Génesis 40

1 José interpreta dos sueños
Pasado un tiempo, el jefe de los coperos y el jefe de los panaderos del faraón ofendieron a su señor, el rey.

2 El faraón se enojó con esos dos funcionarios

3 y los puso en la cárcel donde estaba José, en el palacio del capitán de la guardia.

4 Ellos permanecieron en la cárcel durante mucho tiempo, y el capitán de la guardia los asignó a José, quien se ocupaba de ellos.

5 Una noche, mientras estaban en la cárcel, el copero y el panadero del faraón tuvieron cada uno un sueño, y cada sueño tenía su propio significado.

6 Cuando José los vio a la mañana siguiente, notó que los dos parecían preocupados.

7 —¿Por qué se ven tan preocupados hoy? —les preguntó.

8 —Anoche los dos tuvimos sueños —contestaron ellos—, pero nadie puede decirnos lo que significan.
—La interpretación de los sueños es asunto de Dios —respondió José—. Vamos, cuéntenme lo que soñaron.

9 Entonces el jefe de los coperos fue el primero en contarle su sueño a José.
—En mi sueño —dijo él—, vi una vid delante de mí.

10 La vid tenía tres ramas, las cuales comenzaron a brotar y a florecer y, en poco tiempo, produjo racimos de uvas maduras.

11 Yo tenía la copa del faraón en mi mano, entonces tomé un racimo de uvas y exprimí el jugo en la copa. Después puse la copa en la mano del faraón.

12 —El sueño significa lo siguiente —dijo José—: las tres ramas representan tres días;

13 dentro de tres días, el faraón te levantará y te pondrá nuevamente en tu puesto como jefe de sus coperos.

14 Te pido que te acuerdes de mí y me hagas un favor cuando las cosas te vayan bien. Háblale de mí al faraón, para que me saque de este lugar.

15 Pues me trajeron secuestrado desde mi tierra, la tierra de los hebreos, y ahora estoy aquí en la cárcel, aunque no hice nada para merecerlo.

16 Cuando el jefe de los panaderos vio que José había dado una interpretación tan positiva del primer sueño, le dijo a José:
—Yo también tuve un sueño. En mi sueño, había tres canastas de pasteles blancos sobre mi cabeza.

17 En la canasta de arriba había todo tipo de pasteles para el faraón, pero llegaron las aves y se los comieron de la canasta que estaba sobre mi cabeza.

18 —El sueño significa lo siguiente —le dijo José—: las tres canastas también representan tres días.

19 En tres días, el faraón te levantará y atravesará tu cuerpo con un poste; luego las aves llegarán y picotearán tu carne.

20 Tres días después era el cumpleaños del faraón, quien preparó un banquete para todos sus funcionarios y su personal. Así que llamó
al jefe de sus coperos y al jefe de sus panaderos para que se unieran a los demás funcionarios.

21 Entonces restituyó al jefe de los coperos a su cargo anterior, para que volviera a entregar al faraón su copa.

22 Pero el faraón atravesó al jefe de los panaderos con un poste, tal como José había predicho cuando le interpretó el sueño.

23 Sin embargo, el jefe de los coperos del faraón se olvidó de José por completo y nunca más volvió a pensar en él.

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.

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.