Joseph, the Butler and the Baker by Benjamin Cuyp

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Genesis 40

Genesis 40 1

After these things, the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord, the king of Egypt.

Genesis 40 2

Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cup bearer and the chief baker.

Genesis 40 3

He put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound.

Genesis 40 4

The captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, and he took care of them. They stayed in prison many days.

Genesis 40 5

They both dreamed a dream, each man his dream, in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the cup bearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were bound in the prison.

Genesis 40 6

Joseph came in to them in the morning, and saw them, and saw that they were sad.

Genesis 40 7

He asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, saying, “Why do you look so sad today?”

Genesis 40 8

They said to him, “We have dreamed a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it.” Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Please tell it to me.”

Genesis 40 9

The chief cup bearer told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, “In my dream, behold, a vine was in front of me,

Genesis 40 10

and in the vine were three branches. It was as though it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters produced ripe grapes.

Genesis 40 11

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.”

Genesis 40 12

Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days.

Genesis 40 13

Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head, and restore you to your office. You will give Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, the way you did when you were his cup bearer.

Genesis 40 14

But remember me when it will be well with you, and please show kindness to me, and make mention of me to Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house.

Genesis 40 15

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

Genesis 40 16

When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said to Joseph, “I also was in my dream, and behold, three baskets of white bread were on my head.

Genesis 40 17

In the uppermost basket there were all kinds of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket on my head.”

Genesis 40 18

Joseph answered, “This is its interpretation. The three baskets are three days.

Genesis 40 19

Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head from off you, and will hang you on a tree; and the birds will eat your flesh from off you.”

Genesis 40 20

On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants, and he lifted up the head of the chief cup bearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants.

Genesis 40 21

He restored the chief cup bearer to his position again, and he gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand;

Genesis 40 22

but he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them.

Genesis 40 23

Yet the chief cup bearer didn’t remember Joseph, but forgot him.