voice of consolation, saying, "I will go down into the grave, unto my son, mourning.” On the arrival of the Ishmaelites in Egypt, Joseph was sold to an officer of the king's guard, named Potiphar, in whose service he conducted himself with such decorum and integrity, that the whole affairs of the house were soon entrusted to his management. He had passed. some years in this situation, when Potiphar's wife, captivated by his comeliness and accomplishments, endeavoured to seduce him into the crime of adultery, and, after several fruitless attempts, accosted him in so passionate and immodest a manner, that Joseph fled abruptly from her presence, leaving his upper garment, by which she strove to detain him, in her hands. Fired with indignation at this repulse, she immediately resolved to ruin the virtuous youth; and accordingly, having assembled all her domestics, impudently charged him with having insulted her in an unpardonable manner, and produced the garment as a confirmation of her malicious assertions. Potiphar, coming home soon afterward, was easily persuaded to revenge the supposed outrage, and caused the innocent Hebrew to be immediately confined in the king's prison. B. C. Notwithstanding this ill requital of his extraor 1716. dinary fidelity, Joseph still adhered strictly to the worship of his Creator, and the regular practice of those virtues which had rendered him odious to his narrow minded brethren. This exemplary conduct, toge ther with the uncommon prudence that he manifested, on all occasions, soon gained the esteem of the Egyptian gaoler, who treated him with all the kindness that his situation would permit, and even entrusted him with the care of his fellow prisoners. Two of these men, D the king's chief butler and baker, told Joseph some remarkable dreams, which he readily interpreted, and even predicted the exact time when they should be fulfilled; observing that the butler should, within three days, be restored to his former employment, but that the baker should, at the same time, be condemned to death. He then requested the former to use his interest at court for his liberation; relating the mournful story of his early captivity, the infamous behaviour of his late mistress, and what else appeared most likely to interest the compassion of his auditor. At the predicted time Pharaoh's servants were called from the prison, when the baker, according to Joseph's assertion, was sentenced to be hanged, and the butler was graciously pardoned, and reinstated in his honorary employment. The promise, however, which he had given to Joseph, was totally forgotten, and two years elapsed before the unfortunate Hebrew was taken from his melancholy confinement. B. C. About this time Pharaoh, king of Egypt, was 1714. much alarmed by two remarkable dreams; in one of which he beheld seven fat cows grazing on the banks of the Nile, but these were soon attacked and devoured by seven others, lean and ill-favoured, which seemed to be neither larger nor fatter in consequence of their repast; and in the other he saw seven full ears of corn devoured by seven that were thin, and blasted with the east wind. These dreams being considered as portentous of some eventful occurrence, immediate recourse was had to the Egyptian sooth-sayers and magicians, but none of them could return a satisfactory answer, till Joseph, being suddenly recollected by the butler, and sent for by Pharaoh, explained them to this effect. "The seven good kine are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years: the dream is one. And the seven thin and ill-favoured kine that came up after them are seven years; and the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind shall be seven years of famine. This is the thing which I have spoken unto Fnáraoh. What God is about to do he showeth unto the king. Behold there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt: and there shall arise after them seven years of famine, and all the plenty shall be forgotten, and the famine shall consume the land. And for that the dream was repeated to Pharaoh, it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass." Joseph, having thus clearly interpreted these singular dreams, advised the king to appoint a discreet minister over his whole dominions, who might erect granaries and send officers into every province to lay up a fifth part of all the produce of the seven plentiful years, as a resource against the time of famine. This proposal was highly applauded both by Pharaoh and his counsellors, and, after some consultation, it was agreed that Joseph himself should be empowered to carry it into execution. He was, accordingly, appointed overseer of Pharaoh's house; the king gave him his own signet off his finger; vestures of fine linen and golden ornaments were instantly brought to adorn his person; the name of Zaphnath-paaneah, or "a revealer of secrets," was bestowed upon him in consideration of his uncommon wisdom; and he was allowed to ride in the second chariot of state, while the attendants who ran before it cried "Bow the knee." The daughter of Potipherah, priest of On, was also bestowed upon him in marriage, that a splendid al liance, together with the royal favor, might ensure the esteem, and prompt obedience, of all ranks of the Egyptians. The pious son of Jacob, being thus suddenly delivered from his afflictions, and raised to such an enviable height of power, applied himself sedulously to his new employment; and, having made a progress through the whole kingdom, arranged all things with such exquisite judgment and coherence, that before the expiration of the plentiful years, his granaries were filled above numbering. During this time his domestic felicity was greatly increased by the birth of two sons, the first of whom he named Manasseh, intimating, that God had made him forget all his toil; and the other he called Ephraim, because," said he, "God hath rendered me fruitful in the land of my affliction." The seven plentiful years were no sooner expired than the predicted famine began to appear, not only in Egypt, but also in Canaan and the adjacent nations. As soon therefore as its effects began to be felt, Joseph opened his stores, and commanded that corn should be sold, both to the Egyptians and to foreigners, who flocked to him from all the neighbouring countries. " In this posture of affairs, the family of Jacob seems to have suffered much inconvenience, till the patriarch, hearing of the admirable precaution which had been taken in Egypt, dispatched ten of his sons thither, to purchase corn, keeping only Benjamin, his youngest favorite, at home. Upon their arrival they were directed to the governor for an order, and, prostrating themselves before him, earnestly petitioned that he would permit them to purchase. grain for their subsistence. Joseph, recognizing the features of his brethren, and beholding the accomplishment of one of his dreams in their present behaviour, assumed a severe look, and demanded, in an angry tone, whence they came; intimating a slirewd suspicion that they were spies, who came to discover the weakness of the land. Terrified at this accusation, they submissively assured him, that they were all one man's sons; that they resided in the land of Canaan; and that they had left a younger brother with their aged parent, who had been blessed with another besides, but he was now no more. Upon this declaration, Joseph observed that they had now an opportunity of proving their integrity, by fetching their youngest brother; and that, unless one of them were deputed for this purpose, while the rest remained in custody, he should be convinced of their treasonable designs, and should punish them accordingly. With this threat the sons of Israel were sent to prison, and kept in a dreadful state of anxiety for three days; but at the expiration of that time, Joseph sent for them, and proposed that one only should remain a prisoner with him, whilst the rest returned with provision to their family, and, at the same time, promised that, on the appearance of their youngest brother, he should be delivered up safe, and they should have free permission to traffic in the land. He then caused Simeon, who had probably been one of his most implacable enemies, to be bound before their eyes, and sent back to prison, whilst * He dreamed that he and his brethren were employed in binding sheaves in a field of wheat, when his sheaf arose and stood upright, and those of his brethren prostrated themselves before it. At another time, he dreamed that the sun, moon, and eleven stars, made obeisance to him in a similar manner. |