Genesis 40:17

17 And in the uppermost basket there were all manner of baked meats for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket upon my head."

Genesis 40:17 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 40:17

And in the uppermost basket [there was] of all manner of
bakemeats for Pharaoh
All sorts of pastry, as tarts, pies, &c. Josephus ^F2 says, two of the baskets were full of bread, and the third had various sorts of food, such as is usually, prepared for kings: and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head;
all the three baskets were upon his head, but this seems to be the uppermost, which the birds could more easily come at; though if the baskets were full of holes, they might through them peck the bread with their bills.

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FOOTNOTES:

F2 Antiqu. l. 2. c. 5. sect. 3.

Genesis 40:17 In-Context

15 For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews; and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon."

16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, "I also was in my dream, and behold, I had three white baskets on my head.

17 And in the uppermost basket there were all manner of baked meats for Pharaoh, and the birds ate them out of the basket upon my head."

18 And Joseph answered and said, "This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days.

19 Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee."