Génesis 40

El copero y el panadero

1 Tiempo después, el copero y el panadero del rey de Egipto ofendieron a su señor.

2 El faraón se enojó contra estos dos funcionarios suyos, es decir, contra el jefe de los coperos y el jefe de los panaderos,

3 así que los mandó presos a la casa del capitán de la guardia, que era la misma cárcel donde estaba preso José.

4 Allí el capitán de la guardia le encargó a José que atendiera a estos funcionarios.Después de haber estado algún tiempo en la cárcel,

5 una noche los dos funcionarios, es decir, el copero y el panadero, tuvieron cada uno un sueño, cada sueño con su propio significado.

6 A la mañana siguiente, cuando José fue a verlos, los encontró muy preocupados,

7 y por eso les preguntó:—¿Por qué andan hoy tan cabizbajos?

8 —Los dos tuvimos un sueño —respondieron—, y no hay nadie que nos lo interprete.—¿Acaso no es Dios quien da la interpretación? —preguntó José—. ¿Por qué no me cuentan lo que soñaron?

9 Entonces el jefe de los coperos le contó a José el sueño que había tenido:—Soñé que frente a mí había una vid,

10 la cual tenía tres ramas. En cuanto la vid echó brotes, floreció; y maduraron las uvas en los racimos.

11 Yo tenía la copa del faraón en la mano. Tomé las uvas, las exprimí en la copa, y luego puse la copa en manos del faraón.

12 Entonces José le dijo:—Esta es la interpretación de su sueño: Las tres ramas son tres días.

13 Dentro de los próximos tres días el faraón lo indultará a usted y volverá a colocarlo en su cargo. Usted volverá a poner la copa del faraón en su mano, tal como lo hacía antes, cuando era su copero.

14 Yo le ruego que no se olvide de mí. Por favor, cuando todo se haya arreglado, háblele usted de mí al faraón para que me saque de esta cárcel.

15 A mí me trajeron por la fuerza, de la tierra de los hebreos. ¡Yo no hice nada aquí para que me echaran en la cárcel!

16 Al ver que la interpretación había sido favorable, el jefe de los panaderos le dijo a José:—Yo también tuve un sueño. En ese sueño, llevaba yo tres canastas de pan^[a] sobre la cabeza.

17 En la canasta de arriba había un gran surtido de repostería para el faraón, pero las aves venían a comer de la canasta que llevaba sobre la cabeza.

18 José le respondió:—Esta es la interpretación de su sueño: Las tres canastas son tres días.

19 Dentro de los próximos tres días, el faraón mandará que a usted lo decapiten y lo cuelguen de un árbol, y las aves devorarán su cuerpo.

20 En efecto, tres días después el faraón celebró su cumpleaños y ofreció una gran fiesta para todos sus funcionarios. En presencia de estos, mandó sacar de la cárcel al jefe de los coperos y al jefe de los panaderos.

21 Al jefe de los coperos lo restituyó en su cargo para que, una vez más, pusiera la copa en manos del faraón.

22 Pero, tal como lo había predicho José, al jefe de los panaderos mandó que lo ahorcaran.

23 Sin embargo, el jefe de los coperos no se acordó de José, sino que se olvidó de él por completo.

Génesis 40 Commentary

Chapter 40

The chief butler and baker of Pharaoh in prison, Their dreams interpreted by Joseph. (1-19) The ingratitude of the chief butler. (20-23)

Verses 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.

Verses 20-23 Joseph's interpretation of the dreams came to pass on the very day fixed. On Pharaoh's birth-day, all his servants attended him, and then the cases of these two came to be looked into. We may all profitably take notice of our birth-days, with thankfulness for the mercies of our birth, sorrow for the sinfulness of our lives, and expectation of the day of our death, as better than the day of our birth. But it seems strange that worldly people, who are so fond of living here, should rejoice at the end of one year after another of their short span of life. A Christian has cause to rejoice that he was born, also that he comes nearer to the end of his sin and sorrow, and nearer to his everlasting happiness. The chief butler remembered not Joseph, but forgot him. Joseph had deserved well at his hands, yet he forgot him. We must not think it strange, if in this world we have hatred shown us for our love, and slights for our kindness. See how apt those who are themselves at ease are to forget others in distress. Joseph learned by his disappointment to trust in God only. We cannot expect too little from man, nor too much from God. Let us not forget the sufferings, promises, and love of our Redeemer. We blame the chief butler's ingratitude to Joseph, yet we ourselves act much more ungratefully to the Lord Jesus. Joseph had but foretold the chief butler's enlargement, but Christ wrought out ours; he mediated with the King of Kings for us; yet we forget him, though often reminded of him, and though we have promised never to forget him. Thus ill do we requite Him, like foolish people and unwise.

Footnotes

• [a]. "pan" . Alt. "mimbre" .

Chapter Summary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 40

The history of this chapter is, the imprisonment of two of Pharaoh's officers, his chief butler and chief baker, who by the captain of the guard were made the charge of Joseph, Ge 40:1-4; they both dreamed in prison, which made them sad; Joseph taking notice of their sadness, asked the reason of it, and encouraged them to tell him their dreams, Ge 40:5-8; the chief butler told his dream of the vine and three branches, which Joseph interpreted of his restoration to his office within three days, and desired him to remember him unto Pharaoh when he stood before him, telling him his case, Ge 40:9-15; then the chief baker told his dream of three white baskets of food on his head, which the birds ate, and this Joseph interpreted of his being hanged within three days, Ge 40:16-19; and the events answered to the interpretation, but Joseph was forgot by the chief butler, Ge 40:20-23.