The History of the Old Testament Methodized, Chapter 3 · Section 37
SECT. XXXVII.
DUring the time of Joſeph's Impriſonment, it happened that two of Pharaoh's great Officers, viz. his chief Bulter or Cupbearer, and his chief Baker, for ſome Crime committed againſt their Lord and Maſter were caſt into the ſame Priſon, and the Captain of the Guard who it ſeems had the chief Command of the Kings Priſon, (being now as we ſhewed before, better perſwaded of Joſeph's Innoceny) committed them to his Care: After they had continued (as is ſuppoſed) about a year in Priſon, they both of them in one Night dreamed a Dream, and each of them had a dream congruous to his condition, preſaging ſomewhat to come to paſs, and which ſeemed not to be idle and vain Dreams. Joſeph coming to them in the Morning found them very ſad; For dreams ſent of God do uſually much affect Men, as we may ſee Ch. 41.8. and Dan. 2.1. They tell him they had each of them dreamed a Dream, which did much trouble them, and they being Priſoners could not go to the Magicians and Southſayers to have them interpreted, whom, in ſuch caſes, they uſed to conſult. He tells them they were deceived if they expected the Interpretation of their Dreams from ſuch Wizards; the true Interpretation of Dreams belonged only to God, and to thoſe to whom he is pleas'd to reveal them. And finding by a preſent inſtinct of Gods Spirit that he ſhould be able to interpret them, He deſir'd them to impart their Dreams unto him.(n)He was before a Dreamer, he becomes now an Interpreter. The chief Butler hereupon tells him what his Dream was; namely, in his Dream he ſaw a Vine with three Branches, which budded, and its bunches brought forth ripe Grapes, and Pharaoh's Cup being in his Hand, he preſs'd the Grapes into the Cup, and gave it unto Pharaoh. Joſeph conſidering this Dream, told him this was the Interpretation thereof; viz. the three Branches ſignifi'd three days, (o)Which Interpretation Joſeph had not by conjecture from the three Branches (for Branches have no reference to days, and the three Branches might have been as well ſo many weeks, or months, or years,) but by Divine Revelation.and within that time he ſhould be lifted up again, and reſtored to the Office from which he was depoſed, and Pharaoh when he ſhall take a ſurvey of his Family, ſhall reckon and account him in the number of his Court-Officers as He was before. And (ſays Joſeph) when it ſhall be thus well with thee, think on me, and make mention of Me to Pharaoh, and bring me out of this Priſon. For indeed I was ſtolen and conveyed away from my Father without his knowledge out of Canaan, (wherein the Poſterity of Abraham the Hebrew dwelt,*See Ch. 14.13. See Joſeph's faith in Gods Promiſes. and to whom, by the Divine Promiſe, it belongs) and ſince I came hither have I done nothing whereby I deſerv'd to be put into Priſon, much leſs into the Dungeon. Thus we ſee, Joſeph, who could tell when the chief Butler ſhould be releas'd, could not tell the time, or manner, or means of his own Deliverance, God having not revealed that unto him. And though he patiently ſubmitted to the Providence of God, yet we ſee he is careful to uſe lawful means for his own Preſervation; and though he pleads his own Innocency, yet he flies not out in any reviling or railing words againſt thoſe that had ſo ill us'd him. The chief Baker hearing what a benign Interpretation Joſeph had given of the chief Butler's Dream, he was incouraged to tell him His alſo; and accordingly told him that in his Dream he thought he had three white Baskets on his bend, in the uppermoſt there were all manner of bake-meats for Pharaoh, and the Birds did eat them out of the Basket upon his head. Joſeph tells him the Interpretation of his Dream was this; The three Baskets ſignified three days in which time Pharaoh would cauſe his head to be cut off, and lifted up as the head of a Traitor, and for the greater Ignomy would cauſe his body to be hanged on a Tree, (p)The Jews were to bury the Perſon that was hang'd the ſame day, Deut. 21.22, 23. but the Egyptians and many Gentiles ſuffer'd them to hang many days.ſo that the Fowls of the air ſhould eat his Fleſh. Thus Joſeph faithfully forewarns him of his danger, that he might the better prepare himſelf for it. And as Joſeph told him, it accordingly came to paſs. For the third day after, being Pharaoh's Birth-day, (q)We find but two Examples in Scripture, and thoſe not of good Men, that celebrated their Birthday, viz. of Pharaoh here, and of Herod, Math. 14.6.he celebrated it with great Magnificence, and made a great Feaſt to all his Servants, and ſo had occaſion to take notice of his chief Officers; and among them reckoning the chief Butler and chief Baker, and calling to mind their Faults, he freely forgave the firſt, and reſtor'd him to his Place, ſo that he gave the Cup as formerly into the Kings Hand. But the chief Baker he caus'd to be hang'd, as Joſeph had foretold Him. But notwithſtanding the chief Bulter was thus delivered according to Joſeph's Interpretation of his Dream, yet He with a wretched ingratitude forgat or neglected Joſeph in Priſon; And thus was the Faith and Patience of this dear Servant of God further tried, that he might be an Example to others to wait patiently upon God in long-continuing Afflictions; and withall he was taught not to aſcribe his Deliverance, when it came, to the Favour of this Courtier, but to the watchful Care and Providence of God.
Gen. 40. whole Chapter.