The National tribune., 1894-04-12
SUNDAY MEDITATION,
A Study Of the International Sunday
School Lesson Appointed for April
%, 1894.

%, 1894
Subject: Joseph Exalted to be Governor of
Egypt. Gen., Ill 3S-4S.
Zone reading these notes should first carefully
study the paragraph from the Holy Scriptures as
indicated aboye.i
INTRODUCTION.
In our last lesson Joseph was II years
Old Then his brothers sold him to some
merchants for 20 pieces of silver. They
took him to Egypt and sold him to Potiphar.
The price is not given. They probably made
some money in the transaction. Perhaps
they sold him for 80 pieces of silver, the
same paid to Judas for Christ Joseph lived
10 years with Potiphar, six years as slave
and four years as an overseer The personal
appearance of Joseph was very beautiful.
50 6. When he was 81 years old false charges
were made against him of an assault OH
Potiphar's wife. He was put in prison and
remained three years; one year probably in
solitude and two years as a jailer. He had
two prominent prisoners with him. the but
Ter and the baker of Pharaoh. Both had
dreams which Joseph interpreted. The
butler regained liberty, but the baker was
executed. Joseph gained Eepute as dream
interpreter. Pharaoh had terrible dream,
which none of his wise men could explain.
He heard of Joseph and at once sent word
to him to come to the palace and interpret
the dream. Here our lesson opens up. The
dreams have been explained. The land of
Egypt was to pass through q fearful ordeal.
The best of management would be necessary.
There was a call for just the right man to
meet the emergency. Who could be found?
Time.
Joseph was born A. NJ 1853 He was II
years old when sold Was with Potiphar 10
years and a prisoner three years. Hence he
was 80 years old when elevated TO be ruler
of all Egypt Al 16. He had not seen his
father for 10 years. Jacob was 121 years
old when Joseph was 80. The events of the
lesson occurred in the year 2289 A. NJ, or
17l5 3. c., or 5000 years ago.
Place
We find ourselves at Heleopolis, in Egypt.
Heleopois was also named On. 1t was call
ed The City of the Sun. 1t is on the east
side of the Nile, 90 miles from Memphis,
nine miles northeast of Cairo.
Joseph.
The name means He may add, and some
think it was prophecy of the birth of Ben
w Hcu Htilt " tiC
exalted position of ruler of all Egypt he
gave him a new name, Zaphnath- paaneah. 1t
is the general opinion that the Egyptian
name means, the sustainer of life, the bread
of life So Rossellini, Delitszch, Lepsius.
Remembering how Joseph preserved food for
the seven years of want, we see great fitness
III the name.
Joseph became Lord Chancellor or High
Treasurer, or Chief Justice, or Grand Yizier.
Some hold he took Potiphar's place, but with
greatly magnlfied power.
To increase still further the influence of
Joseph, Pharaoh gave him an Egyptian wife.
As Jew such a marriage would seem of
fensive, but his circumstances were very
peculiar. His wife was Asenath, daughter
of Potipherah, the priest of On.
Definitions of Words and Phrases.
l. In the eyes of. 81. In the opinion Of
g The thing. 81: The proposition to
store food for seven years. Read verses 80
IS. Verse "a shows that he was also to select
subordinates.
s. Good. 81. Reasonable prudent, wise,
adequate to the demand OF the times.
-. H. In whom the Spirit of God is. SO.
Joseph never claimed to know secrets, the
Interpretation of dreams, etc, by his own
power. Pharaoh recognizes the deity of
Joseph's God.
5. Discreet and wise. 80. Able to per-
ceive the way to plan and wise in execution.
Discreet, in It's latin origins, points to an
alyses, the taking things apart and Judging
of them. A discreet man sees q fact in all
its Distinguishes best means of avoiding
difficulties and the best measures for effect
ing any enterprise.
. 6. Ring. A. 1t probably contained the
royal signet, which must be impressed on
all governmental documents. Josephus
CAN'T. 9, 5, y styles it the seal. Names were
not anciently written. They were inscribed
on signeis. Ink was put on the letters of
the sgnet, and thus the name transferred
and impressed. To pass such ring to an
other was to delegate the power of the owner.
A lady, J. b. b., in Rochester Democrat
and Chronicle, said: {" You remember where
Joseph used Pharaoh's seal ring, and also
where Ahasueras gave his seal ring to Nor
decai, and the signature was of more value
than a written one. 1t is so still, and our
dragoman, who speaks English quite well,
but can neither read nor write it, has 4 seal
ring that he puts little ink on and signs his
contracts with. Many things strike me rs
curious"
Dir j. u. Wilkinson describes an Egyptian
royal signet: at consisted of a massive
ring, half an inch in its largest diameter,
having an obIong plinth, on which the de-
vices were engraved, one inch long, six-tenths
in its greatest and four-tenths in its smallest
breadth On the face was the name of
king, the successor of Amunoph Ill, who
lived 1460 b. c., not long after the death of
Joshua; on the other lion, with the words,
Lord of strength /; on the one side scor-
piOn and on the other crocodile"
Z. Vestures. AZ. Persons in the East
dress according to rank. Egyptian linen
was made of finest quality. 1t has been
called woven air" More than 400 threads
have been counted in square inch. Jo-
sephus amt, 2, s. y says Pharaoh permitted
Joseph to wear purple, the royal color.
8. Gold chain about the neck. az. This
was a mark of authority as well as ornament
In the time when Henry VIII. ruled, nobody
whose income was less than $1,000 per year
could wear a necklace, The Puritans abol-
ished necklaces as being too ornamental.
1. Badge of office.
Il. Union.
Chain. q Symbol of 2. Dependence.