To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his elders wisdom.
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Augustine of Hippo
AD 430
13. "The king sent and loosed him, the prince of the peoples, and let him go free" (ver. 20). The "king" is the same as "the prince of the peoples:" he "loosed" him from his bonds "and let him go free" from his prison. "He made him lord also of his house: and ruler of all his substance" (ver. 21). "That he might inform his princes like unto himself, and teach his old men wisdom" (ver. 22). The Greek hath, "and teach his elders wisdom." Which might altogether be rendered to the letter thus; "Might inform his princes like unto himself, and make his eiders wise." The word translated old men being presbyters or elders, not gerontas, old men: and to teach wisdom being from the Greek to sophize, which cannot be rendered by a single word in Latin, and is from the word sophia, wisdom, different from prudence, which is in Greek phronesis. Yet we do not read this in the high elevation of Joseph, as we read not of fetters in his low estate. But how could it happen that so great a man, the worship...
Instruct. Hebrew, "bind "by precepts or chains, (Berthier) as he had all power.
Wisdom. Joseph was considered as the oracle of Egypt, and the prime minister. (Calmet)
We cannot doubt but he would strive to undeceive the people with regard to many superstitions. (Theodoret) (St. Augustine)
