Genesis 40:2 - Exposition

And Pharaoh was wroth — literally, broke forth (sc. into anger)— against two of his officers ( vide Genesis 37:36 ) against the chief— sar : the word occurs in one of the oldest historical documents of ancient Egypt ('Inscription of Una,' line 4, sixth dynasty), meaning chief or eunuch (vide ' Records of the Past,' 2.3)— of the butlers ,—an office once filled by Nehemiah in the Court of Persia ( Nehemiah 1:11 ), and Rabshakeh (Aramaic for "chief of the cupbearers") in the Court of Assyria ( 2 Kings 18:17 )— and against the chief of the bakers . Oriental monarchs generally had a multitude of butlers and bakers, or cupbearers and Court purveyors, the chiefs in both departments being invested with high honor, and regarded with much trust (Herod; 3.34; Xenoph; 'Cyrop.,' 1.3, 8).