Scene from the Old Testament. Joseph, one of the sons of Jacob, sold as a slave to the Egyptians by his brothers envy, is called to Pharaoh, because being haunted by a recurring dream that none of his soothsayers can give an explanation on the suggestion of the butler, is free Joseph from prison that he may give his interpretation. The dream is about seven fat cows eaten by seven lean cows and seven ears bulging beans eaten by seven ears burned and withered. By interpreting the dream with the help of God, Joseph predicts Pharaoh seven years of great plenty for Egypt, to be followed by seven years of famine and suggests to Pharaoh to reserve one-fifth of the grain during the period of abundance, and then use it in time of famine. The Pharaoh, impressed by the intelligence and skill of Joseph, he puts it in his confidence and appointed him vice-king of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh, that he realized what he suggested.
Width: 144 cm
Height: 116 cm
Oil painting on canvas
Genesis 41, 1-49:
The pharaoh dreamed of being at the Nile. And here, they came up from the river seven cows, fine-looking and fat, and they grazed among the reeds. And behold, after them came up from the Nile seven other cows, ugly and thin, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. The cows ugly and lean cows devoured the seven good-looking and fat. And Pharaoh awoke. Then he fell asleep and dreamed a second time; behold, seven ears growing on one stalk, plump and good. But after them, check here seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind. The thin ears devoured the seven plump and full ears. Pharaoh awoke, it was a dream.
In the morning his spirit was troubled, so he summoned all the magicians of Egypt and all its wise men. Pharaoh told them his dreams, but no one could interpret it to Pharaoh.
Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, "I have to remember my faults today. Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put them in prison in the house of the captain of the guard, both me and the chief baker. We had a dream the same night, he and I; but we had each having a dream with its own meaning. There was there with us a young jew servant of the captain of the guards; we told him our dreams and he interpreted them for us, giving each man the interpretation of his dream. And as he interpreted to us, so it happened: I was reinstated in my office, and the baker was hanged. "
And Pharaoh called Joseph. They made him hastily out of the underground; he had shaved and changed his clothes and stood before Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I had a dream, and no one can interpret it; I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it. " Joseph replied to Pharaoh, "Not I, but God will give the answer to the health of Pharaoh."
Then Pharaoh told Joseph, "In my dream I was standing on the bank of the Nile. And here, up out of the river seven cows, fat and beautiful, and they grazed among the reeds. And after them came up seven cows weak, very ugly, and thin; I had never seen for ugliness in all the land of Egypt. The lean, ugly cows ate up the first seven fat cows,. These came into their bellies, but did not notice that they had eaten them, because their appearance was as bad as before. And I woke up. Then I saw in the dream tick one stalk seven ears, full and good. But behold, after them sprouted seven ears dry, empty and blasted with the east wind. The thin ears devoured the seven good ears. I reported the dream to the magicians, but no one can give me an explanation. "
Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, "The dream of Pharaoh is one: God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. The seven good cows are seven years and the seven good ears are seven years: it is a single dream. The seven lean, ugly cows that came up after them represent seven years, and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind, represent seven years: seven years of famine. It is precisely what I said to Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what is going to do. Behold, there come seven years when there will be great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt. These arise seven years of famine; We will forget all the plenty in the land of Egypt, and the famine will ravage the land. There is no longer any trace of plenty that there had been in the land, because of the famine following, for it will be very tough. As for the fact that the Pharaoh's dream was repeated twice, it means that the thing is fixed by God and that God is quick to execute.
Pharaoh do you find an intelligent and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt. Let Pharaoh proceed to establish commissioners in the area, to pick up a fifth on the produce of the land of Egypt during the seven years of plenty. They gather all the food of these good years that are coming, and lay up corn under the authority of Pharaoh, and will hold the food in the cities. That food will be used to reserve land for the seven years of famine that will come in the land of Egypt; so that the land not perish through the famine. "
The proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his ministers. And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find a man like this, in whom is the spirit of God?". And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Since God has shown you all this, there is none intelligent and wise as you. You shall be my governor and your orders will line up all my people: only in the throne will I be greater than you. "
Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Behold, I have set you over the whole land of Egypt." And Pharaoh took off his hand the ring and placed it on Joseph's hand; He arrayed him in fine linen clothes and put a gold chain around his neck. He brought up his second chariot and people shouted before him, "Abrech." And so he set him over all the land of Egypt. Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, but without your permission no one shall raise his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt." And Pharaoh called Joseph Safnat-paneah and gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Potiphera, priest of Heliopolis. Joseph went to Egypt. Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
So Joseph went out from Pharaoh, and into all the land of Egypt. During the seven years of plenty the land produced abundantly. He gathered up all the food of the seven years of plenty that were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the cities: in every city the food of the surrounding countryside. Joseph laid up grain as the sand of the sea, very many, so that it all came over the inclusion, because it was beyond measure.
