Genesis 40:4

4 And the captain of the life-guard appointed Joseph to them, that he should attend on them. And they were [several] days in custody.

Genesis 40:4 Meaning and 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 remove him from prison as yet, nevertheless might be inclined to do him what service he could, as well as honour, as this was, to have two such state prisoners committed to his care. Some render it, "he committed Joseph with them" ^F24; to be with them, as Jarchi interprets it; they were put together, not merely for the sake of company, but that Joseph might wait upon them, which might be beneficial as well as creditable, as it follows: and he served them;
he ministered unto them, and brought them every thing they wanted: and they continued a season in ward;
or "days" ^F25; some certain days, many days, a year, as Jarchi and Ben Gersom interpret it, and which is sometimes the use of the word. The story of the butler and baker is told, partly to show the divine faculty of interpreting dreams Joseph was possessed of; and partly to observe the remarkable steps in Providence, though secret, towards his advancement in Pharaoh's court.

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FOOTNOTES:

F24 (Mta Powy ta-dqpyw) "et commisit Josephum cum eis", Junius & Tremellius.
F25 (Mymy) "per annum", Pagninus, Vatablus, Schmidt.

Genesis 40:4 In-Context

2 And Pharaoh was wroth with his two chamberlains -- with the chief of the cup-bearers and with the chief of the bakers;

3 and he put them in custody into the house of the captain of the life-guard, into the tower-house, into the place where Joseph was imprisoned.

4 And the captain of the life-guard appointed Joseph to them, that he should attend on them. And they were [several] days in custody.

5 And they dreamed a dream, both of them in one night, each his dream, each according to the interpretation of his dream, the cup-bearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were imprisoned in the tower-house.

6 And Joseph came in to them in the morning, and looked on them, and behold, they were sad.