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574 lines
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<TITLE>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible [Genesis, Chapter XL].</TITLE>
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"This site is for those friends and family members who may or may not know Our Lord Jesus Christ, and if not, they may come to know Our Lord through His Prophets."> <meta name="author" content="Brian Duncalfe">
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"Prophecy, Rapture,hope,bible map,bible maps, God, tribulation,Second Coming,Christ,large print bible,commentary,complete">
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</HEAD>
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<body background="../sueback.jpg" bgproperties="fixed" >
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<center><h1>Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary
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on the Whole Bible</h1></center>
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<HR>
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<TR>
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<TD ALIGN="LEFT" VALIGN="TOP">
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
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[<A HREF="MHC01039.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC01041.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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</TD></TR></TABLE>
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<!-- (Begin Body) -->
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<A NAME="Page224"> </A>
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<CENTER>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>G E N E S I S</B></FONT>
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<BR>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XL.</FONT>
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<HR SIZE=1 WIDTH=50>
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</CENTER>
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<FONT SIZE=-1>
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<P>
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In this chapter things are working, though slowly, towards Joseph's
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advancement.
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I. Two of Pharaoh's servants are committed to
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prison, and there to Joseph's care, and so become witnesses of
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his extraordinary conduct,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:1-4">ver. 1-4</A>.
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II. They dreamed each of
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them a dream, which Joseph interpreted
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:5-19">ver. 5-19</A>),
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and the
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event verified the interpretation
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:20-22">ver. 20-22</A>),
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and so they became
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witnesses of his extraordinary skill.
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III. Joseph recommends
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his case to one of them, whose preferment he foresaw
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:14,15">ver. 14, 15</A>),
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but in vain,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:23">ver. 23</A>.</P>
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</FONT>
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<A NAME="Ge40_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge40_2"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge40_3"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge40_4"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
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<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
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<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The History of Joseph.</I></FONT></TD>
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<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1717.</TD></TR>
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<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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</TABLE>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And it came to pass after these
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things, <I>that</I> the butler of the
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king of Egypt and <I>his</I> baker had offended
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their lord the king of Egypt.
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2 And Pharaoh was wroth against two
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<I>of</I> his officers, against the chief of the
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butlers, and against the chief of the
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bakers.
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3 And he put them in ward
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in the house of the captain of the
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guard, into the prison, the place where
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Joseph <I>was</I> bound.
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4 And the captain
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of the guard charged Joseph with
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them, and he served them: and they
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continued a season in ward.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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We should not have had this story of
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Pharaoh's butler and baker recorded in scripture
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if it had not been serviceable to Joseph's
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preferment. The world stands for the sake
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of the church, and is governed for its good.
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Observe,
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1. Two of the great officers of Pharaoh's
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court, having offended the king, are
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committed to prison. Note, High places are
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slippery places; nothing more uncertain than
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the favour of princes. Those that make
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God's favour their happiness, and his service
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their business, will find him a better Master
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than Pharaoh was, and not so extreme to
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mark what they do amiss. Many conjectures
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there are concerning the offence of these servants
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of Pharaoh; some make it no less than
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an attempt to take away his life, others no
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more than the casual lighting of a fly into
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his cup and a little sand into his bread.
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Whatever it was, Providence by this means
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brought them into the prison where Joseph
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was.
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2. The <I>captain of the guard</I> himself,
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who was Potiphar, charged Joseph with them
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
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which intimates that he began now to
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be reconciled to him, and perhaps to be convinced
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of his innocence, though he durst not
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release him for fear of disobliging his wife.
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John Baptist must lose his head, to please
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Herodias.</P>
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<A NAME="Ge40_5"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge40_6"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge40_7"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge40_8"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge40_9"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge40_10"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge40_11"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge40_12"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge40_13"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge40_14"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge40_15"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge40_16"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge40_17"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge40_18"> </A>
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<A NAME="Ge40_19"> </A>
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<P>
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<FONT SIZE=+1>5 And they dreamed a dream both
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of them, each man his dream in one
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night, each man according to the interpretation
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of his dream, the butler
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and the baker of the king of Egypt,
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which <I>were</I> bound in the prison.
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6 And Joseph came in unto them in the
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morning, and looked upon them, and,
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behold, they <I>were</I> sad.
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7 And he
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asked Pharaoh's officers that <I>were</I> with
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him in the ward of his lord's house,
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saying, Wherefore look ye <I>so</I> sadly to
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day?
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8 And they said unto him, We
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have dreamed a dream, and <I>there is</I>
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no interpreter of it. And Joseph said
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unto them, <I>Do</I> not interpretations <I>belong</I>
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to God? tell me <I>them,</I> I pray you.
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9 And the chief butler told his dream
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to Joseph, and said to him, In my
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dream, behold, a vine <I>was</I> before me;
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10 And in the vine <I>were</I> three branches:
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and it <I>was</I> as though it budded, <I>and</I>
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her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters
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thereof brought forth ripe grapes:
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11 And Pharaoh's cup <I>was</I> in my
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hand: and I took the grapes, and
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<A NAME="Page225"> </A>
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pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and
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I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.
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12 And Joseph said unto him, This <I>is</I>
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the interpretation of it: The three
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branches <I>are</I> three days:
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13 Yet within
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three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine
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head, and restore thee unto thy place:
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and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh's cup
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into his hand, after the former manner
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when thou wast his butler.
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14 But
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think on me when it shall be well with
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thee, and show kindness, I pray thee,
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unto me, and make mention of me
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unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this
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house:
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15 For indeed I was stolen
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away out of the land of the Hebrews:
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and here also have I done nothing
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that they should put me into the dungeon.
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16 When the chief baker saw
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that the interpretation was good,
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he said unto Joseph, I also <I>was</I> in my
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dream, and, behold, <I>I had</I> three white
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baskets on my head:
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17 And in the
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uppermost basket <I>there was</I> of all
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manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh;
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and the birds did eat them out of the
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basket upon my head.
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18 And Joseph
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answered and said, This <I>is</I> the interpretation
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thereof: The three baskets
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<I>are</I> three days:
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19 Yet within three
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days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head
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from off thee, and shall hang thee on
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a tree; and the birds shall eat thy
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flesh from off thee.
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</FONT></P>
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<P>
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Observe,
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I. The special providence of God,
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which filled the heads of these two prisoners
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with unusual dreams, such as made extraordinary
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impressions upon them, and carried
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with them evidences of a divine origin, both
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in one night. Note, God has immediate access
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to the spirits of men, which he can make
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serviceable to his own purposes whenever he
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pleases, quite beyond the intention of those
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concerned. To him all hearts are open, and
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anciently he spoke not only to his own people,
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but to others, in dreams,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+33:15">Job xxxiii. 15</A>.
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Things to come were thus foretold, but very
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obscurely.</P>
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<P>
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II. The impression which was made upon
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these prisoners by their dreams
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(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
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<I>They
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were sad.</I> It was not the prison that made
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them sad (they were pretty well used to that,
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and perhaps lived jovially there), but the
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dream. Note, God has more ways than one
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to sadden the spirits of those that are to be
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made sad. Those sinners that are hardy
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enough under outward troubles, and will not
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yield to them, yet God can find out a way to
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punish; he can take off their wheels, by
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wounding their spirits, and laying loads upon
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them.</P>
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<P>
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III. Joseph's great tenderness and compassion
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towards them. He enquired with concern,
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<I>Wherefore look you so sadly to-day?</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
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Joseph was their keeper, and in that office he
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was mild. Note, It becomes us to take cognizance
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of the sorrows even of those that are
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under our check. Joseph was their companion
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in tribulation, he was now a prisoner
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with them, and had been a dreamer too.
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Note, Communion in sufferings helps to work
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compassion towards those that do suffer. Let
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us learn hence,
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1. To concern ourselves in
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the sorrows and troubles of others, and to
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enquire into the reason of the sadness of our
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brethren's countenances; we should be often
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considering the tears of the oppressed,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+4:1">Eccl. iv. 1</A>.
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It is some relief to those that are in
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trouble to be taken notice of.
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2. To enquire
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into the causes of our own sorrow, "Wherefore
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do I look so sadly? Is there a reason?
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Is it a good reason? Is there not a reason
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for comfort sufficient to balance it, whatever
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it is? <I>Why art thou cast down, O my soul?</I>"</P>
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<P>
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IV. The dreams themselves, and the interpretation
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of them. That which troubled
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these prisoners was that being confined they
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could not have recourse to the diviners of
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Egypt who pretended to interpret dreams:
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<I>There is no interpreter</I> here in the prison,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
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Note, There are interpreters which those that
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are in prison and sorrow should wish to have
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with them, to instruct them in the meaning
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and design of Providence (Elihu alludes to
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such, when he says, If <I>there be an interpreter,
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one among a thousand, to show unto man his
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uprightness,</I>
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+33:23,24">Job xxxiii. 23, 24</A>),
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interpreters
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to guide their consciences, not to satisfy their
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curiosity. Joseph hereupon directed them
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which way to look: <I>Do not interpretations
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belong to God?</I> He means the God whom he
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worshipped, to the knowledge of whom he
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endeavours hereby to lead them. Note, It is
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God's prerogative to foretel things to come,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+46:10">Isa. xlvi. 10</A>.
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He must therefore have the
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praise of all the gifts of foresight which men
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have, ordinary or extraordinary. Joseph
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premises a caveat against his own praise, and
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is careful to transmit the glory to God, as
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Daniel,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+2:30"><I>ch.</I> ii. 30</A>.
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Joseph suggests, "If interpretations
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belong to God, he is a free agent,
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and may communicate the power to whom he
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pleases, and therefore tell me your dreams."
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Now,
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1. The chief butler's dream was a happy
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presage of his enlargement, and re-advancement,
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within three days; and so Joseph explained
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it to him,
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<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:12,13"><I>v.</I> 12, 13</A>.
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Probably it had
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been usual with him to press the full-ripe
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grapes immediately into Pharaoh's cup, the
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simplicity of that age not being acquainted
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with the modern arts of making the wine fine.
|
||
|
|
Observe, Joseph foretold the chief butler's
|
||
|
|
deliverance, but he did not foresee his own.
|
||
|
|
He had long before dreamt of his own honour,
|
||
|
|
and the obeisance which his brethren should
|
||
|
|
do to him, with the remembrance of which
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page226"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
he must now support himself, without any
|
||
|
|
new or fresh discoveries. The visions that
|
||
|
|
are for the comfort of God's saints are for a
|
||
|
|
great while to come, and relate to things that
|
||
|
|
are very far off, while the foresights of others,
|
||
|
|
like this recorded there, look but three days
|
||
|
|
before them.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The chief baker's dream
|
||
|
|
portended his ignominious death,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:18,19"><I>v.</I> 18, 19</A>.
|
||
|
|
The happy interpretation of the other's dream
|
||
|
|
encouraged him to relate his. Thus hypocrites,
|
||
|
|
when they hear good things promised
|
||
|
|
to good Christians, would put in for a share,
|
||
|
|
though they have no part nor lot in the matter.
|
||
|
|
It was not Joseph's fault that he brought
|
||
|
|
him no better tidings. Ministers are but interpreters,
|
||
|
|
they cannot make the thing otherwise
|
||
|
|
than it is; if therefore they deal faithfully,
|
||
|
|
and their message prove unpleasing, it
|
||
|
|
is not their fault. Bad dreams cannot expect
|
||
|
|
a good interpretation.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
V. The improvement Joseph made of this
|
||
|
|
opportunity to get a friend at court,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:14,15"><I>v.</I> 14, 15</A>.
|
||
|
|
He modestly bespoke the favour of the chief
|
||
|
|
butler, whose preferment he foretold: <I>But
|
||
|
|
think of me when it shall be well with thee.</I>
|
||
|
|
Though the respect paid to Joseph made the
|
||
|
|
prison as easy to him as a prison could be,
|
||
|
|
yet none can blame him for being desirous of
|
||
|
|
liberty. See here,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. What a modest representation
|
||
|
|
he makes of his own case,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:15"><I>v.</I> 15</A>.
|
||
|
|
He does not reflect upon his brethren that
|
||
|
|
sold him; he only says, <I>I was stolen out of
|
||
|
|
the land of the Hebrews,</I> that is, unjustly sent
|
||
|
|
thence, no matter where the fault was. Nor
|
||
|
|
does he reflect on the wrong done him in this
|
||
|
|
imprisonment by his mistress that was his
|
||
|
|
prosecutrix, and his master that was his judge;
|
||
|
|
but mildly avers his own innocence:
|
||
|
|
<I>Here have I done nothing that they should put
|
||
|
|
me into the dungeon.</I> Note, When we are
|
||
|
|
called to vindicate ourselves we should carefully
|
||
|
|
avoid, as much as may be, speaking ill
|
||
|
|
of others. Let us be content to prove ourselves
|
||
|
|
innocent, and not be fond of upbraiding
|
||
|
|
others with their guilt.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. What a modest
|
||
|
|
request he makes to the chief butler:
|
||
|
|
"Only, <I>think of me.</I> Pray do me a kindness,
|
||
|
|
if it lie in your way." And his particular
|
||
|
|
petition is, <I>Bring me out of this house.</I> He
|
||
|
|
does not say, "Bring me into Pharaoh's
|
||
|
|
house, get me a place at court." No, he begs
|
||
|
|
for enlargement, not preferment. Note, Providence
|
||
|
|
sometimes designs the greatest honours
|
||
|
|
for those that least covet or expect them.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge40_20"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge40_21"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge40_22"> </A>
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Ge40_23"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
<FONT SIZE=+1>20 And it came to pass the third
|
||
|
|
day, <I>which was</I> 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.
|
||
|
|
21 And he restored
|
||
|
|
the chief butler unto his butlership
|
||
|
|
again; and he gave the cup into
|
||
|
|
Pharaoh's hand:
|
||
|
|
22 But he hanged
|
||
|
|
the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted
|
||
|
|
to them.
|
||
|
|
23 Yet did not the
|
||
|
|
chief butler remember Joseph, but
|
||
|
|
forgat him.
|
||
|
|
</FONT></P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Here is,
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
1. The verifying of Joseph's interpretation
|
||
|
|
of the dreams, on the very day
|
||
|
|
prefixed. The chief butler and baker were
|
||
|
|
both advanced, one to his office, the other to
|
||
|
|
the gallows, and both at the three days' end.
|
||
|
|
Note, Very great changes, both for the better
|
||
|
|
and for the worse, often happen in a very
|
||
|
|
little time, so sudden are the revolutions of
|
||
|
|
the wheel of nature. The occasion of giving
|
||
|
|
judgment severally upon their case was the
|
||
|
|
solemnizing of Pharaoh's birth-day, on which,
|
||
|
|
all his servants being obliged by custom to
|
||
|
|
attend him, these two came to be enquired
|
||
|
|
after, and the cause of their commitment
|
||
|
|
looked into. The solemnizing of the birth-day
|
||
|
|
of princes has been an ancient piece of
|
||
|
|
respect done them; and if it be not abused,
|
||
|
|
as Jeroboam's was
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ho+7:5">Hos. vii. 5</A>),
|
||
|
|
and Herod's
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Mk+6:21">Mark vi. 21</A>),
|
||
|
|
is a usage innocent enough:
|
||
|
|
and we may all profitably take notice of our
|
||
|
|
birth-days, with thankfulness for the mercies
|
||
|
|
of our birth, sorrow for the sinfulness of it,
|
||
|
|
and an expectation of the day of our death as
|
||
|
|
better than the day of our birth. On Pharaoh's
|
||
|
|
birth-day he lifted up the head of
|
||
|
|
these two prisoners, that is, arraigned and
|
||
|
|
tried them (when Naboth was tried he was
|
||
|
|
<I>set on high</I> among the people,
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=1Ki+21:9">1 Kings xxi. 9</A>),
|
||
|
|
and <I>he restored the chief butler,</I> and <I>hanged
|
||
|
|
the chief baker.</I> If the butler was innocent
|
||
|
|
and the baker guilty, we must own the equity
|
||
|
|
of Providence in clearing up the innocency
|
||
|
|
of the innocent, and making the sin of the
|
||
|
|
guilty to find him out. If both were either
|
||
|
|
equally innocent or equally guilty, it is an
|
||
|
|
instance of the arbitrariness of such great
|
||
|
|
princes as pride themselves in that power
|
||
|
|
which Nebuchadnezzar set up for
|
||
|
|
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+5:19">Dan. v. 19</A>,
|
||
|
|
<I>whom he would he slew, and whom he would he
|
||
|
|
kept alive</I>), forgetting that there is a higher
|
||
|
|
than they, to whom they are accountable.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
2. The disappointing of Joseph's expectation
|
||
|
|
from the chief butler: He <I>remembered
|
||
|
|
not Joseph, but forgot him,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:23"><I>v.</I> 23</A>.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(1.) See
|
||
|
|
here an instance of base ingratitude; Joseph
|
||
|
|
had deserved well at his hands, had ministered
|
||
|
|
to him, sympathized with him, helped him to
|
||
|
|
a favourable interpretation of his dream, had
|
||
|
|
recommended himself to him as an extraordinary
|
||
|
|
person upon all accounts; and yet he
|
||
|
|
forgot him. We must not think it strange
|
||
|
|
if in this world we have hatred shown us for
|
||
|
|
our love, and slights for our respects.
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
(2.) See how apt those that are themselves at ease
|
||
|
|
are to forget others in distress. Perhaps it
|
||
|
|
is in allusion to this story that the prophet
|
||
|
|
speaks of those that <I>drink wine in bowls, and
|
||
|
|
are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph,</I>
|
||
|
|
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Am+6:6">Amos vi. 6</A>.
|
||
|
|
Let us learn hence to cease
|
||
|
|
from man. Joseph perhaps depended too
|
||
|
|
much upon his interest in the chief butler,
|
||
|
|
and promised himself too much from him;
|
||
|
|
he learned by his disappointment to trust in
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<A NAME="Page227"> </A>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
God only. We cannot expect too little from
|
||
|
|
man nor too much from God.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
Some observe the resemblance between
|
||
|
|
Joseph and Christ in this story. Joseph's
|
||
|
|
fellow-sufferers were like the two thieves that
|
||
|
|
were crucified with Christ--the one saved,
|
||
|
|
the other condemned. (It is Dr. Lightfoot's
|
||
|
|
remark, from Mr. Broughton.) One of these,
|
||
|
|
when Joseph said to him, <I>Remember me when
|
||
|
|
it shall be well with thee,</I> forget him; but one
|
||
|
|
of those, when he said to Christ, <I>Remember
|
||
|
|
me when thou comest into thy kingdom,</I> was
|
||
|
|
not forgotten. We justly blame the chief
|
||
|
|
butler's ingratitude to Joseph, yet we conduct
|
||
|
|
ourselves much more disingenuously towards
|
||
|
|
the Lord Jesus. Joseph had but foretold the
|
||
|
|
chief butler's enlargement, but Christ wrought
|
||
|
|
out ours, mediated with the King of kings for
|
||
|
|
us; yet we forget him, though often reminded
|
||
|
|
of him, though we have promised never to
|
||
|
|
forget him: thus ill do we requite him, like
|
||
|
|
foolish people and unwise.</P>
|
||
|
|
|
||
|
|
<!-- (End Body) -->
|
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[<A HREF="MHC00000.HTM">Table of Contents</A>]<BR>
|
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[<A HREF="MHC01039.HTM">Previous</A>]
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[<A HREF="MHC01041.HTM">Next</A>]<BR>
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<TD ALIGN="RIGHT" VALIGN="TOP">
|
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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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