5 And they dreamed H2492 a dream H2472 both of them, H8147 each man H376 his dream H2472 in one H259 night, H3915 each man H376 according to the interpretation H6623 of his dream, H2472 the butler H8248 and the baker H644 of the king H4428 of Egypt, H4714 which were bound H631 in the prison. H1004 H5470
And we dreamed H2492 a dream H2472 in one H259 night, H3915 I and he; we dreamed H2492 each man H376 according to the interpretation H6623 of his dream. H2472
Now the LORD H3068 had said H559 unto Abram, H87 Get thee out H3212 of thy country, H776 and from thy kindred, H4138 and from thy father's H1 house, H1004 unto a land H776 that I will shew H7200 thee: And I will make of thee H6213 a great H1419 nation, H1471 and I will bless H1288 thee, and make H1431 thy name H8034 great; H1431 and thou shalt be a blessing: H1293 And I will bless H1288 them that bless H1288 thee, and curse H779 him that curseth H7043 thee: and in thee shall all families H4940 of the earth H127 be blessed. H1288 So Abram H87 departed, H3212 as the LORD H3068 had spoken H1696 unto him; and Lot H3876 went H3212 with him: and Abram H87 was seventy H7657 H8141 and five H2568 years H8141 old H1121 when he departed H3318 out of Haran. H2771 And Abram H87 took H3947 Sarai H8297 his wife, H802 and Lot H3876 his brother's H251 son, H1121 and all their substance H7399 that they had gathered, H7408 and the souls H5315 that they had gotten H6213 in Haran; H2771 and they went forth H3318 to go H3212 into the land H776 of Canaan; H3667 and into the land H776 of Canaan H3667 they came. H935 And Abram H87 passed through H5674 the land H776 unto the place H4725 of Sichem, H7927 unto the plain H436 of Moreh. H4176 And the Canaanite H3669 was then H227 in the land. H776 And the LORD H3068 appeared H7200 unto Abram, H87 and said, H559 Unto thy seed H2233 will I give H5414 this H2063 land: H776 and there builded H1129 he an altar H4196 unto the LORD, H3068 who appeared H7200 unto him.
And Joseph H3130 dreamed H2492 a dream, H2472 and he told H5046 it his brethren: H251 and they hated H8130 him yet the more. H3254 And he said H559 unto them, Hear, H8085 I pray you, this dream H2472 which I have dreamed: H2492 For, behold, we were binding H481 H8432 sheaves H485 in the field, H7704 and, lo, my sheaf H485 arose, H6965 and also stood upright; H5324 and, behold, your sheaves H485 stood round about, H5437 and made obeisance H7812 to my sheaf. H485 And his brethren H251 said H559 to him, Shalt thou indeed H4427 reign H4427 over us? or shalt thou indeed H4910 have dominion H4910 over us? And they hated H8130 him yet the more H3254 for his dreams, H2472 and for his words. H1697 And he dreamed H2492 yet another H312 dream, H2472 and told H5608 it his brethren, H251 and said, H559 Behold, I have dreamed H2492 a dream H2472 more; and, behold, the sun H8121 and the moon H3394 and the eleven H6240 H259 stars H3556 made obeisance H7812 to me. And he told H5608 it to his father, H1 and to his brethren: H251 and his father H1 rebuked H1605 him, and said H559 unto him, What is this dream H2472 that thou hast dreamed? H2492 Shall I and thy mother H517 and thy brethren H251 indeed H935 come H935 to bow down H7812 ourselves to thee to the earth? H776
And they said H559 unto him, We have dreamed H2492 a dream, H2472 and there is no interpreter H6622 of it. And Joseph H3130 said H559 unto them, Do not interpretations H6623 belong to God? H430 tell me H5608 them, I pray you.
And it came to pass at the end H7093 of two full H3117 years, H8141 that Pharaoh H6547 dreamed: H2492 and, behold, he stood H5975 by the river. H2975 And, behold, there came up H5927 out of the river H2975 seven H7651 well H3303 favoured H4758 kine H6510 and fatfleshed; H1277 H1320 and they fed H7462 in a meadow. H260 And, behold, seven H7651 other H312 kine H6510 came up H5927 after them H310 out of the river, H2975 ill H7451 favoured H4758 and leanfleshed; H1851 H1320 and stood H5975 by H681 the other kine H6510 upon the brink H8193 of the river. H2975 And the ill H7451 favoured H4758 and leanfleshed H1851 H1320 kine H6510 did eat up H398 the seven H7651 well H3303 favoured H4758 and fat H1277 kine. H6510 So Pharaoh H6547 awoke. H3364 And he slept H3462 and dreamed H2492 the second time: H8145 and, behold, seven H7651 ears of corn H7641 came up H5927 upon one H259 stalk, H7070 rank H1277 and good. H2896 And, behold, seven H7651 thin H1851 ears H7641 and blasted H7710 with the east wind H6921 sprung up H6779 after them. H310 And the seven thin H1851 ears H7641 devoured H1104 the seven H7651 rank H1277 and full H4392 ears. H7641 And Pharaoh H6547 awoke, H3364 and, behold, it was a dream. H2472
And he said, H559 Hear H8085 now my words: H1697 If there be a prophet H5030 among you, I the LORD H3068 will make myself known H3045 unto him in a vision, H4759 and will speak H1696 unto him in a dream. H2472
And when Gideon H1439 was come, H935 behold, there was a man H376 that told H5608 a dream H2472 unto his fellow, H7453 and said, H559 Behold, I dreamed H2492 a dream, H2472 and, lo, a cake H6742 H6742 of barley H8184 bread H3899 tumbled H2015 into the host H4264 of Midian, H4080 and came H935 unto a tent, H168 and smote H5221 it that it fell, H5307 and overturned H2015 H4605 it, that the tent H168 lay along. H5307 And his fellow H7453 answered H6030 and said, H559 This is nothing else save the sword H2719 of Gideon H1439 the son H1121 of Joash, H3101 a man H376 of Israel: H3478 for into his hand H3027 hath God H430 delivered H5414 Midian, H4080 and all the host. H4264
In a dream, H2472 in a vision H2384 of the night, H3915 when deep H8639 sleep falleth H5307 upon men, H582 in slumberings H8572 upon the bed; H4904 Then he openeth H1540 the ears H241 of men, H582 and sealeth H2856 their instruction, H4561 That he may withdraw H5493 man H120 from his purpose, H4639 and hide H3680 pride H1466 from man. H1397
And in the second H8147 year H8141 of the reign H4438 of Nebuchadnezzar H5019 Nebuchadnezzar H5019 dreamed H2492 dreams, H2472 wherewith his spirit H7307 was troubled, H6470 and his sleep H8142 brake H1961 from him. Then the king H4428 commanded H559 to call H7121 the magicians, H2748 and the astrologers, H825 and the sorcerers, H3784 and the Chaldeans, H3778 for to shew H5046 the king H4428 his dreams. H2472 So they came H935 and stood H5975 before H6440 the king. H4428 And the king H4428 said H559 unto them, I have dreamed H2492 a dream, H2472 and my spirit H7307 was troubled H6470 to know H3045 the dream. H2472
O Belteshazzar, H1096 master H7229 of the magicians, H2749 because I H576 know H3046 that the spirit H7308 of the holy H6922 gods H426 is in thee, and no H3606 H3809 secret H7328 troubleth H598 thee, tell H560 me the visions H2376 of my dream H2493 that I have seen, H2370 and the interpretation H6591 thereof.
Then H116 Daniel, H1841 whose name H8036 was Belteshazzar, H1096 was astonied H8075 for one H2298 hour, H8160 and his thoughts H7476 troubled H927 him. The king H4430 spake, H6032 and said, H560 Belteshazzar, H1096 let not H409 the dream, H2493 or the interpretation H6591 thereof, trouble H927 thee. Belteshazzar H1096 answered H6032 and said, H560 My lord, H4756 the dream H2493 be to them that hate H8131 thee, and the interpretation H6591 thereof to thine enemies. H6146
In the first H2298 year H8140 of Belshazzar H1113 king H4430 of Babylon H895 Daniel H1841 had H2370 a dream H2493 and visions H2376 of his head H7217 upon H5922 his bed: H4903 then H116 he wrote H3790 the dream, H2493 and told H560 the sum H7217 of the matters. H4406 Daniel H1841 spake H6032 and said, H560 I saw H2370 H1934 in my vision H2376 by H5974 night, H3916 and, behold, H718 the four H703 winds H7308 of the heaven H8065 strove H1519 upon the great H7229 sea. H3221 And four H703 great H7260 beasts H2423 came up H5559 from H4481 the sea, H3221 diverse H8133 one H1668 from H4481 another. H1668 The first H6933 was like a lion, H744 and had eagle's H5403 wings: H1611 I beheld H1934 H2370 till H5705 the wings H1611 thereof were plucked, H4804 and it was lifted up H5191 from H4481 the earth, H772 and made stand H6966 upon H5922 the feet H7271 as a man, H606 and a man's H606 heart H3825 was given H3052 to it. And behold H718 another H317 beast, H2423 a second, H8578 like H1821 to a bear, H1678 and it raised up H6966 itself on one H2298 side, H7859 and it had three H8532 ribs H5967 in the mouth H6433 of it between H997 the teeth H8128 of it: and they said H560 thus H3652 unto it, Arise, H6966 devour H399 much H7690 flesh. H1321 After H870 this H1836 I beheld, H1934 H2370 and lo H718 another, H317 like a leopard, H5245 which had upon H5922 the back H1355 of it four H703 wings H1611 of a fowl; H5776 the beast H2423 had also four H703 heads; H7217 and dominion H7985 was given H3052 to it. After H870 this H1836 I saw H1934 H2370 in the night H3916 visions, H2376 and behold H718 a fourth H7244 beast, H2423 dreadful H1763 and terrible, H574 and strong H8624 exceedingly; H3493 and it had great H7260 iron H6523 teeth: H8128 it devoured H399 and brake in pieces, H1855 and stamped H7512 the residue H7606 with the feet H7271 of it: and it H1932 was diverse H8133 from H4481 all H3606 the beasts H2423 that were before H6925 it; and it had ten H6236 horns. H7162 I considered H1934 H7920 the horns, H7162 and, behold, H431 there came up H5559 among H997 them another H317 little H2192 horn, H7162 before H6925 H4481 whom there were three H8532 of H4481 the first H6933 horns H7162 plucked up by the roots: H6132 and, behold, H431 in this H1668 horn H7162 were eyes H5870 like the eyes H5870 of man, H606 and a mouth H6433 speaking H4449 great things. H7260
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 40
Commentary on Genesis 40 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 40
Ge 40:1-8. Two State Prisoners.
1. the butler—not only the cup-bearer, but overseer of the royal vineyards, as well as the cellars; having, probably, some hundreds of people under him.
baker—or cook, had the superintendence of every thing relating to the providing and preparing of meats for the royal table. Both officers, especially the former, were, in ancient Egypt, always persons of great rank and importance; and from the confidential nature of their employment, as well as their access to the royal presence, they were generally the highest nobles or princes of the blood.
3. Pharaoh put them in ward, &c.—Whatever was their crime, they were committed, until their case could be investigated, to the custody of the captain of the guard, that is, Potiphar, in an outer part of whose house the royal prison was situated.
4. The captain of the guard charged Joseph with them—not the keeper, though he was most favorably disposed; but Potiphar himself, who, it would seem, was by this time satisfied of the perfect innocence of the young Hebrew; though, probably, to prevent the exposure of his family, he deemed it prudent to detain him in confinement (see Ps 37:5).
They continued a season in ward—literally, "days," how long, is uncertain; but as they were called to account on the king's birthday, it has been supposed that their offense had been committed on the preceding anniversary [Calvin].
5-8. they dreamed a dream—Joseph, influenced by the spirit of true religion, could feel for others (Ec 4:1; Ro 12:15; Php 2:4). Observing them one day extremely depressed, he inquired the cause of their melancholy; and being informed it was owing to a dream they had respectively dreamed during the previous night, after piously directing them to God (Da 2:30; Isa 26:10), he volunteered to aid them, through the divine help, in discovering the import of their vision. The influence of Providence must be seen in the remarkable fact of both officers dreaming such dreams in one night. He moves the spirits of men.
Ge 40:9-15. The Butler's Dream.
9-11. In my dream, behold, a vine was before me—The visionary scene described seems to represent the king as taking exercise and attended by his butler, who gave him a cooling draught. On all occasions, the kings of ancient Egypt were required to practice temperance in the use of wine [Wilkinson]; but in this scene, it is a prepared beverage he is drinking, probably the sherbet of the present day. Everything was done in the king's presence—the cup was washed, the juice of the grapes pressed into it; and it was then handed to him—not grasped; but lightly resting on the tips of the fingers.
12-15. Joseph said, … This is the interpretation—Speaking as an inspired interpreter, he told the butler that within three days he would be restored to all the honors and privileges of his office; and while making that joyful announcement, he earnestly bespoke the officer's influence for his own liberation. Nothing has hitherto met us in the record indicative of Joseph's feelings; but this earnest appeal reveals a sadness and impatient longing for release, which not all his piety and faith in God could dispel.
Ge 40:16-23. The Baker's Dream.
16. I had three white baskets—The circumstances mentioned exactly describe his duties, which, notwithstanding numerous assistants, he performed with his own hands.
white—literally, "full of holes"; that is, wicker baskets. The meats were carried to table upon the head in three baskets, one piled upon the other; and in the uppermost, the bakemeats. And in crossing the open courts, from the kitchen to the dining rooms, the removal of the viands by a vulture, eagle, ibis, or other rapacious bird, was a frequent occurrence in the palaces of Egypt, as it is an everyday incident in the hot countries of the East still. The risk from these carnivorous birds was the greater in the cities of Egypt, where being held sacred, it was unlawful to destroy them; and they swarmed in such numbers as to be a great annoyance to the people.
18, 19. Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation—The purport was that in three days his execution should be ordered. The language of Joseph describes minutely one form of capital punishment that prevailed in Egypt; namely, that the criminal was decapitated and then his headless body gibbeted on a tree by the highway till it was gradually devoured by the ravenous birds.
20-22. it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday—This was a holiday season, celebrated at court with great magnificence and honored by a free pardon to prisoners. Accordingly, the issue happened to the butler and baker, as Joseph had foretold. Doubtless, he felt it painful to communicate such dismal tidings to the baker; but he could not help announcing what God had revealed to him; and it was for the honor of the true God that he should speak plainly.
23. yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph—This was human nature. How prone are men to forget and neglect in prosperity, those who have been their companions in adversity (Am 6:6)! But although reflecting no credit on the butler, it was wisely ordered in the providence of God that he should forget him. The divine purposes required that Joseph should obtain his deliverance in another way, and by other means.