sight of King Pharao) and did circuit al the countries of Ægypt. 47And the fertilitie of the seuen yeares came: and the corne being bound vp into sheaues was gathered together into the barnes of Ægypt. 48Al the aboundance also of graine was laid vp in euerie citie. 49And there was so great aboundance of wheat, that it became equal to the sand of the sea, and the plentie exceeded measure. 50And there were borne vnto Ioseph two sonnes before the famine came: whom Aseneth the daughter of Putiphar Priest of Heliopolis bare him. 51And he called the name of the first-begotten Obliuion.* Manasses, saying: God made me to forget al my labours, and my fathers house. 52The name also of the second he called Fruitful or Growing.* Ephraim, saying: God hath made me to encrease in the land of my pouertie. 53Therfore when the seuen yeares of the plentifulnes, that had been in Ægypt were passed: 54the seuen yeares of scarcitie began to come, which Ioseph foretold: and in the whole world the famine preuailed, but in al the land of Ægypt there was bread. 55The which being in hunger, the people cried to Pharao, desiring food. To whom he answered: Goe ye to Ioseph: & whatsoeuer he shal say to you, that doe ye. 56And the famine dayly encreased in al the land: and Ioseph opened al the barnes, and sold to the Ægyptians: for them also the famine had opressed. 57And al Prouinces came into Ægypt, to buy victuals, and to moderate the miserie of the scarcitie.
ANNOTATIONS.
CHAP. XLI.
Holy Ioseph suddenly aduanced.43. Made Gouernour.) It is easie in the eyes of God, suddenly to enrich the poore. For who would haue thought (saith Philo)Eccl. 11. li. de Ioseph. that in one day a bondman should be made a Lord, a poore prisoner the chiefe of the nobilitie, an vnder-gaolor the Viceroy, or Kings deputie, for a common prisoner to haue a Kinglie court of his owne, from extreme ignominie, to ascend into so high a roome of dignitie?
45. Sauiour of the world.) In the original text the new name and title giuen by Pharao to Ioseph is expressed by these two wordes, Saphnath pahanaach: the former saphnath in Hebrew signifieth a secret or hidden thing, of saphan to hide: but the signification of the other word pahanaach, is more vncertaine, being found no where els in the holy Bible. Ioseph truly called the reuealer of secrets.The Rabins do commonly interprete them both together, The man to whom secrets are reuealed, or, The reuealer of secrets: and so this name agreeth wel to Ioseph, in respect of the guift of interpreting dreames. But besides his interpreting, he also gaue most wise counsel, that tended to the saftie of manie, which, it is like, Pharao ment to expresse by this new name. And S. Hierom, who doubtles with great diligence, and no lesse iudgement, searched the true signification therof, saith, that albeit this name in But more honourably, the Sauiour of the world.Hebrew soundeth The finder out of secrets, yet seing it was imposed by an Ægyptian (who knew no Hebrew) the reason therof must be had of the same tong; and these two words in the Ægyptian language are interpreted The Sauiour of the world; for that he deliuered the world from the imminent ruine of famine. Therein a figure of Christ.Thus saith S. Hierom. And so most aptly the figure answereth to Christ, the true Sauiour of the world.
