Amazing Story of Joseph
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It was humiliating to Pharaoh to consult a slave, but he was ready
if his troubled mind might find relief. Joseph was immediately sent
for; he put off his prison attire and was conducted to the king.
“And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and
there is none that can interpret it; and I have heard say of thee, that
thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. And Joseph answered
Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of
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peace.” Joseph modestly disclaimed the honor of possessing in himself
superior wisdom. God alone can explain these mysteries.
Pharaoh then proceeded to relate his dreams: “Behold, there came
up out of the river seven kine, fat-fleshed and well favored; and they
fed in a meadow: and, behold, seven other kine came up after them,
poor and very ill favored and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in all the
land of Egypt for badness: and the lean and the ill favored kine did eat
up the first seven fat kine: and when they had eaten them up, it could
not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill favored,
as at the beginning. So I awoke. And I saw in my dream, and, behold,
seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good: and, behold, seven
ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after
them: and the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this
unto the magicians; but there was none that could declare it to me.”
The Interpretation of Pharaoh’s Dream
Said Joseph, “God hath showed Pharaoh what He is about to do.”
There were to be seven years of great plenty. Field and garden would
yield more abundantly than ever before. And this period was to be
followed by seven years of famine. “And the plenty shall not be known
in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very
grievous.” “Now therefore,” he continued, “let Pharaoh look out a man
discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh
do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the
fifth part of the land of Egypt in the seven plenteous years. And let
them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up
corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let them keep food in the cities.
And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of
famine.”