9
¶ Then spake the chief butler unto
Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day: 10 Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put
me in ward in the captain of the guard’s house, both me and the chief baker:
11 And we dreamed a dream in one night,
I and he; we dreamed each man according to the interpretation of his dream. 12 And there was there with us a young man, an
Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he
interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did
interpret. 13 And it came to pass, as he
interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he
hanged. 14 Then Pharaoh sent and called
Joseph, and they brought him hastily out of the dungeon: and he shaved himself,
and changed his raiment, and came in unto Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I have dreamed
a dream, and there is none that can interpret it: and I have heard say of thee,
that thou canst understand a dream to interpret it. 16 And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is
not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace.
Now, after two years, the butler remembers Joseph. The
Pharaoh is desperate for an answer and ready to call this Hebrew prisoner to be
brought before him. Joseph probably didn’t just save his face in a bowl of
water with a razor. There is evidence that Egyptians shaved the hair on their
heads and face with razors and even some evidence that, at least the priests,
shaving their entire bodies. Lice was something that was disgusting to ancient
Egyptians, I have read, and this sanitary practice became a cultural practice
for those who were not desperately poor. Wigs were very popular among both men
and women and the Ebers Medical Papyrus gives us information about such details
as how they made soap.(48)
Joseph’s answer to Pharaoh is significant in that he
acknowledges that the interpretation of a dream is not in him but from God. God
will put Pharaoh’s heart at rest regarding the meaning of the dream. See
1Chronicles 22:9 and Isaiah 62:1 for peace and rest and quietness as synonyms.
Pharaoh’s troubled heart can only be calmed by God and Joseph says God will do
it.
(48)Numerous sources talk about this. Here is one
website among other; http://www.reshafim.org.il/ad/egypt/timelines/topics/hair.htm
(accessed 4.4.2017).
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