called Joseph] The wicked seek to the Prophets of God in their necessitie, whom in their prosperitie they abhorre: but thus God doth promote his owne purpose by wicked men, though they think not of it: and this was to make Josephs humiliation a ladder of promotion, to make his enemies his friends, as his brethren were his enemies, and by means of dreams to enlarge, and advance him, who by occasion of his dreams was sold for a slave, and afterwards thrust down into the dungeon. out of the dungeon] The word is taken usually for the lowest place in the prison, but Joseph at this time was not there; (being ruler over the prisoners) or there not as a prisoner himself, but as overseeing the rest in that place; it may (by a Synecdoche of the part for the whole) be taken for the prison it selfe, as many Interpreters render the word in this place. he shaved himselfe, and changed &c.] Such as were in a condition of great distresse did usually neglect the ornament of the haire, and therefore suffered it to grow wild without cutting or trimming; but their state being changed, especially when they were to appeare in the presence of Kings or very great persons, they put themselves into a forme of decency both for their haire and habit of attire; for true pietie and civill decencie well suit together. It is therefore a grosse errour of some Popish Monks, who thinke they cannot seeme holy enough, unlesse they shew themselves slovens in their persons and apparell.