptian history has given, that the Pharaoh who made him his second in command was one of the Hyksos conquerors who dominated Egypt for a long period. They would have no prejudices against Joseph on account of his being a foreigner. A dynasty of alien conquerors has generally an open door for talent, and cares little who a man’s father is, or where he comes from, if he can do his work. And Joseph, by not being an Egyptian born, would be all the fitter an instrument for carrying out the policy which he had suggested.
His ceremonial investiture with the insignia of office is true to Egyptian manners. The signet ring, as the emblem of full authority; the chain, as a mark of dignity; the robe of ‘fine linen’ {or rather of cotton}, which was a priestly dress-all are illustrated by the monuments. The proclamation made before him as he rode in the second chariot has been very variously interpreted. It has been taken for a Hebraised Egyptian word, meaning ‘Cast thyself down’; and this interpretation was deemed the most probable, until Assyrian discovery brought to light ‘that abarakku is the Assyrian name of the grand vizier’ {Fr. Delitzsch, Hebrew Language Viewed in the Light of Assyrian Research, p. 26}. Sayce proposes another explanation, also from the cuneiform tablets: ‘There was a word abrik in the Sumerian language, which signified a seer, and was borrowed by the Semitic Babylonians under the varying forms of abrikku and abarakku. It is abrikku which we have in Genesis, and the title applied by the people to the "seer" Joseph proves to be the one we should most naturally expect.’ The Tel el-Amarna tablets show that the knowledge of cuneiform writing was common in Egypt {Sayce, Higher Criticism and the Monuments, p. 214}. This explanation is tempting, but it is perhaps scarcely probable that the proclamation should have been in any other language than Egyptian, or should have had reference to anything but Joseph’s new office. It was not as seer that he was to be obeyed, but as Pharaoh’s representative, even though he had become the latter because he had proved himself the former.
But in any case, the whole context is accurately and strongly Egyptian. Was there any point in the history of Israel, down to an impossibly late date, except the time of Moses, at which Jewish writers were so familiar with Egypt as to have been capable of producing so true a picture?
The lessons of this incident are plain. First stands out, clear and full, the witness it bears to God’s faithfulness, and to His sovereign sway over all events. What are all the persons concerned in the narrative but unconscious instruments of His? The fierce brothers, the unconcerned slave-dealers, Potiphar, his wife, the prisoners, Pharaoh, are so many links in a chain; but they are also men, and therefore free to act, and guilty if acting wrongly. Men execute God’s purposes, even when unconscious or rebellious, but are responsible, and often punished, for the acts which He uses to effect His designs.
Joseph’s thirteen years of trial, crowned with sudden prosperity, may read all of us, and especially young men and women, a lesson of patience. Many of us have to fight our way through analogous difficulties at the outset of our career; and we are apt to lose heart and get restive when success seems slow to come, and one hindrance after another blocks our road. But hindrances are helps. If one of Joseph’s misfortunes had been omitted, his good fortune would never have come. If his brethren had not hated him, if he had not been sold, if he had not been imprisoned, he would never have ruled Egypt. Not one thread in the tapestry could have been withdrawn without spoiling the pattern. We cannot afford to lose one of our sorrows or trials. There would be no summer unless winter had gone before. There is a bud or a fruit for every snowflake, and a bird’s song for every howl of the storm.
Plainly, too, does the story read the lesson of quiet doing of the work and accepting the circumstances of the moment. Joseph was being prepared for the administration of a kingdom by his oversight of Potiphar’s house and of the prison. His character was matured by his trials, as iron is consolidated by heavy hammers. To resist temptation, to do modestly and sedulously whatever work comes to our hands, to be content to look after a jail even though we have dreamed of sun and moon bowing down to us, is the best apprenticeship for whatever elevation circumstances-or, to speak more devoutly, God-intends for us. Young men thrown into city life far away from their homes, and whispered to by many seducing voices, have often to suffer for keeping themselves unspotted; but they are being strengthened by rough discipline, and will get such promotion, in due time, as is good for them. But outward success is not God’s best gift. It was better to be the Joseph who deserved his high place, than to have the place. The character which he had grown into was more than the trappings which Pharaoh put on him. And such a character is always the reward of such patience, faith, and self-control, whether chains and chariots are added or not.
Little need be said about the other points of the story. Joseph’s naturalisation as an Egyptian was complete. His name was changed, in token that he had completely become a subject of Pharaoh’s. The meaning of the formidable-looking polysyllable, which Egyptian lips found easier than ‘Joseph,’ is uncertain. ‘At present the origin of the first syllable is still doubtful, and though the latter part of the name is certainly the Egyptian n-ti-pa-ankh {"of the life"}, it is difficult to say in which of its different senses the expression pa-ankh {"the life"} is employed’ {Sayce, ut supra, p. 213}. The prevailing opinion of Egyptian experts is that it means ‘Support of life.’
The naturalising was completed by his marriage to Asenath {supposed to mean ‘One belonging to the goddess Neith’}, a daughter of a high officer of state, Poti-phera {meaning, like its shortened form, Potiphar, ‘The gift of Ra’ the sun-god}. Such an alliance placed him at once in the very innermost circle of Egyptian aristocracy. It may have been a bitter pill for the priest to swallow, to give his daughter to a man of yesterday, and an alien; but, just as probably, he too looked to Joseph with some kind of awe, and was not unwilling to wed Asenath to the first man in the empire, wherever he had started up from.
But should not Joseph’s religion have barred such a marriage? The narrator gives no judgment on the fact, and we have to form our own estimate. But it is not to be estimated as if it had occurred five or six centuries later. The family of Jacob was not so fenced off, nor was its treasure of revelation so complete, as afterwards. We may be fairly sure that Joseph felt no inconsistency between his ancestral faith, which had become his own in his trials, and this union. He was risking a great deal; that is certain. Whether the venture ended well or ill, we know not. Only we may be very sure that a marriage in which a common faith is not a strong bond of union lacks its highest sanctity, and is perilously apt to find that difference in religious convictions is a strong separator.
Joseph’s administration opens up questions as to Egyptian land tenure, and the like, which cannot be dealt with here. ‘In the earlier days of the monarchy the country was in the hands of great feudal lords; . . .the land belonged to them absolutely. . .. But after the convulsion caused by the Hyksos conquest and the war of independence, this older system of land tenure was completely changed. . .. The Pharaoh is the fountain head, not only of honour, but of property as well. . .. The people ceased to have any rights of their own’ {Sayce, ut supra, p. 216}.
We may note Joseph’s immediate entrance upon office and his characteristic energy in it. He ‘went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt.’ No grass grew under this man’s feet. He was ubiquitous, personally overseeing everything for seven long years. Wasteful consumption of the abundant crops had to be restrained, storehouses to be built, careful records of the contents to be made, after Egyptian fashion. The people, who could not look so far as seven years ahead, and wanted to enjoy, or make money out of, the good harvests, had to be looked after, and an army of officials to be kept in order. Dignity meant work for him. Like all true men, he thought more of his duty than of his honours. Depend on it, he did not wear his fine clothes or ride in the second chariot, when he was hurrying about the country at his task.
He had come ‘out of prison to reign,’ and, as we all find, if we are God’s servants, to reign means to serve, and the higher the place the harder the task. The long years of waiting had nourished powers which the seven years of busy toil tested. We must make ourselves, by God’s help, ready, in obscurity, and especially in youth, for whatever may be laid on us in after days. And if we understand what life here means, we shall be more covetous of spheres of diligent service than of places of shining dignity. Whatever our task, let us do it, as Joseph did his, with strenuous concentration, knowing, as he did, that the years in which it is possible are but few at the longest.
Alexander MacLaren, Expositions of Holy Scripture (1904–1910) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
C. I. Scofield 1917 · Public Domain On v45 Asenath, the Gentile bride espoused by Joseph the rejected…
Zaphnath-paaneah
Asenath, the Gentile bride espoused by Joseph the rejected one Joh 19:15 type of the Church, called out from the Gentiles to be the bride of Christ during the time of His rejection by His brethren, Israel.; Act 15:14; Eph 5:31; Eph 5:32. (See Scofield "Gen 37:2").
Read full note →
Zaphnath-paaneah Coptic, revealer of secret things.
The Scofield Reference Bible (1917 edition), notes by C. I. Scofield — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
Paul E. Kretzmann 1924 · Public Domain On vv37, 46 Joseph Made Ruler over all Egypt
Joseph Made Ruler over all Egypt
v. 37. And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants. They were highly pleased both with the interpretation of the dreams and with the advice which Joseph added.
Read full note →
v. 38. And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is? He acknowledged the divine illumination, the supernatural understanding and wisdom of Joseph.
v. 39. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath showed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art, Joseph did not have his equal in the entire kingdom.
v. 40. Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled, the entire nation would be subject to his command; only in the throne will I be greater than thou. So Joseph was elevated to a much higher position than that of chief overseer or tax-collector, being nominated Pharaoh’s grand vizier.
v. 41. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. Formally and solemnly the dignity was conferred upon him.
v. 42. 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. These were the insignia of his exalted office, the seal-ring to affix to the royal decrees, the fine white byssus robe, which placed him on a level with the highest priests in the land, the gold chain as a special mark of royal favor.
v. 43. And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee, an Egyptian word being here taken up into the Hebrew text; and he made him ruler over all the land of Egypt.
v. 44. 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. By virtue of the authority which Pharaoh, as the supreme ruler, vested in Joseph, the actions of the entire nation should be subject to Joseph’s command.
v. 45. And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnathpaaneah (preserver of life, or: revealer of secrets);and he gave him to wife Asenath, the daughter of Potipherah, priest of On. On, or Heliopolis (throne of the sun), was the leading city in Egypt in learning, the priests of the sun goddess having a college of their own, which ranked with the best of the ancient universities. Thus it was a great honor which was conferred upon Joseph. But the hand of God, who lifted him out of the depths of his disgrace, kept him from being engulfed by the Egyptian heathendom. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt, thus becoming acquainted with the country, its people, and its institutions, all of which stood him in good stead as ruler.
Paul E. Kretzmann, Popular Commentary of the Bible (1921–1924) — public domain. Text from a community e-Sword module.
unfoldingWord translationNotes 2017 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv37, 39, 42, 44, 46 This advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh…
This advice was good in the eyes of Pharaoh and in the eyes of all his servants
The eyes represent seeing, and seeing represents thoughts or judgment. AT: "Pharaoh and his servants thought this was a good plan" (See: Metaphor)
Read full note →
his servants
This means Pharaoh's officials.
such a man as this
"a man like the one Joseph described"
in whom is the Spirit of God
"in whom the Spirit of God lives"
translationWords
good
Pharaoh
servant
Holy Spirit
unfoldingWord translationNotes — © Distant Shores Media and the Door43 World Missions Community, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Source: git.door43.org/Door43/en_tn.
Tyndale Open Study Notes 2022 · CC BY-SA 4.0 On vv37, 41, 42, 43, 45, 46 41:37-40 Pharaoh recognized that Joseph was the man for…
41:37-40 Pharaoh recognized that Joseph was the man for the job; he had the spirit of God and was intelligent and wise. God showed his sovereign rule in Egypt; Israelites who later read the account could be confident that God would save them as he had promised.
Tyndale Open Study Notes — © Tyndale Open Resources, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Text via the HelloAO Bible API.