“And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.”(Genesis 40:1)
The Pharaoh was the King of Egypt. The political division of Egypt includes those that are in charge of the economy, those in charge of the military, and those in charge of magic. Everyone was serving at the whim of the Pharaoh. This includes those who took care of the Pharaoh. Two important servants of the Pharaoh was the Chief Butler and Chief Baker.
If the wine tasted bad, or the bread was like a brick. The Pharaoh would be angry. As is so happens, bad things happened.
The Pharaoh was so angry at the Butler and the Baker he had them both thrown in to prison. As is so happens, Joseph was in the same prison. The Captain of the Guard put Joseph in charge of the Butler and the Baker.
Joseph took care of the two, after a few months the Butler and the Baker both had a dream that worried them. They both looked sad, and Joseph asked them, why are you so sad?
They both answered Joseph and said, we had a dream but there is no one to tell us what it means.
The Chief Butler told Joseph his dream, “
“…and said to him, In my dream, behold, a vine was before me;
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:
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.” (Gen 40:9-11)
Joseph interpreted the dream, “The three branches are three days:
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.
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:
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.” (Gen 40:12-15)
The Chief Baker had heard this interpretation and hoped his was just as good. So he told Joseph.
“I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head:
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.” (Gen 40:16-17)
Joseph interpreted the dream, “The three baskets are three days:
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.” (Gen 40:18-19)
That doesn’t look good for the Baker.
After three days it was the Pharaoh’s birthday. Of course he had a big party and even had a feast for all of his servants. The Pharaoh pulled the Butler and the Baker out of the prison. He gave the Butler his old job back. He hung the Baker.
Now did the Butler remind Pharaoh about Joseph? No, the Butler was not going to mention something that might make the Pharaoh angry again.
Stay tuned….
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