Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 40

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

To wit Potiphar, Gen. 37. 36. who being informed by his underkeeper of Iosephs great care and faithfulness began to have a better opinion of him, though for his own quiet and his Wives reputation he left him still in the prison.

Was a Prisoner, as that word is used, Isa, 22. 3. For Ioseph, being now made Governour of the Prisoners, was doubtless freed from his bonds: Or, had been bound, and that with Irons in a cruel manner, Psal. 105. 18.

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

Heb. Days, i. e. either many days, or a year, as that word sometimes signifies, See Gen. 24. 55.

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.

(i. e.) Not a vain and idle dream, but one that had in it a signification of future things, and needed interpretation, and the several dreams were proper and agreeable to the several events which befell them, and to the several interpretations which Ioseph put upon them, the dream and interpretation did fitly answer one to the other.

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

Perplexed and terrified both because they perceived the dream was extraordinary and sent from God, compare Gen. 41. 8. Dan. 2. 1. Matth. 27. 19. and because they understood not the meaning of it.

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.

To wit, with us, or to whom we can now resort; for otherwise there were many in Egypt of that profession, chap. 41. 8.

In vain do you expect such things from your wisemen, for it is onely that God who sends these dreams that can interpret them, and to him you should seek for it.

Who am the servant of the true God, who useth to communicate his secrets to his people, and who, I doubt not, will he[illegible: 1+ letters]r my prayers for this mercy. This he spoke by special direction and instinct from God, who had given this gift to him.

Marginal references: See chap. 41. 16. Dan. 2. 11, 28.

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

(i. e.) Signifie. So that word is oft used, as ver. 18. and 41. 26, 27. Dan. 2. 38. and 4. 22. Matth. 13. 19, 38▪ and 26. 26, 28. Luk. 8. 11. 1 Cor. 10. 4. And indeed there is no proper Hebrew word which answers to signifie.

13 Yet within three dayes shall Pharaoh lift up thine head , and restore thee unto thy place, and thou shalt deliver Pharaohs cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his Butler.

(i. e.) Advance thee to thy former dignity. So that phrase is used 2 King. 25. 27. Psal. 110. 7. Or, r[illegible: 1+ letters]kon thy [illegible: 1+ letters]ead, i. e. thy name or thy person, to wi[illegible: 1+ letters], among his servants, which is added ver. 20. According to the custom, which was this; At set times Governours of Families used to take an account of their servants, and to have the names of their servants read to them, and they either lest them in the catalogue or put any of them out, as they saw fit, and in[illegible: 1+ letters]licted such further punishments upon any of them as they deserved. This seems the truer interpretation, because it is said that Pharaoh lifted up the head of his Butler, and o[illegible: 1+ letters] his Baker, ver. 20. and therefore the phrase must be so expounded as to agree equally to both.

Marginal references: O[illegible: 1+ letters], [illegible: 1 word] th[illegible: 1+ letters].

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 .

Though he patiently endures his prison, yet he prudently useth all lawful means to get his freedom.

Marginal references: Heb. remember me with thee.

15 For indeed I was stollen away out of the land of the Hebrews , and here also have I done nothing , that they should put me into the dungeon.

Taken away by force and fraud without my own or Fathers consent.

Out of the land of Canaan, which he might call the Land of Hebrews, either because they now [illegible: 1+ letters]welt in it, or by way of protestation of their right and claim to it by Gods gift. Or rather thus, out of that part of Canaan where the Hebrews dwell: For the word Land is not onely spoken of whole Countries, as of the whole Land of Canaan, but of any parts or parcels thereof, as Gen. 13. 6. and 22. 2. and 23. 15. and 34. 1.

Observe, that Ioseph doth not accuse either his brethren or his mistress, but onely asserts his own innocency, which was necessary for his deliverance.

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.

So called from the colour either of the baskets, which were made of pilled and so white twigs, or of the things contained in them as white bread, &c.

Marginal references: Or, full of [illegible: 1 word].

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.

This clause is industriously added here to the former phrase, to shew that it was now meant in another sense, He shall indeed lift up thy head, as well as the chief Bakers, but in another manner, not for thee, but from thee, or so as to take away thy head or thy Life (which eminently consists and appears in the head) from thee.

Marginal references: Or, reckon thee, and take thy office from thee.

20 And it came to pass the third day which was Pharaohs birth-day , 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.

Which by persons of eminency then was and since hath usually been celebrated with feasting and rejoycing.

Marginal references: Mark 6. 21; Or, reckoned.

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

(i. e.) Neglected him and his desire, as men in Scripture are oft said to forget God when they do not remember him so as to love and obey him. as Psal. 106. 13, 21. Hos. 2. 13.