20 “And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, the place where the king's prisoners were bound; 21 and he was there in the prison. But the Lord was with Joseph, and showed kindness unto him, and gave him favor 22 in the sight of the keeper of the prison. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison; and whatsoever they did there, 23 he was the doer of it. The keeper of the prison looked not to anything that was under his hand, because the Lord was with him; and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.
1 “And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord the 2 king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was wroth against his two officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the 3 chief of the bakers. And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where 4 Joseph was bound. And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he ministered unto them; and they 5 continued a season in ward. And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream, in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the 6 prison. And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, 7 and saw them, and, behold, they were sad. And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in ward in his master's 8 house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sadly to-day? And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is none that can interpret it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell it me, I pray you.”
Golden Text.—“But the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy.” Gen. 39: 21.
SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.
(1) After Joseph had been highly honored by his master, what sad reverse did he meet? Verse 20. Note 1. (2) How was this additional sorrow greatly alleviated? Verse 21. Note 2. (3) What confidence and respect did his conduct eventually win for him? Verse 22. (4) How was this confidence especially emphasized? What special help did he have in his duties? Verse 23. Note 3. (5) What two officials had greatly offended the king? Ch. 40: 1, 2. Note 4. (6) What did the king do with these officers? Verses 3, 4. (7) What experience did they have one night? Verse 5. (8) Who came in to see them in the morning? What especially attracted his attention? Verse 6. (9) What inquiry did Joseph make? Verse 7. (10) What was their answer? Then what did Joseph say? Verse 8. Note 5.
NOTES.
1. It was apparently a terrible fall for Joseph, from the stewardship of an honorable household, to the stocks of a State prison. His good name was blighted, and his religion dishonored in the estimation of men. But the Scriptures comfort those servants who, being falsely accused, suffer wrongfully. See 1 Peter 2: 18-25; also verses 14-17.
2. “But the Lord was with Joseph” in the prison just as He was in the pit at Dothan, and on the way to Egypt, and in the house of Potiphar. “When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee; when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.” Isa. 43: 2, 3.
3. The prison was not an ordinary one, but was one where the king placed officials who offended him. This gave Joseph opportunity to mingle with men of the highest culture in official circles. By his kindness to them during their imprisonment (which would often be for short terms and trivial offenses), he would gain their confidence and obtain valuable information concerning the government. By this means also would their confidence in him and respect for him be gained in after years when he became a ruler.
4. The chief butler and chief baker were two officials whose duties would bring them in close contact with the king. The chief baker had the superintendence of everything relating to the preparation of provisions for the royal table. The butler's office included the function of cup-bearer to the king, and he had the privilege of being admitted to the king's most private seclusion. The king's life was in a measure in the hands of these two officials. Nehemiah was butler, or cup-bearer, to King Artaxerxes, and through this intimate relationship was enabled to present the plea for assistance in the rebuilding of Jerusalem. See Nehemiah 2.
5. “No Interpreter.”—To the Egyptians, as well as to the Chaldeans, dreams were a matter of much concern. Hence there was great anxiety to know their import, and many “wise men” professed ability to interpret them. Now these two officials were shut up in prison, and could not have access to any of the professionals. To an Egyptian official in prison, not knowing his fate, which might depend solely upon the whim or mood of the king, a mysterious and apparently significant dream without an interpretation would be a cause of real sadness.
