Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 1.djvu/227

Rh kindled. 20. And Joseph's master took him, and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound: and he was there in the prison. 21. But the was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22. And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison ; and whatsoever they did there, he was the doer of it. 23. The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand; because the was with him, and that which he did, the  made it to prosper.

Here is,

1. Joseph wronged by his master. He believed the accusation, and either Joseph durst not make his defence by telling the truth, as it would reflect too much upon his mistress, or, his master would not hear it, or would not believe it, and there is no remedy, he is condemned to perpetual imprison ment, v. 19, 20. God restrained his wrath, else he had put him to death; and that wrath which imprisoned him, God made to turn to his praise; in order to which, Providence so disposed, that he should be shut up among the king's prisoners, the state-prisoners. Potiphar, it is likely, chose that prison, because it was the worst; for there the irons entered into the soul, (Ps. 105. 18. ) but God designed to pave the way to his enlargement. He was committed to the king's prison, that from thence he might be preferred to the king's person. Note, Many an action of false imprisonment will, in the great day, be found to lie against the enemies and persecutors of God's people. Our Lord Jesus, like Joseph here, was bound, and numbered with the transgressors.

2. Joseph owned and righted by his God, who is, and will be, the just and powerful Patron of oppressed innocence. Joseph was at a distance from all his friends and relations, had not them with him to comfort him, or to minister to him, or to mediate for him; but the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy, v. 21. Note, (1.) God despises not his prisoners, Ps. 69. 33. No gates or bars can shut out his gracious presence from his people; for he has promised that he will never leave them. (2.) Those that have a good conscience in a prison, have a good God there. Integrity and uprightness qualify us for the divine favour, wherever we are. Joseph is not long a prisoner, before he becomes a little ruler even in the prison; which is to be attributed, under God, [1.] To the keeper's favour. God gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. Note, God can raise up friends for his people, even there where they little expect to find them, and can make them to be pitied even of those that carry them captive, Ps. 106. 46. [2.] To Joseph's fitness for business. The keeper saw that God was with him, and that every thing prospered under his hand; and therefore intrusted him with the management of the affairs of the prison, v. 22, 23. Note, Wisdom and virtue will shine in the narrowest spheres. A good man will do good wherever he is, and will be a blessing even in bonds and banishments; for the Spirit of the Lord is not bound or banished, witness St. Paul, Phil. 1. 12. 13.

CHAP. XL. In this chapter, things are working, though slowly, toward Joseph's advancement. I. Two of Pharaoh's servants are committed to prison, and there to Joseph's care, and so become witnesses of his extraordinary conduct v. 1..4. II. They dreamed each of them a dream, which Joseph interpreted, (v. 5..19.) and the event verified the interpretation, (v 20..22.) and so they became witnesses of his extraordinary skill. III. Joseph recommends his case to one of them, whose preferment he foresaw (v. 14, 15.) but in vain, v. 23.

ND it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. 2. And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. 3. And he put them in ward in the house of the captain of the guard, into the prison, the place where Joseph was bound. 4. And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.

We should not have had this story of Pharaoh's butler and baker recorded in Scripture, if it had not been serviceable to Joseph's preferment. The world stands for the sake of the church, and is governed for its good. Observe, 1. Two of the great officers of Pharaoh's court having offended the king, are committed to prison. Note, High places are slippery places; nothing more uncertain than the favour of princes. Those that make God's favour their happiness, and his service their business, will find him a better master than Pharaoh was, and not so extreme to mark what they do amiss. Many conjectures there are concerning the offence of these servants of Pharaoh; some make it no less than an attempt to take away his life, others no more than the casual lighting of a fly into his cup, and a little sand into his bread. Whatever it was, Providence by this means brought them into the prison where Joseph was. 2. The captain of the guard himself, who was Potiphar, charged Joseph wiih them, (v. 4) which intimates that he began now to be reconciled to him, and perhaps to be convinced of his innocence, though he durst not release him, for fear of disobliging his wife. John Baptist must lose his head, to please Herodias.

5. And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison. 6. And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them, and, behold, they were sad. 7. And he asked Pharaoh's officers that were with him in the ward of his lord's house, saying. Wherefore look ye so sadly to-day? 8. And they said unto him. We have dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter of it. And Joseph said unto them, Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me them, I pray you. 9. And the chief butler told his dream to Joseph, and said to him, inIn [sic] my dream, behold, a vine was before me; 10. And in the vine were three branches: and it was as though it budded, and her blossoms shot forth; and the clusters thereof brought forth ripe grapes: 11. And Pharaoh's cup was