Chapter Overview
Joseph, still in prison, interprets a few dreams. They come to pass, and he’s still in prison.
Additional Thoughts
The fact that Joseph can interpret dreams is supposed to seem important and impressive, but in reality, they are neither. I, too, can make a prediction in a story and then have the story turn out the way I’d like. For example, I predict I’m going to mention evidence in the next paragraph.
Before I believe anything in this book, I’d like to see evidence for it. This chapter reads exactly like a story told about a person rather than a historical account. Genesis has shown time and time again to be a product of it’s times with no real divine insights into reality. This chapter is no different.
Chapter 40: Joseph Interprets Dreams
- 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, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.
- And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season 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, 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.
- And he asked Pharaoh’s officers that were with him in the ward of his lord’s 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. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell me 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 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand.
- And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:
- Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh’s 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 shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:
- For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing 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 baskets on my head:
- And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats 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 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 Pharaoh’s birthday, 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 Pharaoh’s hand:
- But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.
- Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.
- We never hear about why. Any records we could use to back this up with?
- Again, why? What did these guys do to deserve this? Steal a sweetroll?
- This sounds like there is either one prison where prisoners are sent, or Joseph is already in the capital.
- This is still a terrible idea. Why have a prisoner in charge of other prisoners? This warden should be fired.
- This verse shows the common repetitions that happened due to this being an oral epic, this verse does show.
- How many prisoners are in here? Presumably Joseph knows these two personally.
- Stop repeating yourself. I really hate this waste of time.
- The Baker and the Butler should have immediately asked “Which one? Osiris? Amun? Ra? Amun-Ra? Tutu? …” This book takes the Hebrew god as a fact and works with that assumption though.
- Dude saw a vine
- Vines are considered female apparently.
- Gives the Pharaoh some fresh made wine.
- Ok, but what does the vine itself represent then?
- AKA: It’s gonna be fine dude. You’re getting your job back.
- AKA: Get me outta here when you’re free.
- I’m pretty sure many people in prison claim they’re innocent.
- This guy assumes that Joseph is going to give him a good interpretation as well?
- I can guess that, due to story telling symmetry and lack of a pharaoh in this one, that this guy is gonna die in 3 days.
- Got the 3 days part
- And the dead part.
- Pharaoh’s gotta party
- What a shock… prophecy fulfillment in a work of fiction. Who could have seen that coming?
- See note for verse 21
- AKA: The butler is a dick.