GENESIS 40-41

Chapter 40

Verses 1-4

Verse 1 Barnhouse: ”The offenses of a butler and baker were planned with the welfare of Joseph in mind.”

Verses 2-3 Brown sees a parallel between Jesus punished alongside two others, one of whom will be hanged on a tree and the other one elevated.

Verse 4 Remember that the two prisoners held high positions in the government and might be pardoned later, so Joseph is not a mere servant in the prison. The captain of the guard was Potiphar?

Verses 5-15

Verses 6-7 Look at how God provided a “teachable moment” which Joseph took advantage of, when he could have just ignored the situation.

Verse 8 Egyptians held schools of dream interpretation. Joseph, by contrast, says that it is in God's hands, but proceeds to act as if he knows that he is the one to whom God will reveal the secrets. It demonstrates that he has not lost his faith, and perhaps that he has tempered his earlier egotism and is giving God his due.

Verse 13 This is a pun in Hebrew. To lift the head means to look upon with favor or lift the head off.

Verse 14 Intervention did not come by scheming, but eventually by God's will. Notice that Joseph did not tell the whole story (his own brothers sold him) for fear that it would raise suspicions concerning Joseph's innocence. Is this partial truth the same as lying?

Verse 15 It is called a pit instead of a house. Joseph reminds us that this is the second time he has been put in a pit.

Verses 16-23

Verse 16 People seek prophecies of the future but are disappointed when the answer is not a favorable one for them. This is like the Israelites looking forward to the Day of the LORD.

Verses 18-19 There was the temptation to tell him what he wanted to hear (he was an influential man), like preachers who “tickle the ears” of the congregation. Notice Joseph's brusque manner and apparent lack of interest in the baker, compared to his conversation with the wine server. What do you think about it? Joseph's concern seems to be mainly about himself.

Verse 23 We may tend to blame the steward for forgetting Joseph in the excitement of his good fortune. But what about us forgetting to thank God when he has answered our prayers?

Genesis 41

Verse 1 “Two years of days” emphasizes that a full two years elapsed before he was remembered.

Many of the words in this verse are Egyptian loan-words. If the butler had acted immediately, Joseph 

could have credited his own foresight instead of God's providence.

Verse 14 This custom is confirmed by Egyptian records. Shaving was a necessary ritual before 

appearing before Pharaoh. It probably had to do with removal of all body lice. Also, the removal of all 

body hair was a ritual for all newly ordained Egyptian priests.

Verse 16 This is the first of several times Joseph gives credit to God (shows growth of faith in prison?): 

also vv. 25, 28, 32.

Verse 28 The generic Elohim is used rather than Yahweh, for Pharaoh's benefit.

Verse 32 This is similar to Jesus' use of “Verily, verily.”

Verse 33 Is he hesitant to put himself forward as the man to do the job, or is it a strong hint that he is 

applying for the job?

Don't be bashful about seizing opportunities. This is a combination of divine and human initiative.

Verse 36 God holds the fate of all nations in his hand, not just those who serve him.

Verse 38-39 This is the first instance of the Holy Spirit dwelling in a person. Pharaoh recognizes the 

power of God at work, and his country is spared (contrast this with the encounters between the later 

Pharaoh and Moses).

Verse 40 The improbability of this happening in an Egyptian culture has been cited as well as lack of 

historical evidence. However, during the Hyksos reign (1720-1570 BC) Semitic people were employed 

in top positions. Almost every trace of the Hyksos reign was obliterated by the ethnic Egyptians when 

they regained control. Notice that this is the fourth time Joseph is the second in command: under his 

father as a favorite son, with Potiphar, and in jail. This is a foreshadowing of the fact that his tribe will

 be second after that of Judah.

Verse 42 This is parallel to Joseph's coat of many colors designating his status as the favorite.

Verses 42-43 I wonder whether Joseph was a man like Paul who could be content whether in prison or 

in comfort. The mention of chariots fits only the time of Hyksos and afterward.

Verse 45 Joseph's name means “revealer of secret things.” OR “God speaks and lives.” OR “food man 

of the land.” Potipher is a different person from the first Potipher since this one is a priest. What do you 

think about a monotheist fitting in to a polytheistic culture? How much do you think he discussed 

theology with his boss?

Verse 51 The first name may mean “release from all obligation of debt” or “made me forget my 

problems by recompensing me.” If the latter, it brings up the question as to why Joseph never informed 

his father that he was alive.

Verse 55 Was Joseph doing his boss' job for him? It certainly wouldn't be the first or last example of 

that happening.

The whole chapter has numerous echoes in Daniel 2 concerning Daniel's interpretation of the king's 

dream about the statue with feet of clay. (enumerated in Goldingay, Daniel, p. 37). Daniel 2 is almost a

commentary on the Joseph story.