What is the significance of the fact that the seven good ears of grain grew on one stalk?
Ramban: It was a sign that the seven years of plenty would be consecutive.
Rashbam: It was a sign of the extent of the plenty, inasmuch as that, for every grain that was planted, seven stalks grew.
Moshav Zekenim: The good years will be equally good. The bad ears did not grow on one stalk, for one was worse than the previous.
Ha'amek Davar: The plenty will be only in Egypt. The bad ears grew on seven stalks, to teach that the Batzores 1 (lack) of grain will be scattered (i.e. also) outside Egypt. 2
It seems that a letter is missing, and this is the correct text. (PF)
Ha'amek Davar: We find (41:50, 43:1) that in other lands there was scarcity - some of the people were hungry. However, normally the rich are satiated and the poor are hungry. Here it was opposite! The thin cows showed that only in Egypt, there will not be even things that normally animals eat (e.g. carobs and vetch), and in years of scarcity people eat them. Also outside of Egypt, including Eretz Yisrael, there will be no grain; the rich will need to buy from Egypt.
Why, when relating the dream, did Pharaoh change "Beri'os v'Tovos" to "Mele'os v'Tovos" (41:22)?
Oznayim la'Torah: If the kernels are healthy, then the stalks are full.
Ha'amek Davar: Refer to 41:22:151:1.
Why does the Torah repeat the dreams three times (when Pharaoh dreamed, when he told Yosef, and when Yosef interpreted them)?
Moshav Zekenim (to 41:16): The three mentions of seven bad cows and seven bad ears 1 allude to 42 years of famine for Egypt. There were two before Yaakov came, 2 and the other 40 were "paid" through exile (see Yechezkel 29:12).
Ha'amek Davar (to 41:17): There are subtle differences between the versions. There is an explanation for each detail.
How can we count both cows and ears? It was repeated to show that it will happen soon! Since it changed from cows to ears, we count both (Moshav Zekenim). This is unlike those who explain why he needed to dream about both of them - refer to 41:2:1:2. (PF)
Hadar Zekenim (to 41:27): Yosef said "Yihyu Sheva Shenei Ra'av" (ibid). This was a Tefilah that they only be seven. Yaakov prayed that they be only two.
Yosef said (41:32) that the dream was repeated because Hashem will do it soon. Are there other reasons?
Malbim #1: The second dream is the interpretation of the first. (The dream is a prophecy about what will grow from the ground.)
Malbim #2: This is one of five reasons why it is proper that the dream be fulfilled. The others are (a) it was interpreted in a (the second) dream; (b) Pharaoh did not sense that it is a dream until he woke; (c) it was a morning dream (refer to 41:8:154:1). (d) Pharaoh was very agitated due to it.
QUESTIONS ON RASHI
Rashi writes: "Kaneh - tudel (stalk)...." Why does Rashi need to translate this term into French?
Gur Aryeh: The term "Kaneh" usually means 'reed' [i.e. from a swamp]. Rashi gives an example in his vernacular, showing that it can also mean "stalk of grain;" this is what "Kaneh" means here.
Rashi writes: "Beri'os - seines (choice)...." Why does Rashi need to translate this term into French?
Gur Aryeh: The term 'Bari' usually means 'healthy' [i.e. not sick]. Rashi gives an example in his vernacular, showing that it can also mean "choice meat;" this is what "Bari" means here.
