- Book: [[Genesis]] - Next chapter: [[Genesis 41]] > [!summary] Summary > - Still in prison, [[Joseph]] meets [[Pharaoh]]’s chief **cupbearer** and **baker**—both troubled by dreams > - [[Joseph]] insists “**interpretations belong to [[God]]**” and accurately foretells **restoration** for the cupbearer and **execution** for the baker > - On [[Pharaoh]]’s birthday the dreams come true, yet the cupbearer forgets [[Joseph]], leaving him in prison until [[Genesis 41]] > [!info] Why is this here? > - Shows [[Joseph]]’s **God-given gift** of dream interpretation that will soon elevate him before [[Pharaoh]] > - Highlights [[Joseph]]’s continued faithfulness (he serves, notices sorrow, gives God credit) despite prolonged injustice > - Looking forward to [[Genesis 41]] -- mirrors [[Pharaoh]]'s two dreams going different directions. Predicting both a positive result and negative result is also doubly convincing > - A conman would naturally always foretell a positive result due to lack of consequences of being wrong there # Overview ## v. 1-4 [[Pharaoh]]’s officials jailed under [[Joseph]]’s care - [[Pharaoh]] becomes angry with his **chief cupbearer** and **chief baker** - They are committed to "**the house of the captain of the guard**" ([[Potiphar]]?), the same prison where [[Joseph]] is confined - The captain assigns [[Joseph]] to attend them -- [[Joseph]] again finds favor and responsibility ## v. 5-8 Troubling dreams & [[Joseph]]’s [[God]]-centred response - Each man dreams "in the same night," yet neither understands the meaning - [[Joseph]] notices their dejection and asks, "Why do your faces look so sad today?" - He declares, "**Do not interpretations belong to [[God]]? Tell me your dreams**" ## v. 9-15 The cupbearer’s vine dream -> promised restoration - Dream: a vine with **three branches** that bud, blossom, and cluster into grapes; he squeezes them into [[Pharaoh]]’s cup - Interpretation: "**Three days** and [[Pharaoh]] will **lift up your head** and restore you to your office" - [[Joseph]]’s plea: "Remember me... I was **kidnapped** from the land of the [[Hebrew]]s and have done nothing to deserve prison" (first time he tells his own story) ## v. 16-19 The baker’s basket dream -> foretold execution - Seeing the favourable interpretation, the baker volunteers his dream: **three baskets** of bread on his head; birds eat from the top basket - Interpretation: "In **three days** [[Pharaoh]] will **lift up your head -- from you! --and hang you on a pole, and birds will eat your flesh." ## v. 20-23 Birthday fulfillment & [[Joseph]] forgotten - On Pharaoh’s birthday he **"lifts up the heads"** of both officials: reinstates the cupbearer, executes (hangs/impales) the baker -- exactly as Joseph said - Verse 23 closes the scene: "Yet the chief cupbearer **did not remember [[Joseph]], but forgot him**." # Details - **"Captain of the guard"** (v 3) matches the title for [[Potiphar]] in [[Genesis 39]]:1, but it's not explicitly stated to be him - The Hebrew idiom **"lift up the head"** can mean *pardon/restore* (cupbearer) or *take away life* (baker) depending on context - Relation to [[Daniel 2]]? - [[Pharaoh]] can lift or execute with a single word - [[God]] knows what [[Pharaoh]] -- the most powerful man in the world -- will do before he does it. [[God]] > [[Pharaoh]]