And Joseph said unto Pharaoh, The dream of Pharaoh is one: God hath shewed Pharaoh what he is about to do.
Joseph said ... The dream ... is one. They both pointed to the same event-a remarkable dispensation of seven years of unexampled abundance, to be followed by a similar period of unparalleled dearth. The characteristics of the supernatural were obvious in the number seven; and the repetition of the dream in two different forms was designed to show the absolute certainty and speedy arrival of this public crisis (cf. Job 40:5; Psalms 62:11; also Numbers 5:22).
What he is about to do ... The name God, not Yahweh, is used in speaking to foreigners and pagans. The calm and unpretending, yet confident manner of the interpreter, who, speaking of a dispensation extending over fourteen years, displayed the consciousness of a man gifted with higher prophetic foresight than that of mere natural sagacity, formed a most striking contrast to the bewildered and helpless magi. The interpretation was accompanied by several suggestions of practical wisdom for meeting so great an emergency as was impending.