Genesis 40:20 - Exposition

And it came to pass (literally, and it was , as Joseph had predicted) the third day (literally, in, or on, the third day ), which was Pharaoh's birthday ,—literally, the day of Pharaoh ' s being born , the inf. hophal being construed with an accusative— that he made a feast —a mishteh, i.e. a drinking or banquet ( vide Genesis 19:3 )— unto all his servants . "The birthdays of the kings of Egypt were considered holy, and were celebrated with great joy and rejoicing. All business was suspended, and the people generally took part in the festivities'. And he lifted up the head —here the one phrase applies equally, though in different senses, to both. A similar expression occurs in the annals of Assur-nasir-pal (Sardanapalus), column 2 line 43: "Their heads on the high places of the mountain I lifted up"— of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants —literally, in their midst, as a public example.