Genesis 40:5-8

"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, who were bound in the prison. And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and saw them, and, behold, they were sad. And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in ward in his master's house, saying, Wherefore look ye so sad today? And they said unto him, We have dreamed a dream, and there is none than can interpret it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? tell it me, I pray you."

The mention of "the butler and the baker (Genesis 40:5)" was understood by Skinner to be a "contradiction" with the meaning that the king of Egypt "had only one servant of each class!"[7] We cite it here merely to show what ridiculous conclusions result from that "multiple sources" fantasy which often engages critical scholars. In context, of course, "the butler" means the "chief of the butlers." Even today, "Mr. Secretary," as addressed to any of the President's cabinet, cannot imply that the President has only "one secretary."

The mention of dreams in this and the following chapters is, of course, alleged as proof that the narrative of dreams pertained exclusively to this or that "source," and that therefore we are here dealing with a different imaginary document! As Leupold truly stated it, however, "Moses wrote of dreams as they had bearing upon his subject, and, therefore, as they actually occurred."[8]

Speaking of dreams, the Egyptians, especially, believed in the prophetic nature of dreams, and perhaps that is the reason that God used such a device again, and again, in his dealings with Egyptians. Leupold also commented that, "Persons who stand on a lower spiritual level were the ones to whom revelation came through dreams."[9]

"There is none that can interpret ..." These officials of Pharaoh's court were dismayed that they, in prison, did not have access to their favorite interpreter of dreams, but Joseph promptly discounted the services of such professional interpreters, his words having the effect of saying that, "Such professionals were charlatans,"[10] and that only GOD could interpret dreams. His subsequent actions showed that Joseph believed that God would reveal the meaning of the dreams to him, as certainly proved to be true.