Genesis 40

Genesis 40:3

HE put them in ward] In Josephs case (once a great favourite in the housE of Potiphar, and afterwards with wrath, and reproach turned out of his house, and committed to prison) we may observe the sicklenesse of humane favour; and in these two Court Officers, the slippery condition of Courtiers; who either by their owne errours, or others malic, or the mutability of the minds of their great Masters suffer many times a lamentable change of their estates; which yet is oftentimes not lamented, because their former elevation (haply abused by insolencie of carriage) hath made them observed with an envious as well as with a curious eye.

Genesis 40:4

the captaine of the guard] This may well be thought to be the same Potiphar who before committed Joseph to prison; for by this time, (the Lord being with him and shewing him mercy, Chap. 39. 21.) his innocencie might be made known unto him by meanes of the keeper of the prison, to whom it is like he told the true story of his Mistresses false and foul dealing towards his Master, and himselfe, though for his owne credit sake he might desire to bury that unhonest businesse in perpetuall silence.

Genesis 40:5

And they dreamed] See Annot. on Chap. 20. 5: 3.

according to the interpretation] (Chap. 41. 11.) The interpretation should be according to the dreame, not the dreame according to the interpretation; The meaning is, that each had his dreame congruous to his condition, which was not idle, but such as did presage somewhat to come to passe, requiring correspondent interpretation, and it was interpreted accordingly, vers. 12. 18.

Genesis 40:8

We have dreamed a dreame] Not both one dreame, but each of them a dreame, as vers. 5.

there is no interpreter] That is, for us to consult with, because being shut up in prison, we cannot have recourse to the Magicians of Egypt, with whom in such matters we should consult. See Genesis 41. vers. 8. & Daniel 4:7.

Doe not interpretations] You are deceived if you expect the interpretation of your dreame from such Wisards, the true interpretation of them belongeth to God, and to those to whom he is pleased to reveale them; so Chap. 41. 16.

tell me them] By this he taketh not upon himselfe to be God, for Chap. 41. 16. he saith, it is not in him to give answer to such doubts, as of himselfe, but addressing himselfe unto God, and receiving answer from him, he makes no doubt but he shall be able to tell them both, what is meant by their dreames. See Dan. 4. 5: 8. & Chap. 5. 12.

Genesis 40:12

are three dayes] That is, signifie three dayes; so it is usually in the Scripture, where there is no Hebrew word to answer our English word signifie.

Genesis 40:13

within three dayes] That is, on the third day, vers. 20. which interpretation Joseph had not by conjecture from the three branches, vers. 10. (for branches have no reference unto dayes, and the three might have beene as many weekes, or moneths, or yeares) but by Divine revelation.

lift up thy head] This phrase is sometimes taken for advancing, as Jeremiah 52:31. and sometimes it is used for reckoning, numbering, or summing up to an head; so it is used, Exodus 30. vers. 12. Numbers 1:2. & Chap. 26. 2. In both these senses it may be taken in this place; for the Butler was to be lifted up againe to the office from whence he was deposed, and to be reckoned, and accounted in the number of his Court officers as before.

Genesis 40:14

thinke on me] Though Joseph could tell when the Butler should be released, and restored to his office, it seemes he knew not the time of his own deliverance, as the man of God that came out of Judah, who prophesied against the Altar set up by Jeroboam, knew not the calamitie which was to come upon himselfe, 1 King. 13. See Annot. on Chap. 46. vers. 27.

make mention of me] He refused not the meanes to be delivered which he thought God had appointed; we may trust in Gods providence, and yet use what meanes is in our power to bring his purpose to passe; without which though he can worke what he will, yet it being his revealed will to us, that we shall use the meanes, we must not divide them from the end. See Annot. on Chap. 7. vers. 1.

bring me out of] Servitude, or restraint, if God put it upon us, must be patiently borne; yet libertie is rather to be desired if it may be had, 1 Corinthians 7:21.

Genesis 40:15

I was stollen] There was a stealing of men forbidden upon paine of death, Exodus 21:16. and men were stollen to be sold, as there it is said; now Joseph by the injustice of his brethren was stollen from their father, or, (which is all one) conveighed away from him without his knowledge, and sold to the Ishmaelites, Gen. 37. 28, &c.

the Land of the Hebrewes] That is, the Land of Canaan; so called, because the posteritie of Abraham the Hebrew, Genesis 14:13. were the best of those that dwelled in it; and for that by especiall grant from God they were the true Lords and owners of it.

I have done nothing] Innocency is no protection against the power of malice; yet may it well be pleaded against the wicked, and thereby God may have the glory of the patient suffering of his people, and the wicked may have the shame of their unjust dealing with them. See John 10:32. Acts 24:12-13.

Genesis 40:16

white baskets] The word Chor rendred here white is a substantive, though the sense be adjective; and it signifieth whitenesse, and so it is referred to the baskets made of white pilled twigs, or to the white bread in the baskets: and it signifieth also an hole, for such baskets might be wrought with holes, and the more loosely twigged to let in the aire; but of this we need not be very curiously inquisitive, since they were but baskets in a dreame, which doe not require a reall determination to passe upon them.

Genesis 40:17

in the uppermost] There were all manner of baked meats, so farre goeth the Text, no further; but some say that in the middlemost and lowermost there was bread and nothing else.

Genesis 40:19

lift up thine head] The same phrase that was used, vers. 13. and afterward, vers. 20. but in a contrary sense, as the words following [from off thee] shew, whereby may be meant that his head should first be stricken off and lifted up as the head of a traitor, and afterward his body hanged on a tree.

the birds shall eat] The Gentiles, it seemes, did not cut those down they hanged up, (as did the Jewes according to the Law ordained of God, Deuteronomy 21. vers. 22, 23.) the same day of their execution; and herein Joseph doth freely and faithfully forewarne him of his danger, that he may prepare himselfe the better to undergoe it: It were to be wished that Physicians, and those that attend on sicke folke, would, if they see any signes, or presages of death, take occasion to warne them to make them ready for another world; the neglect of this dutie hath endangered many a soule while the Physitian loath to affright his Patient, lest it should hinder the operation of his Physick, and the friends of the sicke, unwilling to speake an uncomfortable word, have suffered them to depart without due preparation for so great a change; and if they be unwilling to heare of death, they must heare it for all that, that they may be made willing, for none come to heaven against their will.

Genesis 40:20

birth-day] It is a practise of great antiquitie and of long continuance (for it is the practice of many people to this day) annually to celebrate the remembrace of their birth-day in particular, as God did the worlds birth-day in generall by a solemne and weekly Sabath; whereof though we find but two examples in the Scripture, and those not of good men that did it, viz. Pharaoh in this place, and Herod, Matthew 14:6. And two examples of good men who cursed the day of their birth, Job Chap. 3. 1. & Jeremy, Chap. 20. 14. yet the example of Abraham making a Feast at the weaning of Isaac comes somewhat neere it, for at the birth of the child the mother was too weake, (and sometimes the childs birth is the mothers death, as Benjamins was to his mother Rachel, Genesis 35:18.) to beare a part in such a solemnitie; at the circumcision the child was in too much paine for an occasion of her rejoycing; and the first fit opportunitie was, when the child giving over milke was growne up in strength to feed on stronger meat: and if a birth-day be remembred with thanks giving to God, as the Lord of life and death, the author of health and strength, the giver of children, Psalms 127:3. and done without superstition, or vanitie, or excesse, or abuse of Gods creatures, learned and godly Divines give allowance to it; who teach also that it might be lawfull for Pharaoh and Herod to keepe their birth-day, and yet deny the Popish celebration of the Festivities of Peter, and Paul, and other holy men or women; for it is one thing for one to keepe a memoriall of his own, or anothers birth-day, while he is alive, another to make a perpetuall practise of it, when he is dead; one thing to doe it onely by a way of thanksgiving to God, and for his honour onely, another to performe Idolatrous devotions to the Saints, as the Papists doe.

Genesis 40:22

he hanged the chiefe Baker] His birth-day celebrated with mirth and magnificence gave him occasion to take notice of his chiefe officers, and to retaine, change or discharge, and deale with them as he saw cause; so came the Butlers and Bakers faults to his consideration, and censure, and in both Joseph was approved a true Prophet.

Genesis 40:23

but forgate him] The ungratefulnesse for favours received, and unmindfulnesse of men in misery is a grievous sinne; this was the Bakers fault towards Joseph, and that fault is complained of by the Prophet, Amos Chap. 6. vers. 6.