创世记——第四十一章

约拿

创世记第四十一章： 41:1 过了两年，法老做梦：梦见自己站在河边， 41:2 有七只母牛从河里上来，又美好又肥壮，在芦荻中吃草。 41:3 随后又有七只母牛从河里上来，又丑陋又乾瘦，与那七只母牛一同站在河边。 41:4 这又丑陋又乾瘦的七只母牛吃尽了那又美好又肥壮的七只母牛。法老就醒了。 41:5 他又睡着，第二回做梦：梦见一棵麦子长了七个穗子，又肥大又佳美， 41:6 随后又长了七个穗子，又细弱又被东风吹焦了。 41:7 这细弱的穗子吞了那七个又肥大又饱满的穗子。法老醒了，不料是个梦。 41:8 到了早晨，法老心里不安，就差人召了埃及所有的术士和博士来；法老就把所做的梦告诉他们，却没有人能给法老圆解。 41:9 那时酒政对法老说：“我今日想起我的罪来。 41:10 从前法老恼怒臣仆，把我和膳长下在护卫长府内的监里。 41:11 我们二人同夜各做一梦，各梦都有讲解。 41:12 在那里同着我们有一个希伯来的少年人，是护卫长的仆人，我们告诉他，他就把我们的梦圆解，是按着各人的梦圆解的。 41:13 后来正如他给我们圆解的成就了：我官复原职；膳长被挂起来了。” 41:14 法老遂即差人去召约瑟，他们便急忙带他出监，他就剃头，刮脸，换衣裳，进到法老面前。 41:15 法老对约瑟说：“我做了一梦，没有人能解；我听见人说，你听了梦就能解。” 41:16 约瑟回答法老说：“这不在乎我，　神必将平安的话回答法老。” 41:17 法老对约瑟说：“我梦见我站在河边， 41:18 有七只母牛从河里上来，又肥壮又美好，在芦荻中吃草。 41:19 随后又有七只母牛上来，又软弱又丑陋又乾瘦，在埃及遍地，我没有见过这样不好的。 41:20 这又乾瘦又丑陋的母牛吃尽了那以先的七只肥母牛， 41:21 吃了以后却看不出是吃了，那丑陋的样子仍旧和先前一样。我就醒了。 41:22 我又梦见一棵麦子，长了七个穗子，又饱满又佳美， 41:23 随后又长了七个穗子，枯槁细弱，被东风吹焦了。 41:24 这些细弱的穗子吞了那七个佳美的穗子。我将这梦告诉了术士，却没有人能给我解说。” 41:25 约瑟对法老说：“法老的梦乃是一个，　神已将所要做的事指示法老了。 41:26 七只好母牛是七年；七个好穗子也是七年。这梦乃是一个。 41:27 那随后上来的七只又乾瘦又丑陋的母牛是七年；那七个虚空、被东风吹焦的穗子也是七年，都是七个荒年。 41:28 这就是我对法老所说：　神已将所要做的事显明给法老了。 41:29 埃及遍地必来七个大丰年； 41:30 随后又要来七个荒年，甚至在埃及地都忘了先前的丰收，全地必被饥荒所灭。 41:31 因那以后的饥荒甚大，便不觉得先前的丰收了。 41:32 至于法老两回做梦，是因　神命定这事，而且必速速成就。 41:33 所以法老当拣选一个有聪明有智慧的人，派他治理埃及地。 41:34 法老当这样行，又派官员管理这地。当七个丰年的时候，征收埃及地的五分之一， 41:35 叫他们把将来丰年一切的粮食聚敛起来，积蓄五谷，收存在各城里作食物，归于法老的手下。 41:36 所积蓄的粮食可以防备埃及地将来的七个荒年，免得这地被饥荒所灭。” 41:37 法老和他一切臣仆，都以这事为妙。 41:38 法老对臣仆说：“像这样的人，有　神的灵在他里头，我们岂能找得着呢？” 41:39 法老对约瑟说：“　神既将这事都指示你，可见没有人像你这样有聪明有智慧。 41:40 你可以掌管我的家，我的民都必听从你的话，惟独在宝座上我比你大。” 41:41 法老又对约瑟说：“我派你治理埃及全地。” 41:42 法老就摘下手上打印的戒指，戴在约瑟的手上，给他穿上细麻衣，把金链戴在他的颈项上。　 41:43 又叫约瑟坐他的副车，喝道的在前呼叫说：“跪下！”这样，法老派他治理埃及全地。 41:44 法老对约瑟说：“我是法老，在埃及全地，若没有你的命令，不许人擅自办事（注：原文作“动手动脚”）。” 41:45 法老赐名给约瑟，叫撒发那忒巴内亚，又将安城的祭司波提非拉的女儿亚西纳给他为妻。约瑟就出去巡行埃及地。 41:46 约瑟见埃及王法老的时候年三十岁。他从法老面前出去遍行埃及全地。 41:47 七个丰年之内，地的出产极丰极盛（注：原文作“一把一把的”）， 41:48 约瑟聚敛埃及地七个丰年一切的粮食，把粮食积存在各城里；各城周围田地的粮食都积存在本城里。 41:49 约瑟积蓄五谷甚多，如同海边的沙，无法计算，因为谷不可胜数。 41:50 荒年未到以前。安城的祭司波提非拉的女儿亚西纳给约瑟生了两个儿子。 41:51 约瑟给长子起名叫玛拿西（注：就是“使之忘了”的意思），因为他说：“　神使我忘了一切的困苦和我父的全家。” 41:52 他给次子起名叫以法莲（注：就是“使之昌盛”的意思），因为他说：“　神使我在受苦的地方昌盛。” 41:53 埃及地的七个丰年一完， 41:54 七个荒年就来了，正如约瑟所说的，各地都有饥荒；惟独埃及全地有粮食。 41:55 及至埃及全地有了饥荒，众民向法老哀求粮食，法老对他们说：“你们往约瑟那里去，凡他所说的你们都要做。” 41:56 当时饥荒遍满天下，约瑟开了各处的仓，籴粮给埃及人；在埃及地饥荒甚大。 41:57 各地的人都往埃及去，到约瑟那里籴粮，因为天下的饥荒甚大。

约拿

5．约瑟为法老解梦（四一）

　　四一1～13 法老梦见七只肥壮和七只又丑陋又干瘦的……母牛，又梦见七个又肥大及佳美的穗子和七个……细弱的穗子。埃及所有的术士和博士都不能为法老解梦。术士和博士的能力是来自魔鬼的，并不能解法老之梦。那时，酒政想起约瑟，他能替人解梦，而神已向狱中的约瑟启示其中的奥秘。第1节提到“过了两年”，可能是指约瑟坐牢的日子，又可能是自酒政出狱的日子计起。

　　四一14～32 约瑟被召到法老面前，替他解梦，说埃及遍地必来七个大丰年，随后又要来七个荒年，蹂躏整个埃及。法老三番四次做相同的梦，表示神命定这事，而且必速速成就。约瑟曾做两个关乎自己将来的梦（三七6～9），但以理书第二章和第七章也记载类似的异象。圣经中，“二”是见证的数字。约瑟在王宫回答法老的话，跟他在狱中回答法老仆人的话是一样的。“这不在乎我，神必将平安的话回答法老。”（l节；比较四Ｏ8）约瑟坦诚地将荣耀归给神，我们也应当谨慎，不要将荣耀归于自己。

　　约瑟经历过许多试炼，但他从未改变对他列祖的神的忠诚。他在法老的面前，一再的宣告说，“这不在乎我，神……神已将所要作的事……”难怪在众多不同的试炼中，耶和华都一直与他同在。约瑟这份谦卑，叫神能信任他，叫他无惧承担重任，不怕事情会使他腐败。

　　四一33～36 约瑟替法老解梦之后，向他提出一个计划，使埃及人在接下来的十四年中可以存活。约瑟安慰法老，建议在丰年的日子多储粮食，以缓解荒年之困。防止饥荒的惟一方法就是积谷防饥，他的计划正是所谓“常满粮仓”之策。

　　四一37～46 法老甚感欣慰，任命约瑟当宰相，掌管全盘计划（40节），担保没有他的命令，不许人擅自办事（44节）。并赐名给约瑟，叫撒发那忒巴内亚（45节上），但名字的意思不详。有人认为名字的意思是救世主，另有人认为意思可能是神说话并神活着。法老又把一名外邦女子亚西纳许配约瑟为妻（45节）。将埃及一位重要官员的女儿给约瑟为妻，更表示他受到极高的尊重。

　　法老怎会让一个希伯来释囚替他解梦后，还未知道其解说是否准确，就派他管理国家呢？答案记在箴言二十一章1节：“王的心在耶和华手中。”优秀的人必冒出头来。信神的犹太人在外邦政府中身居要职的为数不少，约瑟是第一人。他出任职位的时候年三十岁（46节）。他十七岁被卖到埃及为奴，推算起来，约瑟被卖至这时已有十三年（比较三七2），他在埃及作了十一年奴隶、两年囚犯。

　　四一47～52 头七年，地的出产甚丰，不可胜数。期间，约瑟生了两个儿子——玛拿西（“使之忘了”的意思，因为他说：“神使我忘了一切的困苦，和我父的全家。”）和以法莲（“使之昌盛”的意思，因为他说：“神使我在受苦的地方昌盛”）。约瑟不念旧恶，生活就变得丰盛。

　　四一53～57 七个丰年过后，七个荒年紧接着就来了，饥荒遍满天下和埃及当地，各地的人都到约瑟那里去籴粮。这里，约瑟预表基督，神借基督把他一切的祝福施与地上困乏的人。神把约瑟带到埃及，他的百姓就免受饥荒之苦；此外，神还别有用意，就是要他的百姓远离迦南，免得当地道德败环之风污染他们。第三十八章述说以色列民在迦南的遭遇。神拯救他们，领他们到埃及，实际上是要他们与异教徒隔绝（四三32）

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Pharaoh's Dream 1Now it happened at the end of two full years that Pharaoh had a dream, and behold, he was standing by the Nile. 2And lo, from the Nile there came up seven cows, sleek and fat; and they grazed in the (A)marsh grass. 3Then behold, seven other cows came up after them from the Nile, ugly and gaunt, and they stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. 4The ugly and gaunt cows ate up the seven sleek and fat cows. Then Pharaoh awoke. 5He fell asleep and dreamed a second time; and behold, seven ears of grain came up on a single stalk, plump and good. 6Then behold, seven ears, thin and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them. 7The thin ears swallowed up the seven plump and full ears. Then Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream. 8Now in the morning (B)his spirit was troubled, so he sent and called for all the (C)magicians of Egypt, and all its (D)wise men And Pharaoh told them his dreams, but (E)there was no one who could interpret them to Pharaoh. 9Then the chief cupbearer spoke to Pharaoh, saying, "I would make mention today of (F)my own offenses. 10"Pharaoh was (G)furious with his servants, and (H)he put me in confinement in the house of the captain of the bodyguard, both me and the chief baker. 11"(I)We had a dream on the same night, he and I; each of us dreamed according to the interpretation of his own dream. 12"Now a Hebrew youth was with us there, a (J)servant of the captain of the bodyguard, and we related them to him, and (K)he interpreted our dreams for us. To each one he interpreted according to his own dream. 13"And just (L)as he interpreted for us, so it happened; he restored me in my office, but he hanged him." Joseph Interprets 14Then Pharaoh sent and (M)called for Joseph, and they (N)hurriedly brought him out of the dungeon; and when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came to Pharaoh. 15Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I have had a dream, (O)but no one can interpret it; and (P)I have heard it said about you, that when you hear a dream you can interpret it." 16Joseph then answered Pharaoh, saying, "(Q)It is not in me; (R)God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer." 17So Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, "In my dream, behold, I was standing on the bank of the Nile; 18and behold, seven cows, fat and sleek came up out of the Nile, and they grazed in the marsh grass. 19"Lo, seven other cows came up after them, poor and very ugly and gaunt, such as I had never seen for ugliness in all the land of Egypt; 20and the lean and ugly cows ate up the first seven fat cows. 21"Yet when they had devoured them, it could not be detected that they had devoured them, for they were just as ugly as before. Then I awoke. 22"I saw also in my dream, and behold, seven ears, full and good, came up on a single stalk; 23and lo, seven ears, withered, thin, and scorched by the east wind, sprouted up after them; 24and the thin ears swallowed the seven good ears. Then (S)I told it to the magicians, but there was no one who could explain it to me." 25Now Joseph said to Pharaoh, "Pharaoh's dreams are one and the same; (T)God has told to Pharaoh what He is about to do. 26"The seven good cows are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years; the dreams are one and the same. 27"The seven lean and ugly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven thin ears scorched by the east wind (U)will be seven years of famine. 28"It is as I have spoken to Pharaoh: (V)God has shown to Pharaoh what He is about to do. 29"Behold, (W)seven years of great abundance are coming in all the land of Egypt; 30and after them (X)seven years of famine will come, and all the abundance will be forgotten in the land of Egypt, and the famine will ravage the land. 31"So the abundance will be unknown in the land because of that subsequent famine; for it will be very severe. 32"Now as for the repeating of the dream to Pharaoh twice, it means that (Y)the matter is determined by God, and God will quickly bring it about. 33"Now let Pharaoh look for a man (Z)discerning and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt. 34"Let Pharaoh take action to appoint overseers in charge of the land, and let him exact a fifth of the produce of the land of Egypt in the seven years of abundance. 35"Then let them (AA)gather all the food of these good years that are coming, and store up the grain for food in the cities under Pharaoh's authority, and let them guard it. 36"Let the food become as a reserve for the land for the seven years of famine which will occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land will not perish during the famine." 37Now the proposal seemed good to Pharaoh and to all his servants. Joseph Is Made a Ruler of Egypt 38Then Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find a man like this, (AB)in whom is a divine spirit?" 39So Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has informed you of all this, there is no one so (AC)discerning and wise as you are. 40"(AD)You shall be over my house, and according to your command all my people shall do homage; only in the throne I will be greater than you." 41Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you (AE)over all the land of Egypt." 42Then Pharaoh (AF)took off his signet ring from his hand and put it on Joseph's hand, and clothed him in garments of fine linen and (AG)put the gold necklace around his neck. 43He had him ride in his second chariot; and they proclaimed before him, "Bow the knee!" And he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44Moreover, Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Though I am Pharaoh, yet (AH)without your permission no one shall raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt." 45Then Pharaoh named Joseph [a]Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of (AI)On, as his wife. And Joseph went forth over the land of Egypt. 46Now Joseph was (AJ)thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh, king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh and went through all the land of Egypt. 47During the seven years of plenty the land brought forth abundantly. 48So he gathered all the food of these seven years which occurred in the land of Egypt and placed the food in the cities; he placed in every city the food from its own surrounding fields. 49Thus Joseph stored up grain in great abundance like the sand of the sea, until he stopped measuring it, for it was beyond measure. The Sons of Joseph 50Now before the year of famine came, (AK)two sons were born to Joseph, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera priest of [c]On, bore to him. 51Joseph named the firstborn [d]Manasseh, "For," he said, "God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household." 52He named the second [e]Ephraim, "For," he said, "(AL)God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction." 53When the seven years of plenty which had been in the land of Egypt came to an end, 54and (AM)the seven years of famine began to come, just as Joseph had said, then there was famine in all the lands, but in all the land of Egypt there was bread. 55So when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried out to Pharaoh for bread; and Pharaoh said to all the Egyptians, "Go to Joseph; (AN)whatever he says to you, you shall do." 56When the famine was spread over all the face of the earth, then Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold to the Egyptians; and the famine was severe in the land of Egypt. 57The people of all the earth came to Egypt to buy grain from Joseph, because (AO)the famine was severe in all the earth.