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Matthew Henry<BR><I>Commentary on the Whole Bible</I> (1706)
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<A NAME="Page224"> </A>
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<BR><FONT SIZE=+3><B>G E N E S I S</B></FONT>
<BR>
<BR><FONT SIZE=+2>CHAP. XL.</FONT>
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<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
In this chapter things are working, though slowly, towards Joseph's
advancement.
I. Two of Pharaoh's servants are committed to
prison, and there to Joseph's care, and so become witnesses of
his extraordinary conduct,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:1-4">ver. 1-4</A>.
II. They dreamed each of
them a dream, which Joseph interpreted
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:5-19">ver. 5-19</A>),
and the
event verified the interpretation
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:20-22">ver. 20-22</A>),
and so they became
witnesses of his extraordinary skill.
III. Joseph recommends
his case to one of them, whose preferment he foresaw
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:14,15">ver. 14, 15</A>),
but in vain,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:23">ver. 23</A>.</P>
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<A NAME="Ge40_1"> </A>
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<A NAME="Sec1"> </A>
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0>
<TR><TD><FONT SIZE=+1><I>The History of Joseph.</I></FONT></TD>
<TD ALIGN=RIGHT><FONT SIZE=-1>B. C.</FONT> 1717.</TD></TR>
<TR><TD COLSPAN=2><HR SIZE=1></TD></TR>
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<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>1 And it came to pass after these
things, <I>that</I> the butler of the
king of Egypt and <I>his</I> baker had offended
their lord the king of Egypt.
&nbsp; 2 And Pharaoh was wroth against two
<I>of</I> his officers, against the chief of the
butlers, and against the chief of the
bakers.
&nbsp; 3 And he put them in ward
in the house of the captain of the
guard, into the prison, the place where
Joseph <I>was</I> bound.
&nbsp; 4 And the captain
of the guard charged Joseph with
them, and he served them: and they
continued a season in ward.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
We should not have had this story of
Pharaoh's butler and baker recorded in scripture
if it had not been serviceable to Joseph's
preferment. The world stands for the sake
of the church, and is governed for its good.
Observe,
1. Two of the great officers of Pharaoh's
court, having offended the king, are
committed to prison. Note, High places are
slippery places; nothing more uncertain than
the favour of princes. Those that make
God's favour their happiness, and his service
their business, will find him a better Master
than Pharaoh was, and not so extreme to
mark what they do amiss. Many conjectures
there are concerning the offence of these servants
of Pharaoh; some make it no less than
an attempt to take away his life, others no
more than the casual lighting of a fly into
his cup and a little sand into his bread.
Whatever it was, Providence by this means
brought them into the prison where Joseph
was.
2. The <I>captain of the guard</I> himself,
who was Potiphar, charged Joseph with them
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:4"><I>v.</I> 4</A>),
which intimates that he began now to
be reconciled to him, and perhaps to be convinced
of his innocence, though he durst not
release him for fear of disobliging his wife.
John Baptist must lose his head, to please
Herodias.</P>
<A NAME="Ge40_5"> </A>
<A NAME="Ge40_6"> </A>
<A NAME="Ge40_7"> </A>
<A NAME="Ge40_8"> </A>
<A NAME="Ge40_9"> </A>
<A NAME="Ge40_10"> </A>
<A NAME="Ge40_11"> </A>
<A NAME="Ge40_12"> </A>
<A NAME="Ge40_13"> </A>
<A NAME="Ge40_14"> </A>
<A NAME="Ge40_15"> </A>
<A NAME="Ge40_16"> </A>
<A NAME="Ge40_17"> </A>
<A NAME="Ge40_18"> </A>
<A NAME="Ge40_19"> </A>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<FONT SIZE=+1>5 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 <I>were</I> bound in the prison.
&nbsp; 6 And Joseph came in unto them in the
morning, and looked upon them, and,
behold, they <I>were</I> sad.
&nbsp; 7 And he
asked Pharaoh's officers that <I>were</I> with
him in the ward of his lord's house,
saying, Wherefore look ye <I>so</I> sadly to
day?
&nbsp; 8 And they said unto him, We
have dreamed a dream, and <I>there is</I>
no interpreter of it. And Joseph said
unto them, <I>Do</I> not interpretations <I>belong</I>
to God? tell me <I>them,</I> I pray you.
&nbsp; 9 And the chief butler told his dream
to Joseph, and said to him, In my
dream, behold, a vine <I>was</I> before me;
&nbsp; 10 And in the vine <I>were</I> three branches:
and it <I>was</I> as though it budded, <I>and</I>
her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters
thereof brought forth ripe grapes:
&nbsp; 11 And Pharaoh's cup <I>was</I> in my
hand: and I took the grapes, and
<A NAME="Page225"> </A>
pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and
I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.
&nbsp; 12 And Joseph said unto him, This <I>is</I>
the interpretation of it: The three
branches <I>are</I> three days:
&nbsp; 13 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.
&nbsp; 14 But
think on me when it shall be well with
thee, and show kindness, I pray thee,
unto me, and make mention of me
unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this
house:
&nbsp; 15 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.
&nbsp; 16 When the chief baker saw
that the interpretation was good,
he said unto Joseph, I also <I>was</I> in my
dream, and, behold, <I>I had</I> three white
baskets on my head:
&nbsp; 17 And in the
uppermost basket <I>there was</I> of all
manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh;
and the birds did eat them out of the
basket upon my head.
&nbsp; 18 And Joseph
answered and said, This <I>is</I> the interpretation
thereof: The three baskets
<I>are</I> three days:
&nbsp; 19 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.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
Observe,
I. The special providence of God,
which filled the heads of these two prisoners
with unusual dreams, such as made extraordinary
impressions upon them, and carried
with them evidences of a divine origin, both
in one night. Note, God has immediate access
to the spirits of men, which he can make
serviceable to his own purposes whenever he
pleases, quite beyond the intention of those
concerned. To him all hearts are open, and
anciently he spoke not only to his own people,
but to others, in dreams,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+33:15">Job xxxiii. 15</A>.
Things to come were thus foretold, but very
obscurely.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
II. The impression which was made upon
these prisoners by their dreams
(<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:6"><I>v.</I> 6</A>):
<I>They
were sad.</I> It was not the prison that made
them sad (they were pretty well used to that,
and perhaps lived jovially there), but the
dream. Note, God has more ways than one
to sadden the spirits of those that are to be
made sad. Those sinners that are hardy
enough under outward troubles, and will not
yield to them, yet God can find out a way to
punish; he can take off their wheels, by
wounding their spirits, and laying loads upon
them.</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
III. Joseph's great tenderness and compassion
towards them. He enquired with concern,
<I>Wherefore look you so sadly to-day?</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:7"><I>v.</I> 7</A>.
Joseph was their keeper, and in that office he
was mild. Note, It becomes us to take cognizance
of the sorrows even of those that are
under our check. Joseph was their companion
in tribulation, he was now a prisoner
with them, and had been a dreamer too.
Note, Communion in sufferings helps to work
compassion towards those that do suffer. Let
us learn hence,
1. To concern ourselves in
the sorrows and troubles of others, and to
enquire into the reason of the sadness of our
brethren's countenances; we should be often
considering the tears of the oppressed,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ec+4:1">Eccl. iv. 1</A>.
It is some relief to those that are in
trouble to be taken notice of.
2. To enquire
into the causes of our own sorrow, "Wherefore
do I look so sadly? Is there a reason?
Is it a good reason? Is there not a reason
for comfort sufficient to balance it, whatever
it is? <I>Why art thou cast down, O my soul?</I>"</P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
IV. The dreams themselves, and the interpretation
of them. That which troubled
these prisoners was that being confined they
could not have recourse to the diviners of
Egypt who pretended to interpret dreams:
<I>There is no interpreter</I> here in the prison,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:8"><I>v.</I> 8</A>.
Note, There are interpreters which those that
are in prison and sorrow should wish to have
with them, to instruct them in the meaning
and design of Providence (Elihu alludes to
such, when he says, If <I>there be an interpreter,
one among a thousand, to show unto man his
uprightness,</I>
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Job+33:23,24">Job xxxiii. 23, 24</A>),
interpreters
to guide their consciences, not to satisfy their
curiosity. Joseph hereupon directed them
which way to look: <I>Do not interpretations
belong to God?</I> He means the God whom he
worshipped, to the knowledge of whom he
endeavours hereby to lead them. Note, It is
God's prerogative to foretel things to come,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Isa+46:10">Isa. xlvi. 10</A>.
He must therefore have the
praise of all the gifts of foresight which men
have, ordinary or extraordinary. Joseph
premises a caveat against his own praise, and
is careful to transmit the glory to God, as
Daniel,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Da+2:30"><I>ch.</I> ii. 30</A>.
Joseph suggests, "If interpretations
belong to God, he is a free agent,
and may communicate the power to whom he
pleases, and therefore tell me your dreams."
Now,
1. The chief butler's dream was a happy
presage of his enlargement, and re-advancement,
within three days; and so Joseph explained
it to him,
<A HREF="http://bible.gospelcom.net/bible?version=KJV&passage=Ge+40:12,13"><I>v.</I> 12, 13</A>.
Probably it had
been usual with him to press the full-ripe
grapes immediately into Pharaoh's cup, the
simplicity of that age not being acquainted
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> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
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> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
<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.
&nbsp; 21 And he restored
the chief butler unto his butlership
again; and he gave the cup into
Pharaoh's hand:
&nbsp; 22 But he hanged
the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted
to them.
&nbsp; 23 Yet did not the
chief butler remember Joseph, but
forgat him.
</FONT></P>
<P> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
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> &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;
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>
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