him according to the interpretation of Joseph。 That Joseph
himself was laid in bonds by Potiphar； who was his head cook； as
a slave； but； he said； he was one of the noblest of the stock of
the Hebrews； and said further； his father lived in great
splendor。 〃If； therefore； thou wilt send for him； and not despise
him on the score of his misfortunes； thou wilt learn what thy
dreams signify。〃 So the king commanded that they should bring
Joseph into his presence； and those who received the command came
and brought him with them； having taken care of his habit； that
it might be decent； as the king had enjoined them to do。
5。 But the king took him by the hand； and； 〃O young man；〃 says
he； 〃for my servant bears witness that thou art at present the
best and most skillful person I can consult with； vouchsafe me
the same favors which thou bestowedst on this servant of mine；
and tell me what events they are which the visions of my dreams
foreshow； and I desire thee to suppress nothing out of fear； nor
to flatter me with lying words； or with what may please me；
although the truth should be of a melancholy nature。 For it
seemed to me that； as I walked by the river； I saw kine fat and
very large； seven in number； going from the river to the marshes；
and other kine of the same number like them； met them out of the
marshes； exceeding lean and ill…favored； which ate up the fat and
the large kine； and yet were no better than before； and not less
miserably pinched with famine。 After I had seen this vision； I
awaked out of my sleep； and being in disorder； and considering
with myself what this appearance should be； I fell asleep again；
and saw another dream； much more wonderful than the foregoing；
which still did more affright and disturb me： … I saw seven ears
of corn growing out of one root； having their heads borne down by
the weight of the grains； and bending down with the fruit； which
was now ripe and fit for reaping； and near these I saw seven
other ears of corn； meager and weak； for want of rain； which fell
to eating and consuming those that were fit for reaping； and put
me into great astonishment。〃
6。 To which Joseph replied： … 〃This dream；〃 said he； 〃O king；
although seen under two forms； signifies one and the same event
of things； for when thou sawest the fat kine； which is an animal
made for the plough and for labor； devoured by the worser kine；
and the ears of corn eaten up by the smaller ears； they foretell
a famine； and want of the fruits of the earth for the same number
of years； and equal with those when Egypt was in a happy state；
and this so far； that the plenty of these years will be spent in
the same number of years of scarcity； and that scarcity of
necessary provisions will be very difficult to be corrected； as a
sign whereof； the ill…favored kine； when they had devoured the
better sort； could not be satisfied。 But still God foreshows what
is to come upon men； not to grieve them； but that； when they know
it beforehand； they may by prudence make the actual experience of
what is foretold the more tolerable。 If thou； therefore；
carefully dispose of the plentiful crops which will come in the
former years； thou wilt procure that the future calamity will not
be felt by the Egyptians。〃
7。 Hereupon the king wondered at the discretion and wisdom of
Joseph； and asked him by what means he might so dispense the
foregoing plentiful crops in the happy years； as to make the
miserable crops more tolerable。 Joseph then added this his
advice： To spare the good crops； and not permit the Egyptians to
spend them luxuriously； but to reserve what they would have spent
in luxury beyond their necessity against the time of want。 He
also exhorted him to take the corn of the husbandmen； and give
them only so much as will be sufficient for their food。
Accordingly Pharaoh being surprised at Joseph； not only for his
interpretation of the dream； but for the counsel he had given
him； intrusted him with dispensing the corn； with power to do
what he thought would be for the benefit of the people of Egypt；
and for the benefit of the king； as believing that he who first
discovered this method of acting； would prove the best overseer
of it。 But Joseph having this power given him by the king； with
leave to make use of his seal； and to wear purple； drove in his
chariot through all the land of Egypt； and took the corn of the
husbandmen； （3） allotting as much to every one as would be
sufficient for seed； and for food； but without discovering to any
one the reason why he did so。
CHAPTER 6。
How Joseph When He Was Become Famous In Egypt； Had His Brethren
In Subjection。
1。 Joseph was now grown up to thirty years of age； and enjoyed
great honors from the king； who called him Psothom Phanech； out
of regard to his prodigious degree of wisdom； for that name
denotes the revealer of secrets。 He also married a wife of very
high quality； for he married the daughter of Petephres； （4） one
of the priests of Heliopolis； she was a virgin； and her name was
Asenath。 By her he had children before the scarcity came on；
Manasseh； the elder； which signifies forgetful； because his
present happiness made him forget his former misfortunes； and
Ephraim； the younger； which signifies restored； because he was
restored to the freedom of his forefathers。 Now after Egypt had
happily passed over seven years； according to Joseph's
interpretation of the dreams； the famine came upon them in the
eighth year； and because this misfortune fell upon them when they
had no sense of it beforehand； （5） they were all sorely afflicted
by it； and came running to the king's gates； and he called upon
Joseph； who sold the corn to them； being become confessedly a
savior to the whole multitude of the Egyptians。 Nor did he open
this market of corn for the people of that country only； but
strangers had liberty to buy also； Joseph being willing that all
men； who are naturally akin to one another； should have
assistance from those that lived in happiness。
2。 Now Jacob also； when he understood that foreigners might come；
sent all his sons into Egypt to buy corn； for the land of Canaan
was grievously afflicted with the famine； and this great misery
touched the whole continent。 He only retained Benjamin； who was
born to him by Rachel； and was of the same mother with Joseph。
These sons of Jacob then came into Egypt； and applied themselves
to Joseph； wanting to buy corn； for nothing of this kind was done
without his approbation； since even then only was the honor that
was paid the king himself advantageous to the persons that paid
it； when they took care to honor Joseph also。 Now when he well
knew his brethren； they thought nothing of him； for he was but a
youth when he left them； and was now come to an age so much
greater； that the lineaments of his face were changed； and he was
not known by them： besides this； the greatness of the dignity
wherein he appeared； suffered them not so much as to suspect it
was he。 He now made trial what sentiments they had about affairs
of the greatest consequence； for he refused to sell them corn；
and said they were come as spies of the king's affairs； and that
they came from several countries； and joined themselves together；
and pretended that they were of kin； it not being possible that a
private man should breed up so many sons； and those of so great
beauty of countenance as they were； such an education of so many
children being not easily obtained by kings themselves。 Now this
he did in order to discover what concerned his father； and what
happened to him after his own departure from him； and as desiring
to know what was become of Benjamin his brother； for he was
afraid that they had ventured on the like wicked enterprise
against him that they had done to himself； and had taken him off
also。
3。 Now these brethren of his were under distraction and terror；
and thought that very great danger hung over them； yet not at all
reflecting upon their brother Joseph； and standing firm under the
accusations laid against them； they made their defense by Reubel；
the eldest of them； who now became their spokesman： 〃We come not
hither；〃 said he； 〃with any unjust design； nor in order to bring
any harm to the king's affairs； we only want to be preserved； as
supposing your humanity might be a refuge for us from the
miseries which our country labors under； we having heard that you
proposed to sell corn； not only to your own countrymen； but to
strangers also； and that you determined to allow that corn； in
order to preserve all that want it； but that we are brethren； and
of the same common blood； the peculiar lineaments of our faces；
and those not so much different from one another； plainly show。
Our father's name is Jacob； an Hebrew man； who had twelve of us
for his sons by four wives； which twelve of us； while we were all
alive； were a happy family； but when one of our brethren； whose
name was Joseph； died； our affairs changed for the worse； for our
father could not forbear to make a long lamentation for him； and
we are in affliction； both by the calamity of the death of our
brother； and the miserable state of our aged father。 We are now；
therefore； come to buy corn； having intrusted the care of our
father； and the provision for our family； to Benjamin； our
youngest brother； and if thou sendest to our house； thou mayst
learn whether we are guilty of the least falsehood in what we
say。〃
4。 And thus did Reubel endeavor to persuade Joseph to have a
better opinion of them。 But when he had learned from them that
Jacob was alive； and that his brother was not destroyed by them；
he for the present put them in prison； as intending to examine
more into their affairs when he should be at leisure。 But on the
third day he brought them out； and said to them； 〃Since you
constantly affirm that you are not come to do any harm to the
king's affairs； that you are brethren； and the sons of the father
whom you named； you will satisfy me of the truth of what you say；
if you leave one of your company with me； who shall suffer no
injury here； and if； when ye have carried corn to your father；
you will come to me again； and bring your brother； whom you say
you left there； along