Gen 40:1-3 | Clarke | STEP | Pharaoh's chief butler and his chief baker, having offended their lord, are put in prison, . The captain of the guard gives them into the care of Joseph, . Each of them has a dream, . Joseph, seeing them sad, questions them on the subject, , . Their answer, . The chief butler tells his dream, . Joseph interprets it, , . Gives a slight sketch of his history to the chief butler, and begs him to think upon him when restored to his office, , . The chief baker tells his dream, , . Joseph interprets this also, , . Both dreams are fulfilled according to the interpretation, the chief butler being restored to his office, and the chief baker hanged, . The chief butler makes no interest for Joseph, . Verse 1 The butler - משקה mashkeh, the same as saky among the Arabians and Persians, and signifying a cup-bearer. Baker - אפה opheh; rather cook, confectioner, or the like. Had offended - They had probably been accused of attempting to take away the king's life, one by poisoning his drink, the other by poisoning his bread or confectionaries.

Genesis 40:1-3

Introduction

Pharaoh's chief butler and his chief baker, having offended their lord, are put in prison, Gen 40:1-3. The captain of the guard gives them into the care of Joseph, Gen 40:4. Each of them has a dream, Gen 40:5. Joseph, seeing them sad, questions them on the subject, Gen 40:6, Gen 40:7. Their answer, Gen 40:8. The chief butler tells his dream, Gen 40:9-11. Joseph interprets it, Gen 40:12, Gen 40:13. Gives a slight sketch of his history to the chief butler, and begs him to think upon him when restored to his office, Gen 40:14, Gen 40:15. The chief baker tells his dream, Gen 40:16, Gen 40:17. Joseph interprets this also, Gen 40:18, Gen 40:19. Both dreams are fulfilled according to the interpretation, the chief butler being restored to his office, and the chief baker hanged, Gen 40:20-22. The chief butler makes no interest for Joseph, Gen 40:23.

Verse 1

The butler - משקה mashkeh, the same as saky among the Arabians and Persians, and signifying a cup-bearer.

Baker - אפה opheh; rather cook, confectioner, or the like.

Had offended - They had probably been accused of attempting to take away the king's life, one by poisoning his drink, the other by poisoning his bread or confectionaries. Verse 3

Where Joseph was bound - The place in which Joseph was now confined; this is what is implied in being bound; for, without doubt, he had his personal liberty. As the butler and. the baker were state criminals they were put in the same prison with Joseph, which we learn from the preceding chapter, Gen 39:20, was the king's prison. All the officers in the employment of the ancient kings of Egypt were, according to Diodorus Siculus, taken from the most illustrious families of the priesthood in the country; no slave or common person being ever permitted to serve in the presence of the king. As these persons, therefore, were of the most noble families, it is natural to expect they would be put, when accused, into the state prison.