Charles Ellicott Commentary Genesis 41:1

"And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river." — Genesis 41:1 (ASV)

Pharaoh dreamed.—After two years spent in prison, the time has now come for Joseph’s elevation to power; and it should be noted that this was not brought about by the methods by which men usually achieve greatness, such as statesmanship, or military skill; nor was it by accident, but according to Biblical principle, by the direct intervention of Providence. Just as centuries later, Daniel rose to high office in Babylon when God made known to him the dream of Nebuchadnezzar; so here, the transplantation of Israel into Egypt was brought about by the revelation to Joseph of “what was to be hereafter.”

The river—Hebrew, Yeor, the Egyptian word for “great river.” It is the usual name in the Bible for the Nile, but is also used for the Tigris in Daniel 12:5-6, and for any large river in Job 28:10. The Pharaoh in whose reign Joseph became governor of Egypt is generally thought to have been Apophis, the most famous of the shepherd kings. However, Canon Cook, in his Essay, On the bearings of Egyptian History upon the Pentateuch, after carefully reviewing the whole subject, decides in favour of King Amenemha III, the greatest monarch of the noble twelfth dynasty, and the last king of all Egypt.