John Gill Commentary Genesis 41

And it came to pass at the end of two full years It is not a clear case, as Aben Ezra observes, from whence these years are to be reckoned, whether from the time of Joseph's being put into prison, or from the time that the chief butler was taken out of it; the latter seems more probable, and better connects this and the preceding chapter.

that Pharaoh dreamed, and, behold, he stood by the river ; it seemed to him, in his dream, as if he stood near the river Nile, or some canal or flow of water cut out of that river.

And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured cows, and fatfleshed Seven cows or heifers, sleek, fat, and plump, goodly to look at; these seemed in the dream, as if they came out of the river, because they were fed with the fruits of the earth, which the overflowing of the river Nile, and its canals, produced: and they fed in a meadow ; adjoining to the river, where there was good pasture for them, and gives a reason of their being in so good a condition.

And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the
river, ill favoured, and leanfleshed
Thin and haggard, their bones stuck out, having scarce any flesh upon them, and made a wretched figure:and stood by the [other] kine ;
and looked so much the worse, when compared with them: upon the brink of the river;
it not being overflowed, so that there was no grass to be had, but just upon the bank, where these kept forthat purpose; for the fruitfulness of Egypt was owing to the river Nile; as that overflowed or did not, therewas plenty or famine; hence both these sorts of creatures came up out of that.

And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven
well favoured and fat kine
So it seemed in the dream as if this was done, was very strange and surprising that animals should devour one another; and especially that tame ones, cows or heifers, should eat those of their own species, which was never known to be done: so Pharaoh awoke through surprise at the strange sight he had in his dream.

And he slept, and dreamed the second time
He fell asleep again quickly, and dreamed another dream the same night, and to the same purpose, being much of the like kind with the former: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good ;
which were very uncommon even in those fruitful countries; though Dr. Shaw ^F5 observes of Barbary, which vied with Egypt for fruitfulness, that it sometimes happens that one stalk of wheat will bear two ears, while each of these ears will as often shoot out into a number of lesser ones, thereby affording a most plentiful increase.

FOOTNOTES:

• F5: Travels, p. 137. Ed. 2.