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E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 40:1

butler = the cupbearer. Nehemiah 1:11 . baker. A Papyrus, in the National Library, Paris (nineteenth dynasty), gives the name of a similar officer (Djadja), the chief; and mentions "114,064 loaves made in the white fortress". (See Records of the Past, vol. ii, p. 126.) read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 40:1-3

"And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker offended their lord the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was wroth against his two officers, against the chief of the butlers, and the 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 Joseph was bound."This passage is not the melding of three different "documents," each using a different designation for the offenders, butler, chief of the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 40:1

Genesis 40:1. Butler—and—baker— This chief butler and chief baker, Gen 40:2 were two distinguished officers of the crown; cup-bearer and master of the household to the king; see Nehemiah 1:11. Diodorus Siculus informs us, that "all officers who immediately served the ancient kings of AEgypt, were taken from the most illustrious families of the priests; no mercenaries purchased for money, or home-born slaves, were ever admitted to this honour." Some writers have assigned causes for this anger of... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 40:1

1. the butler—not only the cup-bearer, but overseer of the royal vineyards, as well as the cellars; having, probably, some hundreds of people under him. baker—or cook, had the superintendence of every thing relating to the providing and preparing of meats for the royal table. Both officers, especially the former, were, in ancient Egypt, always persons of great rank and importance; and from the confidential nature of their employment, as well as their access to the royal presence, they were... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 40:1-23

Joseph interprets the Dreams of Pharaoh’s Officers1. Butler] rather, ’cupbearer,’ a high court official: cp. Nehemiah 1:11; Nehemiah 2:1. Baker] rather, ’cook.’ It is conjectured that these officials were accused of plotting to poison Pharaoh.8. No professional interpreter was available: see on Genesis 41:8. Do not interpretations, etc.] i.e. It may be that God who sent the dreams will give me the interpretation of them. 9-11. Grape juice mixed with water is used as a refreshing drink in the... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 40:1

XL.JOSEPH INTERPRETS THE DREAMS OF THE CHIEF BUTLER AND BAKER.(1) Butler.—Heb., one who gives to drink, cupbearer. As we learn in Genesis 40:11 that it was grapewine which he gave the king to drink, this chapter has been the main dependence of the new critics for their proof that the Book of Genesis was not written by Moses. For Herod. (i. 77) says, “The Egyptians make use of wine prepared from barley, because there are no vineyards in their country.” As Herodotus was thirteen centuries later... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Genesis 40:1-23

CHAPTER 40 Joseph the Interpreter of Dreams 1. The fellow prisoners (Genesis 40:1-8 ) 2. The dream of the chief butler (Genesis 40:9-11 ) 3. The interpretation (Genesis 40:12-13 ) 4. Joseph’s request (Genesis 40:14-15 ) 5. The dream of the chief baker (Genesis 40:16-17 ) 6. The interpretation (Genesis 40:18-19 ) 7. The fulfilment (Genesis 40:20-22 ) 8. Joseph forgotten (Genesis 40:23 ) He was reckoned among the transgressors. To the one he spoke the word concerning life, while... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 40:1-23

JOSEPH, INTERPRETER OF DREAMS Two men are seen now to be committed to Joseph's care in the prison, the cup bearer and the baker of Pharaoh, king of Egypt. It is not told us for what offenses they were imprisoned, but they had incurred Pharaoh's anger and this was enough (v.2). The captain of the bodyguard committed them to Joseph. We may wonder if this captain was Potipher, who is said in chapter 39:1 to have this position, but it is possible there was more than one captain. After some time... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Genesis 40:1-23

JOSEPH ’S HISTORY DISPENSATIONAL ASPECT OF JACOB’S HISTORY Following F.W. Grant in the Numerical Bible, the life of Jacob gives as its lesson the story of that discipline by which the Spirit of God brings us from weakness to power, from nature’s strength to that wholesome weakness in which alone is strength. But for this, natural strength must be crippled, which is provided for in two ways: in allowing us to realize the power of another nature (Esau) and in the direct dealing of God with our... read more

Joseph Parker

The People's Bible by Joseph Parker - Genesis 40:1-23

Joseph In Prison Gen 39:20 We now know enough of the history of Joseph, to see that he had not done anything worthy of imprisonment and pain. Let us keep steadily in mind the fact that there are false accusations in human life. There is a tendency to believe charges against men, without patiently and carefully going into particulars, without making such moral inquest into them as ought alone to justify our belief in any charge that may be made against a human creature. We are prone to say,... read more

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