(E.) Joseph interprets the Dreams of Pharaoh's Officers
The contents of this chapter are from E. Joseph's master (cf. Genesis
37:36) is the officer in whose house is the prison; and he commits to
the charge of Joseph, his slave, the two court-officials whose dreams
Joseph correctly interprets.
The... [ Continue Reading ]
The two Officers in Prison
1. _after these things_ A vague definition of time: see Genesis 15:1;
Genesis 22:1; Genesis 39:7.
_the butler_ In Genesis 40:2_; Genesis 40:20_he is called "the chief
butler." The word is rendered in Nehemiah 1:11, "cupbearer," an
officer who looked after the king's cell... [ Continue Reading ]
_his … officers_ Lit. "his eunuchs"; see note on Genesis 37:36.... [ Continue Reading ]
_in ward_ Cf. Genesis 40:4_; Genesis 40:7_. An old English expression;
cf. Shakespeare, 2 _Hen. VI_, v. i.:
"I know, ere they will have me go to _ward_,
They'll pawn their swords for my enfranchisement."
He committed them for safe keeping, while the enquiry into the charges
against them went on.... [ Continue Reading ]
_charged Joseph with them_ i.e. put them under the care of Joseph, who
is to be in attendance on them, not as a fellow-prisoner, but as a
servant in his master's house. Compare the words of "the chief butler"
in Genesis 41:12 (also from E), "there was with us there a young man,
an Hebrew, _servant t... [ Continue Reading ]
_sad_ Gloomy and depressed, the word rendered "worse liking" in Daniel
1:10. There was a general belief in dreams, as a means of conveying
supernatural information. In the case of these two officers, their
anxiety as to their fate added to the desire to learn the meaning of
the strange dreams which... [ Continue Reading ]
_look ye so sadly_ Lit. "are your faces bad," cf. Nehemiah 2:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
_none that can interpret it_ The Egyptians regarded the interpretation
of dreams as a science requiring special study; or as a department of
magic needing special initiation. Had the two officials been at
liberty, they would have each repaired to their special soothsayer or
dream-interpreter for an... [ Continue Reading ]
The Interpretation of their Dreams
10. _it was as though it budded_ Another rendering is "and as it
budded, its blossoms shot forth." But the rendering in the text is
grammatically to be preferred. The dream combines, as it were, in a
moment the successive stages, by which the vine first budded and... [ Continue Reading ]
_pressed them into Pharaoh's cup_ The cupbearer did not squeeze grapes
into his master's cup in order to make wine. He squeezed, and at once
the cup was full of wine. This is one of the fancies occurring in a
dream. Dream-land is true to experience, and yet possesses, here and
there, odd fantastic f... [ Continue Reading ]
_lift up thine head_ i.e. "will lift it up with favour," as in 2 Kings
25:27; Jeremiah 52:31. The "countenance," which is sad, or in trouble,
hangs down and needs to be lifted up: see note on Genesis 4:6-7. As
the phrase is also used of "the chief baker" in an unfavourable sense
(Genesis 40:19), it... [ Continue Reading ]
_But have me_, &c. Joseph claims no reward for his interpretation
beyond that of an act of kindness.... [ Continue Reading ]
_stolen away_ i.e. "kidnapped": see Genesis 37:28. According to E
Joseph was not sold by his brethren, but stolen by the Midianites.
_the land of the Hebrews_ For the use of the word "Hebrew," cf.
Genesis 14:13; Genesis 39:14 and Genesis 41:12. It was the designation
in use by foreigners for "the dw... [ Continue Reading ]
_I also_ The chief baker is encouraged to relate his dream. There are
certain conspicuous similarities in the two dreams: (1) each man is
discharging his own special office; (2) the number "3" is a feature in
both.
_of white bread_ LXX τρία κανᾶ χονδριτῶν, Lat.
_tria canistra farinae_. Instead of ... [ Continue Reading ]
_bakemeats_ LXX ἔργον σιτοποιοῦ, Lat. _cibos qui fiunt
arte pistoria_: as we say, "all kinds of confectionery." The bakemeats
are only in the top basket. If the birds took them, he had nothing in
the other baskets to bring to Pharaoh's table.
_the birds_ The birds, darting down upon the food and ca... [ Continue Reading ]
_lift up thy head from off thee_ Joseph, by a use of the same phrase
as in Genesis 40:13, introduces the sudden unfavourable
interpretation: "from off thee" shews that it means here
"decapitation," not (see note on Genesis 40:13) "he will release thee
from imprisonment, in order to be executed." For... [ Continue Reading ]
The Fulfilment
20. _Pharaoh's birthday_ Cf. Matthew 14:6; Mark 6:21. Proclamations of
amnesty on royal birthdays have been universal. They can be
illustrated from the royal proclamations preserved in Egyptian
inscriptions.
The title "Pharaoh" (Egypt. _Pr-ô_, "Great House") is constantly used
witho... [ Continue Reading ]
_forgat him_ These words are an artistic conclusion to this
interesting section. The chief butler's forgetfulness, in the
enjoyment of his own good fortune, (1) is sadly natural; (2) increases
our sympathy with Joseph; (3) heightens the expectation of the reader
as to the manner of his deliverance.... [ Continue Reading ]