Genèse 40

1 Après ces choses, il arriva que l'échanson du roi d'Égypte et le panetier offensèrent leur seigneur, le roi d'Égypte.

2 Et Pharaon se mit en colère contre ses deux officiers, contre le grand échanson et le grand panetier;

3 Et il les fit mettre en prison dans la maison du chef des gardes, dans la forteresse, lieu où Joseph était enfermé.

4 Et le chef des gardes établit Joseph auprès d'eux, et il les servait; et ils furent quelque temps en prison.

5 Et tous les deux eurent un songe, chacun le sien, dans une même nuit, chacun un songe d'une signification particulière, tant l'échanson que le panetier du roi d'Égypte qui étaient enfermés dans la forteresse.

6 Et Joseph, venant vers eux le matin, les regarda, et voici, ils étaient tristes.

7 Et il interrogea ces officiers de Pharaon, qui étaient avec lui en prison dans la maison de son maître, et leur dit: Pourquoi avez-vous mauvais visage aujourd'hui?

8 Et ils lui répondirent: Nous avons fait un songe, et il n'y a personne qui l'interprète. Et Joseph leur dit: Les interprétations n'appartiennent-elles pas à Dieu? Racontez-moi vos songes, je vous prie.

9 Et le grand échanson raconta son songe à Joseph, et lui dit: Je songeais, et voici, un cep était devant moi;

10 Et ce cep avait trois sarments. Or, il semblait qu'il poussait; sa fleur sortit, et ses grappes donnèrent des raisins mûrs.

11 Et la coupe de Pharaon était dans ma main; et je pris les raisins, et je les pressai dans la coupe de Pharaon, et je mis la coupe dans la main de Pharaon.

12 Et Joseph lui dit: En voici l'interprétation: Les trois sarments sont trois jours.

13 Dans trois jours, Pharaon élèvera ta tête, et te rétablira dans ta charge, et tu mettras la coupe de Pharaon dans sa main, comme tu le faisais auparavant, lorsque tu étais son échanson.

14 Mais souviens-toi de moi, quand tu seras heureux, et use de bonté envers moi, je te prie; fais mention de moi à Pharaon, et fais-moi sortir de cette maison.

15 Car, certainement, j'ai été dérobé du pays des Hébreux, et ici non plus je n'ai rien fait pour qu'on me mît dans cette fosse.

16 Alors le grand panetier, voyant que Joseph avait interprété en bien, lui dit: Moi aussi je songeais, et voici, j'avais trois corbeilles de pain blanc sur la tête;

17 Et dans la plus haute corbeille il y avait pour Pharaon de toutes sortes de mets faits par le boulanger; et les oiseaux les mangeaient dans la corbeille qui était sur ma tête.

18 Et Joseph répondit, et dit: En voici l'interprétation: Les trois corbeilles sont trois jours.

19 Dans trois jours, Pharaon élèvera ta tête de dessus toi, et te fera pendre à un bois, et les oiseaux mangeront ta chair sur toi.

20 Et le troisième jour, jour de la naissance de Pharaon, il fit un festin à tous ses serviteurs, et il éleva la tête du grand échanson et du grand panetier, au milieu de ses serviteurs:

21 Il rétablit le grand échanson dans son office d'échanson, afin qu'il mît la coupe dans la main de Pharaon;

22 Mais il fit pendre le grand panetier; comme Joseph le leur avait déclaré.

23 Or, le grand échanson ne se souvint point de Joseph; mais il l'oublia.

Genèse 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.

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.