Genesis 40

The chief Cup-bearer and Baker of Pharao, are put in prison, and committed to Joseph, v. 1, etc. they dream each one his dream, which Joseph interprets, praying the cup-bearer, being restored to his place, according to his dream, to be mindful of him, 5. Joseph’s interpretation of both the prisoner’s dreams, is made good by the event: but the Cup-bearer forgets Joseph, 20.

1. And it happened after these things, that the Cup-bearer of the King of Egypt, and the Baker, [i.e. the chief, or master of the rest, as appears verse 2.] sinned against their LORD, against the King of Egypt.

2. So that Pharao grew very wroth with his two Courtiers; [see above chapter 37. On verse 36.] with the chief of the Cup-bearers, and with the chief of the Bakers.

3. And he delivered them into custody, to the house of the chief of the Guard, [see above chapter 39. On verse 20.] at the place where Joseph was kept prisoner [Heb. Was bound, as also above chapter 39. 20. And below here, ver. 5.]

4. And the chief of the Guard appointed Joseph with them, to serve them: and they were (some) days in custody, [Oth. Many days, see above chapter 4. On verse 3.]

5. Now they dreamed both a dream, each his dream, in one night, each according to the interpretation of his dream. [i.e. they were no vain dreams, but each had its peculiar signification, which Joseph, through God’s inspiration declared unto them, and were confirmed afterwards by the event. See below verse 12, 18, 19, 20, & c.] the Cap-bearer, and the Baker, that were the Kings of Egypt [or, belonged to him formerly, were of his retinue and service; but now prisoners.] who were prisoners in the prison-house.

6. And Joseph came to them in the morning, and he looked on them, and behold they were troubled. [or, dismaid, or, perplexed. The Hebrew word signifies great distemper of the mind, proceeding out of care, fear, anxiety, sadness, perplexity, or great vexation and anger. This now is such a kind of dreaming, which God sends upon men to trouble and perplex them. See below chapter 41. 8. Daniel 2:1. Matthew 27:19.]

7. Then he asked the Courtiers of Pharao, that were with him in the hold [Heb. Custody, keeping] of the house of his Masters, saying; why are your faces ill-disposed [Heb. Evil, i.e. sad, drooping, cast down; thus this word is taken, Nehemiah 2:1, 2, 3. Proverbs 25:20.] to day?

8. And they said to him; we have dreamt a dream, and there is none to interpret the same: [i.e. we are destitute here of a sooth-sayer, wizard, or interpreter of dreams, and we are not permitted to enquire abroad; for they had otherwise abundance of such profest people among them, as appears below chapter 41. Ver. 8.] and Joseph said to them; Are not the interpretations Gods? [Joseph draws them off from those abusive interpreters of dreams, unto God, as from whom immediately such dreams, and their true interpretations are derived.] tell (them) me I pray.

9. Then the chief of the Cup-bearers told Joseph his dream, and said to him: in my dream, [i.e. as I was dreaming, when I lay in my dream.] behold, [this word is much used in relating of dreams, to show their strangeness and wonderfulness, not only in regard of the Relator, but the Hearer also. See above chapter 37. 7, 9. And below verse 16. And 41. 2, 3. Judges 7:13. Daniel 4:7.] there was a Vine then before my face;

10. And at the Vine there were three branches; and it was as budding, its blossoms went up, its bunches brought forth ripe grapes. [Heb. Its bunches ripened, matured, or, full cooked the grapes.]

11. And Pharaos cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, and prest them out into Pharaos Cup. And I gave the cup upon Pharaos hand.

12. Then said Joseph to him: This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days; [i.e. they betoken three days, as also below, ch. 18. And ch. 41. 26, 27. And Daniel 2:38. And 4. 22. Matthew 13:19. Luke 8:11. And 1 Cor. 10. 4.]

13. Within three days yet Pharao shall lift up thy head, and restore thee into thy estate, [i.e. in the review, or, survey of his Officers, he shall reckon thee among them; that shall continue, or be restored to their office; phrases not much unlike to this, we find likewise Exodus 30:12. Numbers 1:2. And 26. 2. Etc. where the lifting up of heads, is as much as to reckon them up, and to sum up, or count such a sort of men.] and thou shalt give Pharao’s cup into his hand, according to the former manner, [the Hebrew word is likewise taken thus, Leviticus 5:10. And 9. 16. And Numbers 15:24. And 29. 18. 2 Chron. 35. 13, etc] when thou wast his cup-bearer.

14. Yet remember me with thy self [Heb. With thee] when it shall go well with thee, and show kindness on me, and make mention of me unto Pharao, and help to get me out of this house.

15. For I have been thievishly stolen [Heb. being stolen I was stolen] out of the Hebrews country [that is, out of the land of Canaan, where the Hebrews at that time sojourned as strangers, and which was promised them of God.] and likewise I have done nothing here, that they put me in this pit [or dungeon].

16. When of the Bakers saw, that he had made good interpretation; [Heb. That he had interpretated the good, i.e. to the good and advantage of the Cup-bearer.] then said he to Joseph; I was likewise in my dream; [compare above verse 9. And the Note thereon] and behold three grated [Oth. White, or, wreathed, plaighted, full of holes, like network.] baskets were upon my head;

17. And in the uppermost basket there was of all [i.e. all manner of] meat, of bakers work; and the fowl did eat them out of the basket from above my head.

18. Then Joseph answered and said; This is the interpretation of it; the three basket are three days. [See above verse 12.]

19. Within three days yet Pharao shall lift up thy head from above thee, [Joseph useth here the same words which he had used ver. 13. But in another sense: which appears in the addition of the words from above thee: implying, that the chief of the Bakers, should likewise come into the account, in the survey of the Officers, but so as that his office should be taken from him.] and he shall hang thee, [i.e. cause thee to be hanged, and so verse 22. Oth. Lift up thy head, & c. taking the same a way from thee.] on a tree, and the fowl shall eat thy flesh from above thee.

20. And it came to pass on the third day, on Pharao’s birthday, [Heb. The day when Pharao was born,] that he made a feast to all his Servants: [See of the like feast, Matthew 14:6.] and he lifted up the chief of the cup-bearers, and the head of the chief of the Bakers, in the midst of his servants.

21. And he made the chief of the Cup-bearers return to his Cup-bearing Office; [Heb. His giving to drink, or cup-bearing.] so that he gave the cup upon Pharao’s hand.

22. But the chief of the Bakers he hanged up [viz. by his Executioner: what men do by others, that they are said to do themselves, whether it be bad, as above chapter 20. 3. 1 Samuel 22:21. 2 Sam. 12. 9. And 24. 10. 1 K. 21. 19. Or good, and indifferent, as below chapter 46, 29. 1 Kings 3:4. And 7. 1, 2.] as Joseph had interpreted to them.

23. Yet the chief of the Cup-bearers did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. [viz. with Pharao, and that for two whole years together, as appears by the first verse of the next chapter.]