Aggada -- Translations into English; Bible. Old Testament -- Legends; Jewish legends; Midrash -- Translations into English
To all these the king narrated his dreams, but none could interpret
them to his satisfaction. Some said that the seven fat kine were the
seven legitimate kings that would rule over Egypt, and the seven lean
kine betokened seven princes that would rise up against these seven
kings and exterminate them. The seven good ears of corn were the seven
superior princes of Egypt that would engage in a war for their
overlord, and would be defeated by as many insignificant princes, who
were betokened by the seven blasted ears.
Another interpretation was that the seven fat kine were the seven
fortified cities of Egypt, at some future time to fall into the hands
of seven Canaanitish nations, who were foreshadowed in the seven lean
kine. According to this interpretation, the second dream supplemented
the first. It meant that the descendants of Pharaoh would regain
sovereign authority over Egypt at a subsequent period, and would subdue
the seven Canaanitish nations as well.
There was a third interpretation, given by some: The seven fat kine are
seven women whom Pharaoh would take to wife, but they would die during
his lifetime, their loss being indicated by the seven lean kine.
Furthermore, Pharaoh would have fourteen sons, and the seven strong
ones would be conquered by the seven weaklings, as the blasted ears of
corn in his dream had swallowed up the rank ears of corn.
And a fourth: "Thou wilt have seven sons, O Pharaoh, these are the
seven fat kine. These sons of thine will be killed by the seven
powerful rebellious princes. But then seven minor princes will come,
and they will kill the seven rebels, avenge thy descendants, and
restore the dominion to thy family."
The king was as little pleased with these interpretations as with the
others, which he had heard before, and in his wrath he ordered the wise
men, the magicians and the scribes of Egypt, to be killed, and the
hangmen made ready to execute the royal decree.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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