From prison to responsibility

“And it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow.” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill favoured and leanfleshed; and stood by the…” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the ill favoured and leanfleshed kine did eat up the seven well favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke.” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good.” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind sprung up after them.” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream.” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And it came to pass in the morning that his spirit was troubled; and he sent and called for all the magicians of…” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day:” Naming Pharaoh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard’s house, both me and the chief…” Naming Pharaoh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And there was there with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he…” Naming Hebrew keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged.” This familiar narrative signal moves the clock forward. What follows is a new scene, consequence, or answer to an earlier tension.

“Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself, and…” Naming Pharaoh and Joseph keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of…” Naming Joseph and Pharaoh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river:” Naming Joseph and Pharaoh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow:” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and leanfleshed, such as I never saw in…” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the lean and the ill favoured kine did eat up the first seven fat kine:” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And when they had eaten them up, it could not be known that they had eaten them; but they were still ill favoured, as…” The line’s distinctive content terms include eaten, awoke, beginning. Its relationship to verses 20 and 22 shows what work it does in this passage.

“And I saw in my dream, and, behold, seven ears came up in one stalk, full and good:” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And, behold, seven ears, withered, thin, and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them:” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the thin ears devoured the seven good ears: and I told this unto the magicians; but there was none that could…” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.” The number one makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one.” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the seven thin and ill favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“This is the thing which I have spoken unto Pharaoh: What God is about to do he sheweth unto Pharaoh.” Naming Pharaoh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt:” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And there shall arise after them seven years of famine; and all the plenty shall be forgotten in the land of Egypt…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the plenty shall not be known in the land by reason of that famine following; for it shall be very grievous.” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will…” Naming Pharaoh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt.” Naming Egypt and Pharaoh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Let Pharaoh do this, and let him appoint officers over the land, and take up the fifth part of the land of Egypt in…” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And let them gather all the food of those good years that come, and lay up corn under the hand of Pharaoh, and let…” Naming Pharaoh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And that food shall be for store to the land against the seven years of famine, which shall be in the land of Egypt…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And the thing was good in the eyes of Pharaoh, and in the eyes of all his servants.” Naming Pharaoh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?” The question slows the passage down. Notice who is being pressed to answer, what the question assumes, and whether the next lines provide a response.

“And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou…” Naming Forasmuch keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt.” Naming Egypt and Joseph keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen…” Naming Joseph and Pharaoh keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And he made him to ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried before him, Bow the knee: and he made him…” Naming Bow and Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“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…” The command cannot be understood from the verb alone. Its recipient, purpose, and place in the larger covenant or argument define the responsibility.

“And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnath-paaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest…” Naming Joseph and Asenath keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of…” The number thirty makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And in the seven plenteous years the earth brought forth by handfuls.” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And he gathered up all the food of the seven years, which were in the land of Egypt, and laid up the food in the…” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Joseph gathered corn as the sand of the sea, very much, until he left numbering; for it was without number.” Naming Joseph keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Poti-pherah priest…” The number two makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my…” Naming Joseph keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.” Naming Ephraim keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the seven years of plenteousness, that was in the land of Egypt, were ended.” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And the seven years of dearth began to come, according as Joseph had said: and the dearth was in all lands; but in all…” The number seven makes the report concrete. Ask whether it measures time, people, distance, repetition, or completeness before deciding what weight it carries.

“And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the…” Naming Pharaoh and Egypt keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians…” Naming Egypt and Egyptians keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.

“And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.” Naming Egypt and Joseph keeps the account rooted in particular people or places. Follow where the name returns and what changes around it.