Genesis 41:1

1 It happened at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.

Genesis 41:1 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 41:1

And it came to pass at the end of two full years
It is not a clear case, as Aben Ezra observes, from whence these years are to be reckoned, whether from the time of Joseph's being put into prison, or from the time that the chief butler was taken out of it; the latter seems more probable, and better connects this and the preceding chapter: that Pharaoh dreamed, and, behold, he stood by the river;
it seemed to him, in his dream, as if he stood near the river Nile, or some canal or flow of water cut out of that river.

Genesis 41:1 In-Context

1 It happened at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed: and, behold, he stood by the river.

2 Behold, there came up out of the river seven cattle, well-favored and fat-fleshed, and they fed in the reed-grass.

3 Behold, seven other cattle came up after them out of the river, ill-favored and lean-fleshed, and stood by the other cattle on the brink of the river.

4 The ill-favored and lean-fleshed cattle ate up the seven well-favored and fat cattle. So Pharaoh awoke.

5 He slept and dreamed a second time: and, behold, seven ears of grain came up on one stalk, rank and good.