Joseph Interprets in Prison

The prison held two new men, both officers of Pharaoh. The chief cupbearer and the chief baker had offended their lord, and Pharaoh’s anger put them in the same ward where Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard assigned Joseph to serve them, and they remained there for some time.

One night both men dreamed. Each dream carried its own meaning, and when Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. He asked them directly why their faces were so sad.

They told him they had dreamed and there was no one to interpret. Joseph answered that interpretations belong to God, and he asked them to tell him the dreams.

The chief cupbearer spoke first. In his dream a vine with three branches budded, blossomed, and produced ripe grapes. He held Pharaoh’s cup, pressed the grapes into it, and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.

Joseph said the three branches were three days. Within three days Pharaoh would lift up the cupbearer’s head and restore him to his office. He would again place the cup in Pharaoh’s hand as he had before.

Then Joseph added a personal plea. He asked the cupbearer to remember him when things went well, to show kindness, and to mention him to Pharaoh so he could be brought out of this house. He explained that he had been stolen from the land of the Hebrews and had done nothing to deserve being put in the dungeon.

The chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable and told his own dream. He saw three baskets of white bread on his head. In the uppermost basket were all kinds of baked food for Pharaoh, but birds were eating them out of the basket.

Joseph said the three baskets were also three days. Within three days Pharaoh would lift up the baker’s head—but from off him. He would be hanged on a tree, and the birds would eat his flesh.

On the third day it was Pharaoh’s birthday. He made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker. He restored the cupbearer to his position, and the cup was placed in Pharaoh’s hand. But he hanged the baker, just as Joseph had interpreted.

Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph. He forgot him.