What was the significance of the river in the dream? Why did Pharaoh dream specifically about cows and ears of grain?
Ramban, Da'as Zekenim: Since the river constituted the Egyptians' sole water supply, abundance on the one hand, and hunger on the other, depended on it. Consequently, the cows represented plowing, and the ears, harvesting. 1
Riva citing Bechor Shor: Had he dreamed only about cows, this could refer to weak nations overpowering strong ones. Had he dreamed only about ears, we would not learn about the satiation being totally forgotten. 2
Malbim: The Egyptians deified the river and believed in the power of cattle and worshipped cows, 3 for satiation and grain come from the river and cattle, these were Simanim of satiation.
Ramban: We learn this from Bereishis 45:6. See Ramban.
This is like they hold, that the bad ears merely covered the good ones - refer to 41:7:151:1 (PF). But Gur Aryeh (to 41:4) implies that on the contrary, it is because ears of grain do not "eat" that the meaning of the dream became clear (refer to 41:30:1.2:1).
I do not know his source that they worshipped cattle. The Torah says only Tzon (46:34)! (PF)
What is the significance of the cows' good looks?
Rashi: It signifies the years of plenty, 1 when people look at each other with a pleasant countenance (without an Ayin ha'Ra).
Gur Aryeh: Is Rashi giving away the dream's interpretation? In fact, Yosef did not even address this aspect of the dream in his interpretation (see below, 41:26), because the meaning of their good appearance is obvious. Rashi inserts it here.
In Pharaoh's dream it says, "Yefos Mar'eh u'Veri'os Basar." Why, when he related the dream to Yosef, did he say "Beri'os Basar vi'Yefos To'ar" (41:18)?
Oznayim la'Torah: As is the way of people who follow their eyes, he gave precedence to looks before beneficial use (more meat). 1 But after he was shaken by the dream, 2 he became more realistically inclined.
Ha'amek Davar (to 41:18): Regarding people, e.g. Rachel and Yosef, Yefe To'ar is the shape of the face, and Yefe Mar'eh is the complexion. We can say similarly about animals. The added volume due to a fetus gives a nicer To'ar to an animal (Bava Kama 49a), apart from the added meat, Yefe Mar'eh is the color. Here the good appearance of the skin alludes to success also in selling the excess grain to other countries. Below, pregnancy alludes to influence on others, just like a pregnant cow gives birth and nurses. 3
They grazed "ba'Achu;" what does this mean?
Rashi: 'In the marsh.'
Ramban #2: "Achu" is a mixture of grass and vegetation that grows beside the river; it is named "Achu' (from the word Achvah - brotherhood), due to the variety of grasses that grow together.
Rashbam: 'A location where grass grows.'
Targum Yonasan: "Among the reeds" (canes).
Ramban: Perhaps it can also refer to the marshland (like Rashi, refer to 41:2:3:1); and the grass is called after the marsh where it grows.
Ha'amek Davar: This was a sign that the abundance would be only in Egypt, i.e. near the river, like the Ramban said. (The Ramban learns from "b'Chol Eretz Mitzrayim" (41:29). How can this all be near the river? Egypt is 400 Parsah (about 1600 kilometers) by 400 Parsah (Pesachim 94a)! - PF)
Why does the Torah not mention that the lean cows too, grazed there?
Why are there two expressions to describe the good cows, "Yefos Mar'eh u'Veri'os Basar;" and also for the bad cows - "Ra'os Mar'eh v'Dakos Basar" (41:3)?
Kol Eliyahu: Ra'av and Kafan are different - "b'Ra'av Padcha mi'Maves... l'Shod ul'Chafan Tischak." 1 Ra'av is when the land does not produce good grain. Kafan is when it produced good grain, but Hashem made that it does not satiate. Yefos Mar'eh u'Veri'os Basar" hints to good produce that satiates; "Ra'os Mar'eh v'Dakos Basar" is the opposite in both ways.
Why does it say, "... from the river came out..."? It should say "seven cows came out from..."!
Ohr ha'Chayim: The cows were created in the river. This helped Pharaoh to realize at the time that it is a dream. It also showed that the abundance and famine will be from the river.
