Genesis 40:17

17 and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on 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.

---

FOOTNOTES:

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

Genesis 40:17 In-Context

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

16 When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, "I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head,

17 and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head."

18 And Joseph answered, "This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days;

19 within three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a pole; and the birds will eat the flesh from you."