Ep. 19. Genesis 40-41 | Joseph’s Interpretation

EPISODE 19

JOSEPH'S INTERPRETATION: GENESIS 40-41

We pick up with Joseph in prison, who is in charge of the other prisoners there. Two servants of Pharaoh, a cupbearer and a baker, were thrown into the prison. Each of these men had a dream, and each dream had its own interpretation. Joseph can graciously interpret these dreams for them because he knows "interpretations belong to God."

The cupbearer receives a favorable interpretation; in three days, he will return to work for the Pharaoh. The baker, emboldened by his friend's good dream, shared his dream with Joseph. Sadly, for the baker, the interpretation of his dream is sure death in three days. Joseph asks the cupbearer to remember him well and to implore Pharoah on Joseph's behalf, for he "was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews" and had done nothing wicked in Egypt deserving prison. But the cupbearer forgot.

Two years later, when Pharaoh is disturbed by two dreams he had, the cupbearer's memory is sparked. Joseph is removed from prison, cleaned up, and presented to Pharoah. Once again, God gives Joseph the interpretation of the dreams. There will be seven years of abundance followed by seven years of famine. God doubled the dream to show Pharaoh that the matter was decided and would come about quickly. We already know from Episode 2 that the Hebrew language and tradition use doubling to emphasize a point.

Pharaoh elevates Joseph to a place of power and prominence in Egypt. Aside from Pharoah himself, Joseph became the most powerful man in the land. Note Genesis 41:46 that Joseph was thirty years old. He was only seventeen when his brothers sold him to the Ishmaelites—thirteen years passed between that day and now. We are unsure how much time Joseph spent in Potiphar's house and how much time he spent in prison. We know, for sure, that two years passed between the cupbearer leaving prison and the cupbearer speaking to Pharaoh on Joseph's behalf.

I have always assumed that the years of plenty began immediately. But that is an assumption the Bible doesn't make. All we know is that the matter of abundance and famine was decided firmly by the Lord and came about quickly. I suppose a few years could have passed in the interim.

ADDITIONAL READING: None