Genesi 40

1 Or, dopo queste cose, avvenne che il coppiere e il panettiere del re d’Egitto offesero il loro signore, il re d’Egitto.

2 E Faraone s’indignò contro i suoi due ufficiali, contro il capo de’ coppieri e il capo de’ panettieri,

3 e li fece mettere in carcere, nella casa del capo delle guardie; nella prigione stessa dove Giuseppe stava rinchiuso.

4 E il capitano delle guardie li affidò alla sorveglianza di Giuseppe, il quale li serviva. Ed essi rimasero in prigione per un certo tempo.

5 E durante una medesima notte, il coppiere e il panettiere del re d’Egitto, ch’erano rinchiusi nella prigione, ebbero ambedue un sogno, un sogno per uno, e ciascun sogno aveva il suo significato particolare.

6 Giuseppe, venuto la mattina da loro, li guardò, ed ecco, erano conturbati.

7 E interrogò gli ufficiali di Faraone ch’eran con lui in prigione nella casa del suo signore, e disse: "Perché avete oggi il viso così mesto?"

8 E quelli gli risposero: "Abbiam fatto un sogno e non v’è alcuno che ce lo interpreti". E Giuseppe disse loro: "Le interpretazioni non appartengono a Dio? Raccontatemi i sogni, vi prego".

9 E il capo de’ coppieri raccontò il suo sogno a Giuseppe, e gli disse: "Nei mio sogno, ecco, mi stava davanti una vite;

10 e in quella vite c’eran tre tralci; e mi pareva ch’essa germogliasse, poi fiorisse, e desse in fine dei grappoli d’uva matura.

11 E io avevo in mano la coppa di Faraone; presi l’uva, la spremei nella coppa di Faraone, e diedi la coppa in mano a Faraone".

12 Giuseppe gli disse: "Questa è l’interpretazione del sogno: i tre tralci sono tre giorni;

13 ancora tre giorni, e Faraone ti farà rialzare il capo, ti ristabilirà nel tuo ufficio, e tu darai in mano a Faraone la sua coppa, nel modo che facevi prima, quand’eri suo coppiere.

14 Ma ricordati di me, quando sarai felice, e siimi benigno, ti prego; parla di me a Faraone, e fammi uscire da questa casa;

15 perché io fui portato via furtivamente dal paese degli Ebrei, e anche qui non ho fatto nulla da esser messo in questa fossa".

16 Il capo de’ panettieri, vedendo che la interpretazione di Giuseppe era favorevole, gli disse: "Anch’io, nel mio sogno, ecco, avevo tre canestri di pan bianco, sul capo;

17 e nel canestro più alto c’era per Faraone ogni sorta di vivande cotte al forno; e gli uccelli le mangiavano dentro al canestro sul mio capo".

18 Giuseppe rispose e disse: "Questa è l’interpretazione del sogno: i tre canestri sono tre giorni;

19 ancora tre giorni, e Faraone ti porterà via la testa di sulle spalle, ti farà impiccare a un albero, e gli uccelli ti mangeranno le carni addosso".

20 E avvenne, il terzo giorno, ch’era il natalizio di Faraone, che questi dette un convito a tutti i suoi servitori, e fece alzare il capo al gran coppiere, e alzare il capo al gran panettiere in mezzo ai suoi servitori:

21 ristabilì il gran coppiere nel suo ufficio di coppiere, perché mettesse la coppa in man di Faraone,

22 ma fece appiccare il gran panettiere, secondo la interpretazione che Giuseppe avea loro data.

23 Il gran coppiere però non si ricordò di Giuseppe, ma lo dimenticò.

Genesi 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.