Joseph interpreteth the dreams of two of Pharao’s servants in prison:
the event declareth the interpretations to be true, but Joseph is
forgotten.
40:1. After this, it came to pass, that two eunuchs, the butler and the
baker of the king of Egypt, offended their lord.
40:2. And Pharao being angry with them, (now the one was chief butler,
the other chief baker,)
40:3. He sent them to the prison of the commander of the soldiers, in
which Joseph also was prisoner.
40:4. But the keeper of the prison delivered them to Joseph, and he
served them. Some little time passed, and they were kept in custody.
40:5. And they both dreamed a dream the same night, according to the
interpretation agreeing to themselves:
40:6. And when Joseph was come into them in the morning, and saw them
sad,
40:7. He asked them, saying: Why is your countenance sadder today than
usual?
40:8. They answered: We have dreamed a dream, and there is nobody to
interpret it to us. And Joseph said to them: Doth not interpretation
belong to God? Tell me what you have dreamed:
Doth not interpretation belong to God?.... When dreams are from God, as
these were, the interpretation of them is a gift of God. But the
generality of dreams are not of this sort; but either proceed from the
natural complexions and dispositions of persons, or the roving of their
imaginations in the day on such objects as they are much affected with,
or from their mind being disturbed with cares and troubles, and
oppressed with bodily infirmities: or they are suggested by evil
spirits, to flatter, or to terrify weak minds, in order to gain belief,
and so draw them into error or superstition; or at least to trouble
them in their sleep, whom they cannot move when they are awake: so that
the general rule, with regard to dreams, is not to observe them, nor to
give any credit to them.
40:9. The chief butler first told his dream: I saw before me a vine,
40:10. On which were three branches, which by little and little sent
out buds, and after the blossoms brought forth ripe grapes:
40:11. And the cup of Pharao was in my hand: and I took the grapes, and
pressed them into the cup which I held, and I gave the cup to Pharao.
40:12. Joseph answered: This is the interpretation of the dream: The
three branches, are yet three days:
40:13. After which Pharao will remember thy service, and will restore
thee to thy former place: and thou shalt present him the cup according
to thy office, as before thou was wont to do.
40:14. Only remember me when it shall be well with thee, and do me this
kindness: to put Pharao in mind to take me out of this prison:
40:15. For I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here
without any fault was cast into the dungeon.
40:16. The chief baker seeing that he had wisely interpreted the dream,
said: I also dreamed a dream, That I had three baskets of meal upon my
head:
40:17. And that in one basket which was uppermost, I carried all meats
that are made by the art of baking, and that the birds ate out of it.
40:18. Joseph answered: This is the interpretation of the dream: The
three baskets, are yet three days:
40:19. After which Pharao will take thy head from thee, and hang thee
on a cross, and the birds shall tear thy flesh.
40:20. The third day after this was the birthday of Pharao: and he made
a great feast for his servants, and at the banquet remembered the chief
butler, and the chief baker.
40:21. And he restored the one to his place, to present him the cup:
40:22. The other he hanged on a gibbet, that the truth of the
interpreter might be shewn.
40:23. But the chief butler, when things prospered with him, forgot his
interpreter.