John Calvin on Genesis 39:21-23

21. But the Lord was with Joseph. It appears, from the testimony of the Psalmist just cited, that Joseph’s extreme sufferings were not immediately alleviated. The Lord purposely suffered him to be reduced to extremity, that he might bring him back as from the grave. We know that as the light of the sun is most clearly seen when we are looking from a dark place; so, in the darkness of our miseries, the grace of God shines more brightly when, beyond expectation, he succors us. Moreover, Moses says, the Lord was with Joseph, because he extended this grace or mercy towards him; whence we may learn, that God, even when he delivers us from unjust violence, or when he assists us in a good cause, is yet induced to do so by his own goodness. For since we are unworthy that he should grant us his help, the cause of its communication must be in himself; seeing that he is merciful. Certainly if merits, which should lay God under obligation, are to be sought for in men, they would have been found in Joseph; yet Moses declares that he was assisted by the gratuitous favor of God. This, however, is no obstacle to his leaving received the reward of his piety, which is perfectly consistent with the gratuitous kindness of God. The manner of exercising this kindness is also added; namely, that the Lord gave him favor with the keeper of the prison. There is, indeed, no doubt that Joseph was acceptable to the keeper for many reasons: for even virtue conciliates favor to itself; and Moses has before shown that the holy man was amiable in many ways; but because it often happens that the children of God are treated with as great inhumanity as if they were the worst of all men, Moses expressly states that the keeper of the prison, at length, became humane; because his mind, which was not spontaneously disposed to equity, had been divinely inclined to it. Therefore, that the keeper of the prison, having laid aside his cruelty, acted with kindness and gentleness, was a change which proceeded from God, who governs the hearts of men according to his own will. But it is a wonder that the keeper of the prison did not fear lest he should incur the displeasure of Potiphar: and even that Potiphar himself, who without difficulty could have interfered, should yet have suffered a man whom he mortally hated to be thus kindly and liberally treated. It may be answered with truth, that his cruelty had been divinely restrained: but it is also probable that he had suspected, and at length, been made acquainted with the subtle scheme of his wife. Although, however, he might be appeased towards holy Joseph, he was unwilling to acquit him to his own dishonor. Meanwhile the remarkable integrity of Joseph manifests itself in this, that when he is made the guard of the prison, and has the free administration of it, he nevertheless does not attempt to escape, but waits for the proper season of his liberation.

CHAPTER 40.

Genesis 40:1-23

1. 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.

1. Fuit autem, posthaec peccaverunt pincerna regis AEgypti, et pistor contra dominum suum regem. Aegypti, et pistor conra dominum suum regen. Aegypti.

2. And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.

2. Itaque iratus est Pharao contra utrumque satrapam suum, contra principem pincernarum et contra principem pistorum.

3. And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.

3. Et posuit illos in custodia domus principis satellitum, in domo carceris, in loco in quo Joseph vinctus erat.

4. And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.

4. Et praeposuit princeps satellitum ipsum Joseph eis, et ministrabat eis: fuerunt autem per annum in custodia.

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 were bound in the prison.

5. Porro somniaverunt somnium uterque ipsorum, puisque somnium suum nocte eadem: singuli secundum interpretationem somnii sui, princerna et pistor qui fuerant regi Aegypti, qui erant vincti in domo carceris.

6. And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad.

6. Et venit ad eos Joseph mane, et vidit eos, et ecce, erant tristitia affecti.

7. 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?

7. Tune interrogavit principes Pharaonis, qui erant secum in custodia domus domini sui, dicendo, Cur facies vestrae sunt afflictae hodie?

8. 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.

8. Et dixerunt ad eum, Somnium somniavimus, et qui interpretetur illud, non est. Et dixit ad eos Joseph, Nonne Dei sunt interpretationes? Narrate quaeso mihi.

9 And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;

9. Et narravit princeps pincernarum somnium suum ipsi Joseph, et dixit ei, Me somniante, ecce, vitis erat coram me.

10. 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:

10. Et in vite erant tres rami, et dum floreret, ascendit flos ejus, et maturuerunt botri ejus in uvas.

11. 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.

11. Et calix Pharaonis erat in manu mea, et accipiebam uvas, et exprimebam eas in calicem Pharaonis, et dabam calicem in manu Pharaonis.

12. And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:

12. Et dixit ei Joseph, Haec est interpretatio ejus, Tres rami, tres dies sunt.

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.

13. In fine trium dierum elevabit Pharao caput tuum, et redire faciet to ad locum tuum, et dabis calicem Pharaoni in manu ejus secundum consuetudinem primam, quando eras pincerna ejus.

14. 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:

14. Sed memento mihi tecum, quum bene fuerit tibi: et fac quaeso mecum misericordiam, et mentionem mei fac Pharaoni, et educere fac me e domo hac:

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.

15. Quia furto auferendo, furto ablatus sum e terra Hebraeorum: et etiam hic non feci quiequam, ut ponerent me in carcerem.

16. 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:

16. Et vidit princeps pistorum, quod bene interpretatus esset, et dixit ad Joseph, Etiam me somniante, ecce, tria canistra alba super caput meum.

17. 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.

17. Et in canistro superiori erat ex omni cibo Pharaonis, opere pistorio: et aves comedebant illud e canistro, quod erat super caput meum.

18. And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:

18. Et respondit Joseph, et dixit, Haec est interpretatio ejus, Tria eanistra, tres dies sunt.

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.

19. In fine trium dierum auferet Pharao caput tuum a to, et suspendet to in ligno, et comedent aves carnem tuam a to.

20. 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.

20. Et fuit in die tertia, die qua natus fuerat Pharao, fecit convivium omnibus servis suis, et elevavit caput principis pincernarum et caput principis pistorum in medio servorum suorum.

21. And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand:

21. Ac redire fecit principem pimcernarum ad propinationem suam, et dedit calicem in manu Pharaoni:

22 But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them.

22. Principem autem pistorum suspendit, quemadmodum interpretatus fuerat eis Joseph.

23. Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

23. Et non est recordatus princeps pincernarum ipsius Joseph, sed oblitus est ejus.