Genesis 40:4

4 The captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he waited on them; and they continued for some time 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 Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker,

3 and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined.

4 The captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he waited on them; and they continued for some time in custody.

5 One night they both dreamed—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison—each his own dream, and each dream with its own meaning.

6 When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled.