Interpretation of the Prisoners’ Dreams
The King Imprisons Two Servants
About the end of the first year of Joseph’s imprisonment, there were two new arrivals to the prison: the head cupbearer and the head cook, who preferred the title “baker” instead.
The two men arrived in the mid-afternoon, having been arrested only hours earlier for possibly plotting to take the life of the king. Both positions held opportunities for poisoning the king, and further enquiries were being made to determine the extent of the plot.
As usual with newcomers, they were immediately put under Joseph so that their labor would contribute to the common good.
The poor workers of Egypt, that is, those who understood the tasks of farming, were not likely to arrive at the king’s Place of Confinement. Their justice was likely to be swift – payment of a sum, perhaps each season until the debt was paid; or maiming, the loss of a limb or ear or nose as a perpetual reminder to both themselves or all who saw them of the punishment they bore for wickedness; or loss of life, the death penalty.
And so Joseph often had much training to be accomplished with the new additions to his workforce. Of such were the cupbearer and the baker.
There was always a crew whose daily task was to clear the irrigation ditches. These unskilled laborers performed the tasks of moving dirt, not a job requiring particular skill. A different, more experienced crew would follow and shore up the walls of the ditch and prepare the ditch to sustain the flow of water.
As they walked to their destination, Joseph asked the two new prisoners to tell of their jobs in the king’s household.
The chief of the cupbearers was only too glad to do so. Bringing wine or other drink as the king and his guests required had been his primary responsibility. He would sip from the cups, and had enjoyed a great variety of drinks “fit for a king.”
And he had also been present for many discussions of state, learning many things regarding the ruling of Egypt. He confided to Joseph in a low voice that the king had even sought the cupbearer’s opinion in private on some important affairs of state.
The chief of the bakers was less forthcoming, however. Yes. He had been responsible for the daily menu for the king and his family, and also oversaw the procurement and preparation of food. His position was much more behind the scenes, an invisible man working under great stress for long periods of time.
As they arrived at the area of irrigation being cleared that day, Joseph assured the two men that this work was important for the welfare not only of the men in the prison, but also for the welfare of those who received the surplus the farm here produced.
“You are still providing for the well-being of the kingdom, but now for many more people.”
Joseph entrusted the two men to the foreman of the crew, and returned to his own duties.
The Cupbearer’s Dream
The next morning, Joseph watched as the prisoners assembled to receive their duties for the day. Most would continue with the previous day’s work, their foremen calling them out to their duties. The two new arrivals from the preceding day would continue with their manual labor.
Joseph saw the two men lingering outside the cell they shared. They were having an animated discussion, but seemed to be worried by whatever topic they discussed.
Joseph approached them and asked what bothered them that they were so upset.
The baker said, “We find ourselves deprived of our freedom and placed in a cage. Is it any wonder that we are upset?”
The cupbearer spoke quickly in an effort to soften the baker’s reproach.
“We have each had a dream, but we know not how to understand what is being shown to us.”
Joseph said, “Does not God act as the creator and interpreter of dreams? Tell me of your dreams, please.”
The cupbearer spoke of his dream first.
“In my dream, there was a vine that grew before my eyes. And the vine had three branches, and they budded, bringing forth blossoms, and then clusters of ripe grapes.
“And behold, the king’s cup was in my hand, so I took the grapes and pressed the juice from them. And then I took the cup and placed it in the king’s hand.”
Joseph said, “Such was your dream,” a statement of confirmation.
And the cupbearer confirmed that it was.
“Then such is the interpretation,” said Joseph. “The three branches are three days. Now within three days, the king will lift up your head and restore you to your place. You will again bring the cup to the king, and place it in his hand just as you have been accustomed as cupbearer to the king.
“But remember me when you have been restored and all is well with you. Please show me this kindness, that you will mention me to the king so that he will release me from my captivity.
“Know that I was stolen from the land of Canaan as a youth, and I have done nothing to deserve imprisonment.”
The cupbearer smiled with great happiness. “Let it be as you have interpreted.”
The Baker’s Dream
Heartened by the positive interpretation of the cupbearer’s dream, the baker was eager to have his dream interpreted.
“In my dream, I had three white baskets on my head.
“In the uppermost basket, there were a great many baked goods that had been prepared for the king. But birds came and ate all that was in the basket, and so nothing remained for the king.”
Joseph said, “Such was your dream,” again a statement of confirmation.
The baker nodded, eager with anticipation of the mysterious dream.
How does one soften the blow of a sentence of death? Joseph knew of no better way than to state the truth as the dream foretold the future.
“Then such is the interpretation,” said Joseph. “The three branches are three days. Now within three days, the king will lift off your head from you. He will hang you from a tree, and the birds will eat the flesh from you.”
The baker stood in shock for a moment, then began to turn back toward his cell.
Joseph placed a hand on the man’s arm. “Come. Do the work that has been set before your hands. And if the sentence is as foretold, to put your mind and hands to your task is better than to fear and weep for what must come.”
“What? Is this your idea of consolation for a man sentenced to death?” The baker was understandably agitated, anger boiling just beneath the surface.
Joseph replied in a soothing and sympathetic voice, “Are we not all under the sentence of death? We do not wish to hasten that event, and yet the pleasures of life are those that make time run fastest.
“Come. Do the work that has been set before your hands. Enjoy the sun and the air, the feel of your muscles as they restore order to the earth. Is this not why we were put on the earth, to serve it and protect it?”
The baker’s head hung low, his shoulders drooped, and he stood inches less tall than before Joseph’s interpretation. Already he was sinking back into the earth from which he had come.
Wordlessly, he stepped forward toward the cupbearer and the two men went to their work crew.
On the third day, the king celebrated his birthday, and he made a gift of a feast for his servants.
He restored the cupbearer to his former place, but he hung the baker from a tree and left his body as carrion for the birds.
But the cupbearer forgot Joseph’s request, to make known his plight to the king and to release him from prison.
Sometimes, the arc of events appears to be moving inexorably toward a good conclusion. But time and chance are fickle, as are the memories of men. Perhaps Joseph saw the delay in his freedom as meaningful, there being a purpose for waiting. And this is true as we follow Joseph’s story. Patience is a virtue, but one we would prefer not be required of us.
Continue reading
The King Imprisons Two Servants
About the end of the first year of Joseph’s imprisonment, there were two new arrivals to the prison: the head cupbearer and the head cook, who preferred the title “baker” instead.
The two men arrived in the mid-afternoon, having been arrested only hours earlier for possibly plotting to take the life of the king. Both positions held opportunities for poisoning the king, and further enquiries were being made to determine the extent of the plot.
As usual with newcomers, they were immediately put under Joseph so that their labor would contribute to the common good.
The poor workers of Egypt, that is, those who understood the tasks of farming, were not likely to arrive at the king’s Place of Confinement. Their justice was likely to be swift – payment of a sum, perhaps each season until the debt was paid; or maiming, the loss of a limb or ear or nose as a perpetual reminder to both themselves or all who saw them of the punishment they bore for wickedness; or loss of life, the death penalty.
And so Joseph often had much training to be accomplished with the new additions to his workforce. Of such were the cupbearer and the baker.
There was always a crew whose daily task was to clear the irrigation ditches. These unskilled laborers performed the tasks of moving dirt, not a job requiring particular skill. A different, more experienced crew would follow and shore up the walls of the ditch and prepare the ditch to sustain the flow of water.
As they walked to their destination, Joseph asked the two new prisoners to tell of their jobs in the king’s household.
The chief of the cupbearers was only too glad to do so. Bringing wine or other drink as the king and his guests required had been his primary responsibility. He would sip from the cups, and had enjoyed a great variety of drinks “fit for a king.”
And he had also been present for many discussions of state, learning many things regarding the ruling of Egypt. He confided to Joseph in a low voice that the king had even sought the cupbearer’s opinion in private on some important affairs of state.
The chief of the bakers was less forthcoming, however. Yes. He had been responsible for the daily menu for the king and his family, and also oversaw the procurement and preparation of food. His position was much more behind the scenes, an invisible man working under great stress for long periods of time.
As they arrived at the area of irrigation being cleared that day, Joseph assured the two men that this work was important for the welfare not only of the men in the prison, but also for the welfare of those who received the surplus the farm here produced.
“You are still providing for the well-being of the kingdom, but now for many more people.”
Joseph entrusted the two men to the foreman of the crew, and returned to his own duties.
The Cupbearer’s Dream
The next morning, Joseph watched as the prisoners assembled to receive their duties for the day. Most would continue with the previous day’s work, their foremen calling them out to their duties. The two new arrivals from the preceding day would continue with their manual labor.
Joseph saw the two men lingering outside the cell they shared. They were having an animated discussion, but seemed to be worried by whatever topic they discussed.
Joseph approached them and asked what bothered them that they were so upset.
The baker said, “We find ourselves deprived of our freedom and placed in a cage. Is it any wonder that we are upset?”
The cupbearer spoke quickly in an effort to soften the baker’s reproach.
“We have each had a dream, but we know not how to understand what is being shown to us.”
Joseph said, “Does not God act as the creator and interpreter of dreams? Tell me of your dreams, please.”
The cupbearer spoke of his dream first.
“In my dream, there was a vine that grew before my eyes. And the vine had three branches, and they budded, bringing forth blossoms, and then clusters of ripe grapes.
“And behold, the king’s cup was in my hand, so I took the grapes and pressed the juice from them. And then I took the cup and placed it in the king’s hand.”
Joseph said, “Such was your dream,” a statement of confirmation.
And the cupbearer confirmed that it was.
“Then such is the interpretation,” said Joseph. “The three branches are three days. Now within three days, the king will lift up your head and restore you to your place. You will again bring the cup to the king, and place it in his hand just as you have been accustomed as cupbearer to the king.
“But remember me when you have been restored and all is well with you. Please show me this kindness, that you will mention me to the king so that he will release me from my captivity.
“Know that I was stolen from the land of Canaan as a youth, and I have done nothing to deserve imprisonment.”
The cupbearer smiled with great happiness. “Let it be as you have interpreted.”
The Baker’s Dream
Heartened by the positive interpretation of the cupbearer’s dream, the baker was eager to have his dream interpreted.
“In my dream, I had three white baskets on my head.
“In the uppermost basket, there were a great many baked goods that had been prepared for the king. But birds came and ate all that was in the basket, and so nothing remained for the king.”
Joseph said, “Such was your dream,” again a statement of confirmation.
The baker nodded, eager with anticipation of the mysterious dream.
How does one soften the blow of a sentence of death? Joseph knew of no better way than to state the truth as the dream foretold the future.
“Then such is the interpretation,” said Joseph. “The three branches are three days. Now within three days, the king will lift off your head from you. He will hang you from a tree, and the birds will eat the flesh from you.”
The baker stood in shock for a moment, then began to turn back toward his cell.
Joseph placed a hand on the man’s arm. “Come. Do the work that has been set before your hands. And if the sentence is as foretold, to put your mind and hands to your task is better than to fear and weep for what must come.”
“What? Is this your idea of consolation for a man sentenced to death?” The baker was understandably agitated, anger boiling just beneath the surface.
Joseph replied in a soothing and sympathetic voice, “Are we not all under the sentence of death? We do not wish to hasten that event, and yet the pleasures of life are those that make time run fastest.
“Come. Do the work that has been set before your hands. Enjoy the sun and the air, the feel of your muscles as they restore order to the earth. Is this not why we were put on the earth, to serve it and protect it?”
The baker’s head hung low, his shoulders drooped, and he stood inches less tall than before Joseph’s interpretation. Already he was sinking back into the earth from which he had come.
Wordlessly, he stepped forward toward the cupbearer and the two men went to their work crew.
On the third day, the king celebrated his birthday, and he made a gift of a feast for his servants.
He restored the cupbearer to his former place, but he hung the baker from a tree and left his body as carrion for the birds.
But the cupbearer forgot Joseph’s request, to make known his plight to the king and to release him from prison.
Sometimes, the arc of events appears to be moving inexorably toward a good conclusion. But time and chance are fickle, as are the memories of men. Perhaps Joseph saw the delay in his freedom as meaningful, there being a purpose for waiting. And this is true as we follow Joseph’s story. Patience is a virtue, but one we would prefer not be required of us.
Continue reading
