NOTES for Gen 40:1-23

The prison in which Joseph found himself was not an ordinary one. Judging by the fact that Potiphar sent Joseph there by his own authority and personal order, and by the fact that "the king's prisoners" (Gen. 39:20) were held there, that is, especially dangerous or highly placed prisoners, it was apparently under Potiphar's jurisdiction as the captain of Pharaoh's palace guard ("captain of the bodyguard," Gen. 39:1). It is no surprise that Joseph's fellow prisoners turned out to be very high-ranking people, such as the chief cupbearer and the chief baker (vv. 2-4). The story says nothing about their guilt. However, if we keep in mind that these offices were directly connected with the supply of wine and bread to Pharaoh's court, that is, in modern terms, that they involved material responsibility, certain conclusions about the nature of these high-ranking court officials' guilt are not hard to make.

It is no surprise that the dreams they saw disturbed them greatly, for they understood well that this was a sign from above, one that could prove literally vital for each of them (vv. 5-8). Both were undoubtedly glad to receive an interpretation from Joseph. Of course, in ordinary times neither of them would have turned to a slave steward; but now, in a critical situation, they were plainly ready for anything so that at least some certainty might come into their lives. And certainty did come: Joseph interprets both dreams, predicting a quick release for the cupbearer (vv. 9-13) and a quick execution for the baker (vv. 16-19). He asks the cupbearer, who is soon to be released, to put in a word for him; the cupbearer will soon have every opportunity to make such a request, and Joseph is in prison for nothing (vv. 14-15).

But when everything Joseph had promised came true, the cupbearer, once free, forgot Joseph's request (vv. 20-23). Sadly, this is no surprise either: in a critical situation, when the moment of truth comes for each person, relationships between people are seen quite differently than in ordinary times. In ordinary times, too much is determined by secondary things, by questions of prestige, status, social position, and much else that falls away in a boundary situation like husks.

In a critical situation, however, this is natural and happens on its own; it is far harder to preserve this newly opened, proper vision in ordinary life, when the crisis is behind us. The cupbearer, alas, did not manage to do this: considerations of status and career won out. After all, what benefit is there in reminding one's superiors about people sitting in prison, especially if one has just come out of there oneself and wants everyone around to forget that episode of one's biography as quickly as possible?

This episode serves as an introduction to the main part of the story of Joseph: his wondrous gift must lead to the fulfillment of God's design, which will affect not only Joseph and his brothers, but all of Egypt and Israel. But there is also a special plot here: Joseph passes through one more test. He does not try to use his ability to interpret dreams for selfish purposes, does not claim natural possession of this gift, and does not try to use it to influence the course of events magically. In his eyes, the only Master of dreams and reality remains God. This conclusion allows Joseph to entrust his own life to God, the true interpreter of dreams and governor of human destinies. Strictly speaking, Sacred History is the history of people who entrusted their destinies to God, a history that continues from the beginning of the world to our own day.