Genesis 40

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 40

Chapter 40 In this chapter things are working, though slowly, towards Joseph's advancement. I. Two of Pharaoh's servants are committed to prison, and there to Joseph's care, and so become witnesses of his extraordinary conduct, Gen. 40:1-4. II. They dreamed each of them a dream, which Joseph interpreted (Gen. 40:5-19), and the event verified the interpretation (Gen. 40:20-22), and so they became witnesses of his extraordinary skill. III. Joseph recommends his case to one of them, whose... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 40:1-4

We should not have had this story of Pharaoh's butler and baker recorded in scripture if it had not been serviceable to Joseph's preferment. The world stands for the sake of the church, and is governed for its good. Observe, 1. Two of the great officers of Pharaoh's court, having offended the king, are committed to prison. Note, High places are slippery places; nothing more uncertain than the favour of princes. Those that make God's favour their happiness, and his service their business, will... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 40:5-19

Observe, I. The special providence of God, which filled the heads of these two prisoners with unusual dreams, such as made extraordinary impressions upon them, and carried with them evidences of a divine origin, both in one night. Note, God has immediate access to the spirits of men, which he can make serviceable to his own purposes whenever he pleases, quite beyond the intention of those concerned. To him all hearts are open, and anciently he spoke not only to his own people, but to others,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 40:20-23

Here is, 1. The verifying of Joseph's interpretation of the dreams, on the very day prefixed. The chief butler and baker were both advanced, one to his office, the other to the gallows, and both at the three days? end. Note, Very great changes, both for the better and for the worse, often happen in a very little time, so sudden are the revolutions of the wheel of nature. The occasion of giving judgment severally upon their case was the solemnizing of Pharaoh's birth-day, on which, all his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 40

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 40 The history of this chapter is, the imprisonment of two of Pharaoh's officers, his chief butler and chief baker, who by the captain of the guard were made the charge of Joseph, Genesis 40:1 ; they both dreamed in prison, which made them sad; Joseph taking notice of their sadness, asked the reason of it, and encouraged them to tell him their dreams, Genesis 40:5 ; the chief butler told his dream of the vine and three branches, which Joseph interpreted of his... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 40:1

And it came to pass after these things ,.... After Joseph had been accused and cast into prison, where he had been for some time: that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt ; committed some fault, at least were accused of one, which raised his displeasure at them. The Targum of Jonathan says, that they consulted to put poison into his drink and food; which, it is not improbable, considering their business and office, they might be... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 40:2

And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers ,.... The same above mentioned: against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers ; for as there were several butlers and bakers that belonged unto him, who were employed in providing wine and food for him, there was one of each who was over the rest; and as their business was to see that those under them did their work well, when they were faulty the principal officers were answerable for it: wherefore, if in this... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 40:3

And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard ,.... Who is generally thought to be Potiphar, since this was the office he was in, Genesis 39:1 ; unless he was dead, and there was another put into his room, or there were more than one in the same office: into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound ; that is, where he had been bound, and where he was still a prisoner, though not fettered and in that close confinement he had been in. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 40:4

And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them ,.... Committed them to his care and custody, he being very probably recommended to him by the keeper of the prison for his prudence and fidelity; and if it was Potiphar, he knew his character full well, and might be now reconciled unto him, as having had a more full and clear account of the affair between him and his wife from the keeper of the prison; and therefore though he might not think fit for his own and his wife's reputation to... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 40:5

And they dreamed a dream both of them ,.... Not one and the same dream: each man his dream in one night ; which made it the more remarkable, and the more impressed their minds, concluding from hence there must be something of importance in their dreams: each man according to the interpretation of his dream ; they dreamed each what was suitable to his office and character, and which portended what should hereafter befall them, as the interpretation of them by Joseph afterwards, and... read more

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