Observations Upon the Old Testament, Genesis · Chapter 40
CHAP. XL.
Verse 1. BUtler] V. 13. Nehem. 1. 11.
V. 2. Officers] Hebr. Eunuches. See, Annot. on ch. 37. 36.
V. 3. Put them in ward] The fickle state of Favourites and Courtiers.
in the house of the Captain of the guard] Likely the same Potiphar, ch. 37. 36. 39. 1, 20.
into the prison] Tower or round prison, dungeon, v. 15. ch. 39. 20. 41. 14.
V 4. Charged Joseph with them] Potiphar, if he be this Captain now thinks better of Joseph, and intrusts him, likely upon that relation of his chief officer, chap. 39. 21, 22, 23.
V. 5. And they dreamed] See Annotations on chap. 20. 3.
according to the interpretation] No vain dreams, as the interpretation shewed, v. 12, 18, 21, 22. 41. 11, 12.
V. 6. Sad] So dreams sent of God use much to affect men, ch. 41. 4. Dan. v. 1, 3. Mat. 27. 19.
V. 8. We have dreamed a dream] Each his own dream, not both one.
no Interpreter] Being prisoners we cannot go to the Sooth-sayers, ch. 41. 8. Dan. 4. 7.
be…ong to God▪ ] Not to your wizards, ch. 41. 16. Dan. 2. 27, 28, 18, 19, 23, 47.
tell me] He findes by the instinct of Gods Spirit that he should be able to interpret their dreames, through an extraordinary gift given him. Though Joseph was bound, yet Gods Word and gift to him was not bound, 2 Tim. 2. 9. Before he was a dreamer, ch. 37. 5, 9, 19. Now an Interpreter.
V. 12. They are] They signifie, ch. 41. 26. So, Mat. 26. 26, 28.
V. 13. Within three dayes] V. 20. The three branches might as well have signified three weeks, moneths or years, but for Gods revelation to Joseph.
lift up thine head] Summe up and reckon thee, as, Exod. 30. 12. Numb. 1. 2. 26. 2. and promote thee to thy former place of office and honour, as, Jer. 52. 31. This shall Pharaah do when he shall take survey of his family and officers.
V. 14. Think on me] Therefore Joseph knew not the time, meanes and manner of his own deliverance. God in his wisdom did not reveal that unto him. So, 1 Kings 13. the man of God knew not his own mishap, by meanes of the old false prophet, Gen 46. 27.
make mention of me] Joseph is careful to use the meanes for his delivery.
V. 15. Stollen away] To conceal his brethrens fault, And yet stollen from his father and sold, Ex. 21. 16.
Land of the Hebrewes] Canaan, wherein the posterity of Abraham the Hebrew dwelt, ch. 14. 13. And to whom by Gods Promises it belonged, called the Holy Land, Zech. 2. 12. Thus Joseph shewes his faith.
have I done nothing] Innocency protects not against mischief, yet may be pleaded, as here, John 10. 32. Acts 24. 12, 13, 20. 25. 10, 11. Job 31. Psal. 7. 3 26. 1. Dan. 6. 22.
V. 16. White baskets] Of which holes, that is made of white twigs, with holes as net-work.
uppermost] Of the three baskets, nothing mentioned in the two lower baskets.
V. 19. Lift up thine head] Reckon thee; as, ver. 13, 20.
from off thee] Likely cut off thy head, and after hang thy body on a tree.
and the birds shall eate] The Jewes were to bury him the same day, Deut. 21. 22, 23. The Egyptians and many Gentiles suffered them to hang many dayes. Joseph deales truly and plainly with the Baker. So should Physicians do, and such as attend the sick.
V. 20. Birth-day] So Herod kept his with a feast, Mar. 6. 21. Lawful in it self so it be kept without vanity, excesse, superstition and prophanenesse. And so for Ecclesiastical Festivities, if there be no errour committed in the manner and end of their celebrations.
V. 22. Hanged] On his birth-day, having occasion thereby to take notice of his chief officers.
V. 23. But forgat him] Forgot his misery, and unthankful for his interpretation, Eccl. 9. 15, 16. Amos 6. 6. Thus Joseph tried still two yeares longer, ch. 41. 1. until the time his Word came, Psal. 105. 19.