The following table is based on Samuel Emadi, From Prisoner to Prince: The Joseph Story in Biblical Theology (New Studies in Biblical Theology 59; London: Apollos, 2022), 110-11:
|
|
Genesis 41 |
Daniel 2 |
|
1 |
Pharaoh’s dream occurs two
years after Joseph’s incarceration (41:1) |
Nebuchadnezzar’s dream occurs
two years into his reign (Dan 2:1) |
|
2 |
‘Pharaoh had a dream’ (41:1) |
‘Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams’
(2:1) |
|
3 |
Pharaoh’s spirit was troubled (41:8) |
Nebuchadnezzar’s spirit was
troubled (2:10 |
|
4 |
Pharaoh calls for his magicians
(41:8) and Egypt’s wise men to interpret his dream |
Nebuchadnezzar calls for his
magicians (2:2), satraps, and enchanters, who are later called ‘wise ones of
Babel’ to interpret (2:12) his dream |
|
5 |
‘Pharaoh recounted to them his
dreams’ (41:8) |
‘The king gave orders . . . to
tell the king his dreams’ (2:2) |
|
6 |
Professionals are unable to
interpret Pharaoh’s dream (41:8) |
Professionals are unable either
to declare or interpret Nebuchadnezzar’s dream |
|
7 |
[New character introduction] |
[New character introduction] |
|
8 |
Joseph introduced to Pharaoh by
his ethnicity – a ‘Hebrew youth’ (41:12) |
Daniel introduced to Nebuchadnezzar
by his ethnicity – ‘a man among the exiles of Judah’ (2:25) |
|
9 |
‘Pharaoh sent and called for Joseph’
(41:14) |
‘Daniel went in and requested
of the king’ (2:16) |
|
10 |
‘They hurriedly brought [Joseph]’ |
‘Arioch, in haste brought
Daniel’ (2:25) |
|
11 |
Joseph is asked if he can
interpret the dream (41:15) |
Daniel is asked if he can declare
and interpret the dream (2:26) |
|
12 |
Joseph downplays his abilities and
attributes dream interpretations to God (41:16) |
Daniel downplays his abilities and
attributes dream interpretations to God (2:28-30) |
|
13 |
‘The dream is recounted by Pharaoh
to Joseph (41:17-24) |
The dream is recounted by
Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar (2;31-35) |
|
14 |
Joseph tells Pharaoh that his
dream is about what God will do in the future (41:25) |
The interpretation is
recounted by Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar (2:37-44) |
|
15 |
The interpretation is
recounted by Joseph to Pharaoh (41;26-31) |
Daniel tells Nebuchadnezzar
that his dream is about what God will do in the future (2:45) |
|
16 |
The dream is ‘determined by
God, and God will quickly bring it about’ (41:32) |
‘The dream is true, and its
interpretation is trustworthy’ (2:45) |
|
17 |
Joseph is worshipped as a
result of his dream reporting (Gen 41:40, 43), receiving homage (‘Kneel!’)
from the people (41:40) |
Daniel is worshipped as a
result of his dream reporting (Dan. 2:46), receiving homage from Nebuchadnezzar
(2:46) |
|
18 |
Joseph is given gifts (41;42) |
Daniel is given gifts (2:48;
cf. 5;16, 29) |
|
19 |
Joseph is promoted to being a
ruler in a foreign land ‘over all the land of Egypt’ (41:41) |
Daniel is promoted to being a
ruler in a foreign land (2:48; cf. 5:16, 29) |