DaySpring Hope & Encouragement Bible - Flipbook - Page 76
G enesis 41
58
him in charge of the entire land of Egypt. 34 Then Pharaoh should appoint
supervisors over the land and let them collect one-fifth of all the crops during the seven good years. 35 Have them gather all the food produced in the
good years that are just ahead and bring it to Pharaoh’s storehouses. Store
it away, and guard it so there will be food in the cities. 36 That way there will
be enough to eat when the seven years of famine come to the land of Egypt.
Otherwise this famine will destroy the land.”
Joseph Made Ruler of Egypt
37 Jo
seph’s suggestions were well received by Pharaoh and his officials.
38 So Pharaoh asked his officials, “Can we find anyone else like this man so
obviously filled with the spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph,
“Since God has revealed the meaning of the dreams to you, clearly no one
else is as intelligent or wise as you are. 40 You will be in charge of my court,
and all my people will take orders from you. Only I, sitting on my throne,
will have a rank higher than yours.”
41 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of
Egypt.” 42 Then Pharaoh removed his signet ring from his hand and placed
it on Joseph’s finger. He dressed him in fine linen clothing and hung a gold
chain around his neck. 43 Then he had Joseph ride in the chariot reserved
for his second-in-command. And wherever Joseph went, the command was
shouted, “Kneel down!” So Pharaoh put Joseph in charge of all Egypt. 44 And
Pharaoh said to him, “I am Pharaoh, but no one will lift a hand or foot in the
entire land of Egypt without your approval.”
45 Then Pharaoh gave Joseph a new Egyptian name, Zaphenath-paneah.*
He also gave him a wife, whose name was Asenath. She was the daughter
of Potiphera, the priest of On.* So Joseph took charge of the entire land of
Egypt. 46 He was thirty years old when he began serving in the court of Pha
raoh, the king of Egypt. And when Joseph left Pharaoh’s presence, he inspected the entire land of Egypt.
47 As predicted, for seven years the land produced bumper crops. 48 During
those years, Joseph gathered all the crops grown in Egypt and stored the
grain from the surrounding fields in the cities. 49 He piled up huge amounts
of grain like sand on the seashore. Finally, he stopped keeping records because there was too much to measure.
50 During this time, before the first of the famine years, two sons were
born to Joseph and his wife, Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera, the priest of
On. 51 Joseph named his older son Manasseh,* for he said, “God has made me
forget all my troubles and everyone in my father’s family.” 52 Joseph named
his second son Ephraim,* for he said, “God has made me fruitful in this land
of my grief.”
53 At last the seven years of bumper crops throughout the land of Egypt
came to an end. 54 Then the seven years of famine began, just as Joseph
had predicted. The famine also struck all the surrounding countries, but
throughout Egypt there was plenty of food. 55 Eventually, however, the famine spread throughout the land of Egypt as well. And when the people cried
out to Pharaoh for food, he told them, “Go to Joseph, and do whatever he tells
you.” 56 So with severe famine everywhere, Joseph opened up the storehouses
41:45a Zaphenath-paneah probably means “God speaks and lives.” 41:45b Greek version
reads of Heliopolis; also in 41:50. 41:51 Manasseh sounds like a Hebrew term that means
“causing to forget.” 41:52 Ephraim sounds like a Hebrew term that means “fruitful.”
