401 And it cometh to pass, after these things—the butler of the king of Egypt and the baker have sinned against their lord, against the king of Egypt; 2 and Pharaoh is wroth against his two eunuchs, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers, 3 and giveth them in charge in the house of the chief of the executioners, unto the round-house, the place where Joseph 'is' a prisoner, 4 and the chief of the executioners chargeth Joseph with them, and he serveth them; and they are days in charge.
5 And they dream a dream both of them, each his dream in one night, each according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker whom the king of Egypt hath, who 'are' prisoners in the round-house. 6 And Joseph cometh in unto them in the morning, and seeth them, and lo, they 'are' morose; 7 and he asketh Pharaoh's eunuchs who 'are' with him in charge in the house of his lord, saying, 'Wherefore 'are' your faces sad to-day?' 8 And they say unto him, 'A dream we have dreamed, and there is no interpreter of it;' and Joseph saith unto them, 'Are not interpretations with God? recount, I pray you, to me.' 9 And the chief of the butlers recounteth his dream to Joseph, and saith to him, 'In my dream, then lo, a vine 'is' before me! 10 and in the vine 'are' three branches, and it 'is' as it were flourishing; gone up hath its blossom, its clusters have ripened grapes; 11 and Pharaoh's cup 'is' in my hand, and I take the grapes and press them into the cup of Pharaoh, and I give the cup into the hand of Pharaoh.' 12 And Joseph saith to him, 'This 'is' its interpretation: the three branches are three days; 13 yet, within three days doth Pharaoh lift up thy head, and hath put thee back on thy station, and thou hast given the cup of Pharaoh into his hand, according to the former custom when thou wast his butler. 14 'Surely if thou hast remembered me with thee, when it is well with thee, and hast done (I pray thee) kindness with me, and hast made mention of me unto Pharaoh, then hast thou brought me out from this house, 15 for I was really stolen from the land of the Hebrews; and here also have I done nothing that they have put me in the pit.' 16 And the chief of the bakers seeth that he hath interpreted good, and he saith unto Joseph, 'I also 'am' in a dream, and lo, three baskets of white bread 'are' on my head, 17 and in the uppermost basket 'are' of all 'kinds' of Pharaoh's food, work of a baker; and the birds are eating them out of the basket, from off my head.' 18 And Joseph answereth and saith, 'This 'is' its interpretation: the three baskets are three days; 19 yet, within three days doth Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and hath hanged thee on a tree, and the birds have eaten thy flesh from off thee.'
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 40:1-19
Commentary on Genesis 40:1-19
(Read Genesis 40:1-19)
It was not so much the prison that made the butler and baker sad, as their dreams. God has more ways than one to sadden the spirits. Joseph had compassion towards them. Let us be concerned for the sadness of our brethren's countenances. It is often a relief to those that are in trouble to be noticed. Also learn to look into the causes of our own sorrow. Is there a good reason? Is there not comfort sufficient to balance it, whatever it is? Why art thou cast down, O my soul? Joseph was careful to ascribe the glory to God. The chief butler's dream foretold his advancement. The chief baker's dream his death. It was not Joseph's fault that he brought the baker no better tidings. And thus ministers are but interpreters; they cannot make the thing otherwise than it is: if they deal faithfully, and their message prove unpleasing, it is not their fault. Joseph does not reflect upon his brethren that sold him; nor does he reflect on the wrong done him by his mistress and his master, but mildly states his own innocence. When we are called on to clear ourselves, we should carefully avoid, as much as may be, speaking ill of others. Let us be content to prove ourselves innocent, and not upbraid others with their guilt.