Genesis 40

AND it came to pass after these things, that the Butler of the King of Egypt, and his Baker, had offended their Lord the King of Egypt.

And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his Officers, against the chief of the Butlers, and against the chief of the Bakers.

And he put them in ward in the house of the Captain of the guard To wit Potiphar, Gen. 37. 36. who being informed by his underkeeper of Iosephs great care and faithfulness began to have a better opinion of him, though for his own quiet and his Wives reputation he left him still in the prison., into the prison, where Joseph was bound Was a Prisoner, as that word is used, Isa, 22. 3. For Ioseph, being now made Governour of the Prisoners, was doubtless freed from his bonds: Or, had been bound, and that with Irons in a cruel manner, Psal. 105. 18..

And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them, and they continued a season Heb. Days, i. e. either many days, or a year, as that word sometimes signifies, See Gen. 24. 55. in ward.

And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream (i. e.) Not a vain and idle dream, but one that had in it a signification of future things, and needed interpretation, and the several dreams were proper and agreeable to the several events which befell them, and to the several interpretations which Ioseph put upon them, the dream and interpretation did fitly answer one to the other., the Butler and the Baker of the King of Egypt, which were bound in the prison.

And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and behold, they were sad Perplexed and terrified both because they perceived the dream was extraordinary and sent from God, compare Gen. 41. 8. Dan. 2. 1. Matth. 27. 19. and because they understood not the meaning of it..

And he asked Pharaohs Officers that were with him in the ward of his Lords house, saying, wherefore look ye so sadly to day?

And they said unto him, we have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it To wit, with us, or to whom we can now resort; for otherwise there were many in Egypt of that profession, chap. 41. 8.. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God In vain do you expect such things from your wisemen, for it is only that God who sends these dreams that can interpret them, and to him you should seek for it.? tell me Who am the servant of the true God, who useth to communicate his secrets to his people, and who, I doubt not, will he... r my prayers for this mercy. This he spoke by special direction and instinct from God, who had given this gift to him. them, I pray you.

And the chief Butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me.

And in the vine were three branches, and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth, and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes.

And Pharaohs cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaohs cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaohs hand.

And Joseph said unto him. This is the interpretation of it, the three branches are (i. e.) Signifie. So that word is oft used, as ver. 18. and 41. 26, 27. Dan. 2. 38. and 4. 22. Matth. 13. 19, 38 and 26. 26, 28. Luk. 8. 11. 1 Cor. 10. 4. And indeed there is no proper Hebrew word which answers to signifie., three days.

Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head (i. e.) Advance thee to thy former dignity. So that phrase is used 2 King. 25. 27. Psal. 110. 7. Or, r... kon thy... ead, i. e. thy name or thy person, to wi..., among his servants, which is added ver. 20. According to the custom, which was this; At set times Governours of Families used to take an account of their servants, and to have the names of their servants read to them, and they either lest them in the catalogue or put any of them out, as they saw fit, and in... licted such further punishments upon any of them as they deserved. This seems the truer interpretation, because it is said that Pharaoh lifted up the head of his Butler, and o... his Baker, ver. 20. and therefore the phrase must be so expounded as to agree equally to both., and restore thee unto thy place, and thou shalt deliver Pharaohs cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his Butler.

But think on me, when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house Though he patiently endures his prison, yet he prudently useth all lawful means to get his freedom..

For indeed I was stollen away Taken away by force and fraud without my own or Fathers consent. out of the land of the Hebrews Out of the land of Canaan, which he might call the Land of Hebrews, either because they now... welt in it, or by way of protestation of their right and claim to it by Gods gift. Or rather thus, out of that part of Canaan where the Hebrews dwell: For the word Land is not only spoken of whole Countries, as of the whole Land of Canaan, but of any parts or parcels thereof, as Gen. 13. 6. and 22. 2. and 23. 15. and 34. 1., and here also have I done nothing Observe, that Ioseph does not accuse either his brethren or his mistress, but only asserts his own innocency, which was necessary for his deliverance., that they should put me into the dungeon.

When the chief Baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and behold, I had three white So called from the colour either of the baskets, which were made of pilled and so white twigs, or of the things contained in them as white bread, &c. baskets on my head.

And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bake-meats for Pharaoh, and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.

And Joseph answered, and said, This is the interpretation thereof: the three baskets are three days:

Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from This clause is industriously added here to the former phrase, to show that it was now meant in another sense, He shall indeed lift up thy head, as well as the chief Bakers, but in another manner, not for thee, but from thee, or so as to take away thy head or thy Life (which eminently consists and appears in the head) from thee. off thee: and shall hang thee on a tree, and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.

And it came to pass the third day which was Pharaohs birth-day Which by persons of eminency then was and since has usually been celebrated with feasting and rejoycing., that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief Butler, and of the chief Baker among his servants.

And he restored the chief Butler unto his butlership again, and he gave the cup into Pharaohs hand.

But he hanged the chief Baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them.

Yet did not the chief Butler remember Joseph, but forgat him (i. e.) Neglected him and his desire, as men in Scripture are oft said to forget God when they do not remember him so as to love and obey him. as Psal. 106. 13, 21. Hos. 2. 13..