Genesis 41:2 - Clarke's commentary and critical notes on the Bible

And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well favoured kine and fatfleshed; and they fed in a meadow. There came up out of the river seven well-favored kine - This must certainly refer to the hippopotamus or river horse, as the circumstances of coming up out of the river and feeding in the field characterize that animal alone. The hippopotamus is the well-known inhabitant of the Nile, and frequently by night comes out of the river to feed in the fields, or in the sedge by the river side.