Genesis 40. Joseph Interprets Two Prisoners’ Dreams

Joseph Interprets Two Prisoners’ Dreams

• There is a lot of repetition of words and phrases in chapter 40
• God speaks to non-believers in dreams more than believers in the Bible

Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt. ² And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, ³ and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined. 

• I wonder what the baker and cupbearer did??

⁴ The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them. They continued for some time in custody.

• Remember that Joseph was now in charge of the prisoners (being a prisoner himself!)

⁵ And one night they both dreamed—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison—each his own dream, and each dream with its own interpretation. ⁶ When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. ⁷ So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, “Why are your faces downcast today?” 

• I like that Joseph was able to notice their sadness, even though he himself was probably suffering.

⁸ They said to him, “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.”

• Joseph tells the cupbearer and baker that interpretations belong to God- in Egypt they would have had many ‘gods’ that they believed dreams were tied to – this was a bold monotheistic claim. He also mentions God (Elohim) to Potiphar’s wife. People know who he worships.

 ¹¹ Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” ¹² Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. ¹³ In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer. ¹⁴ Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. ¹⁵ For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.”

• Summary of cupbearer dream:
  • Vine with 3 branches. It buds, blossoms, and it’s clusters turn into grapes. The grapes are squeezed into Pharaoh’s cup.
  • Interpretation: In 3 days Pharaoh will give him his job back

¹⁸ And Joseph answered and said, “This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days. ¹⁹ In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you.”

• Summary of baker dream:
  • The baker carried 3 baskets of baked goods on his head.Birds came and ate the bread from the top basket.
  • Interpretation: he will be hung and birds will eat his flesh.
• Why does Joseph phrase it like this to the baker: In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a tree. (Hebrew is similar). I wonder if he did a dramatic pause?

²⁰ On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. ²¹ He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. ²² But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. ²³ Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

• So was the butler innocent and the baker guilty? Or was did the butler serve his time? Or did Pharaoh just want someone to serve him wine on his birthday?
• Could Joseph had asked someone to remind the butler in the 2 years that he was in prison?