MOITOW.
Among the many advantages secured to pos terity by this interesting and admirable narrative regarding the patriarch Joseph, is an intimate ac quaintance (so far as it goes) with the state, at the time to which it refers, of civilization in Egypt. In the part at which we are now arrived, we read of the chief of the butlers ' and the chief of the bakers;' officers who vouch, by the duties which they had to discharge, for the advanced and com plex condition of society in which their services were required and supplied. How true and trust worthy, too, the Biblical narrative is, may be learned by an implication which is here offered. The head-butler had a dream in which he saw a vine. On the authority of Herodotus and others, it was long denied that the vine grew in Egypt ; and if so, the imagery of the butler's dream would hardly have been appropriate. Wilkinson, however, has shewn beyond a question that vines did grow in Egypt, and thus not only removed a doubt, but given a positive confirmation of the sacred record (Afazzners of the Anc. EDW. ii. 152).
The two regal officers just mentioned had, while in prison with Joseph, each one a dream, which Joseph interpreted correctly. The butler, whose fate was auspicious, promised the y-oung Hebrew to employ his influence to procure his restoration to the free air of day ; but when again in the enjoyment of his butlership," he forgat ' Joseph (xl.) Pharaoh himself, however, had two dreams, which found in Joseph a successful expounder ; for the butler remembered the skill of his prison companion, and advised his royal master to put it to the test in his own case. Pharaoh's dream, as interpreted by Joseph, foreboded the approach of a seven years' famine ; to abate the evils of which Joseph recommended that some 'discreet and wise' man should be chosen and set in full power over the land of Egypt. The monarch was alarmed, and called a council of his advisers. The wisdom of Joseph was recognised as of divine origin and supererninent -mlue ; and the king and his ministers (whence it appears that the Egyptian monarchy— at Memphis—was not despotic, but constitutional) resolved that Joseph should be made (to borrow a term from Rome) Dictator in the approaching time of need. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Foras much as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art. Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled : only in the throne will I be greater than thou. See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. And Pharaoh took off his ring and put it upon Joseph's hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck ; and he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had ; and they cried be fore him, Bow the knee. 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. And Pharaoh called Joseph's name Zaphnath-paaneah (` saviour of the world ;' comp. Jablonsky, Oplisc. i. 207, sq.); and he gave him to wife Asenath, the daughter of Poti-pherah, priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt' (xli. 39, sv.) It has been sup posed that Joseph was taken into the priestly order, and thus ennobled. The Biblical narrative does not support this opinion, though it leaves it with out a doubt that in reality, if not in form as well, the highest trust and the proudest honours of the state were conferred on one so recently a Hebrew slave.
Seven years of abundance afforded Joseph op portunity to carry into effect such plans as secured an ample provision against the seven years of need.
The famine came, but it found a prepared people. The visitation did not depend on any mere local causes, for 'the famine was over all the face of the earth ;" and all countries came into Egypt to Joseph to buy corn' (ver. 56, 57). Among these customers appeared ten brethren, sons of the Hebrew Jacob. They had of necessity to appear before Joseph, whose licence for the purchase of com was indispensable. Joseph had probably expected to see them, and he seems to have formed a deli berate plan of action. His conduct has brought on him the always ready charges of those who would rather impeach than study the Bible, and even friends of that sacred book have hardly in this case done Joseph full justice (Niemeyer, Charakt.ii. 366; Heuser, Dist. non inhzemaniter sed prud'entissime 7osephum cum fratribus fe eirse, Hal. 1773). Joseph's main object appears to have been to make his brothers feel and recog nise their guilt in their conduct towards him. For this purpose suffering, then as well as now, was indispensable. Accordingly Joseph feig-ned not to Imow his brothers, charged them with being spies, threatened them with imprisonment, and allowed them to return home to fetch their younget brother, as a proof of their veracity, only on condi tion that one of them should remain behind in chains, with a prospect of death before him should not thcir words be verified. Then it was, and not before, that 'they said one to another, We are verily guilty concerning our brother, in that we saw the ang,uish of his soul and would not hear ; there fore is this distress come upon us. And Reuben said, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child, and ye would not hear ? there fore, behold also his blood is required' 21). On which, after weeping bitterly, he by common agreement bound his brother Simeon, and left hirr in custody. How deeply concerned Joseph ww for his family, how true and affectionate a heart II( had, may be learned from the words which escap( from the brothers in their entreaty that Jacot would allow Benjamin to go into Egypt, as re quired by Joseph : 'The man asked us straitly o our state and of our kindred, saying, Is your fatho yet alive ? have ye another brother ?' (xliii. 7). Ai length Jacob consents to Benjamin's going in corn. pany with his brothers : 'And God Almighty give yot mercy before the man, that he may send away you] other brother, and I3enjamin. If I be bereaved o my children, I am bereaved' (ver. 14.). Thus pro vided, with a present consisting of balm, honey spices and myrrh, nuts and almonds, and witt double money in their hands (double, in order thai they might repay the sum which Joseph had causec to be put into each man's sack at their departure: if, as Jacob supposed, 'it was an oversight '), the) went again down to Egypt and stood before Josept Will. 15); and there, too, stood Benjamin, Joseph' beloved brother. The required pledge of truthful ness was given. If it is asked why such a pledgc was demanded, since the giving of it caused pair to Jacob, the answer may be thus • Joseph knem not how to demean himself towards Ins family untf he ascertained its actual condition. That know ledge he could hardly be certain he had gained from the mere words of men who had spared his life only to sell himself into slavery. How hhcl these wicked men behaved towards his venerable father? His beloved brother Benjamin, was he safe ? or had he suffered from their jealdusy and malice the worse fate with which he himself had been threAtennd ? Nothing but the sight of Ben jamin could answer these questions and resolve these doubts.