OEB GEN Chapter 40

The Two Dreams

Shorter

40 Some time after these things the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their master the king of Egypt, 2 so that Pharaoh was angry with these two officers and imprisoned them in the house of the captain of the guard, in the same prison where Joseph was confined. 3 The captain of the guard assigned Joseph to them, and he waited on them; 4 and they remained in confinement for some time.

5 Meanwhile the king of Egypt’s cupbearer and baker, who were confined in the prison, both had dreams the same night, each with a particular meaning. 6 When Joseph came in to them in the morning, he saw plainly that they were sad. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officers, ‘Why do you look so sad today?’ 8 They answered. ‘We have had a dream and there is no one who can interpret it.’ Then Joseph said to them, ‘Do not the interpretations of dreams belong to God? Tell them to me.’

9 Then the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph and said to him, ‘In my dream I saw a vine before me, 10 and on the vine were three branches, and as if budding it put out blossoms and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes. 11 Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into his cup and gave the cup to Pharaoh.’

12 Then Joseph said to him, ‘This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days; 13 within three days Pharaoh will release you from prison and restore you to your office, and you will give Pharaoh’s cup into his hand as you used to do when you were his cupbearer. 14 But when all goes well with you, remember me, show kindness to me and speak in my behalf to Pharaoh and bring me out of this house; 15 for I was unjustly stolen from the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me in the dungeon.’

16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, ‘I also saw something in my dream: there were three baskets of white bread on my head, 17 and in the uppermost basket there were all kinds of baked food for Pharaoh, and the birds were eating them out of the basket on my head.’ 18 Joseph answered, ‘This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days; 19 within three days Pharaoh will take off your head and hang you on a tree, and the birds shall eat your flesh.’

20 Now on the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his officials. Then he released the chief cupbearer and the chief baker. 21 He restored the chief butler to his office, so that he again gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand, 22 but the chief baker he hanged, as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.