Page:An Exposition of the Old and New Testament (1828) vol 1.djvu/229

Rh him, he only says, I was stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, that is, unjustly sent away thence, no matter where the fault was. Nor does he reflect on the wrong done him in this imprisonment by his mistress that was his prosecutrix, and his master that was his judge; but mildly avers his own innocence: Here have I done nothing, that they should put me into the dungeon. Note, When we are called to vindicate ourselves, we should carefully avoid, as much as may be, speaking ill of others. Let us be content to prove ourselves innocent, and not be fond of upbraiding others with their guilt. 2. What a modest request he makes to the chief butler: "Only, think on me. Pray, do me a kindness, if it lie in your way." And his particular petition is, Bring me out of this house. He does not say, "Bring me into Pharaoh's house, get me a place at court." No, he begs for enlargement, not preferment. Note, Providence sometimes designs the greatest honours for those that least covet or expect them.

20. And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh's birth-day, that he made a feast unto all his servants: and he lifted up the head of the chief butler and of the chief baker among his servants. 21. And he restored the chief butler unto his butlership again; and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand: 22. But he hanged the chief baker; as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23. Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.

Here is,

1. The verifying of Joseph's interpretation of the dreams, on the very day prefixed. The chief butler and baker were both advanced, one to his office, the other to the gallows, and both at the three days' end. Note, Very great changes, both for the better, and for the worse, often happen in a very little time; so sudden are the revolutions of the wheel of nature. The occasion of giving judgment severally upon their case, was, the solemnizing of Pharaoh's birth day, on which, all his servants being obliged by custom to attend him, these two came to be inquired after, and the cause of their commitment looked into. The solemnizing of the birth-days of Princes has been an ancient piece of respect done them; and if it be not abused, as Jeroboam's was, (Hos. 7.5.) and Herod's, (Mark 6. 21.) is a usage innocent enough: and we may all profitably take notice of our birth-days, with thankfulnesthankfulness [though the other spelling used to be widely used] [sic] for the mercies of our birth, sorrow for the sinfulness of it, and an expectation of the day of our death as better than the day of our birth. On Pharaoh's birth-day, he lifted up the head of those two prisoners, that is, arraigned and tried them, (when Naboth was tried) he was set on high among the people, 1 Kings 21. 9. and he restored the chief butler, and hanged the chief baker. If the butler was innocent, and the baker guilty, we must own the equity of Providence in clearing up the innocence of the innocent, and making the sin of the guilty to find him out. If either both were equally innocent, or equally guilty, it is an instance of the arbitrariness of such great princes as pride themselves in that power which Nebuchadnezzar set up for, (Dan. 5. 19. whom he would, he slew, and whom he would, he kept alive,) forgetting that there is a higher than they, to whom they are accountable.

2. The disappointing of Joseph's expectation from the chief butler; he remembered not Joseph, but forgot him, v. 23. (1.) See here an instance of base ingratitude; Joseph had deserved well at his hands, had ministered unto him, sympathized with him, helped him to a favourable interpretation of his dream, had recommended himself to him as an extraordinary person upon all accounts; and yet he forgat him. We must not think it strange, if in this world we have hatred shown us for our love, and slights for our respects. (2.) See how apt those that are themselves at ease, are to forget others in distress. Perhaps it is in allusion to this story, that the prophet speaks of those that drink wine in bowls, and are not grieved for the affliction of Joseph, Amos 6. 6. Let us learn hence to cease from man. Joseph perhaps depended too much upon his interest in the chief butler, and promised himself too much from him; he learned by his disappointment to trust in God only. We cannot expect too little from man, nor too much from God.

Some observe the resemblance between Joseph and Christ in this story. Joseph's fellow-sufferers were like the two thieves that were crucified with Christ; the one saved, the other condemned. (It is Dr. Lightfoot's remark, from Mr. Broughton.) One of these, when Joseph said to him, Remember me, when it shall be well with thee, forgat him; but one of those, when he said to Christ, Remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom, was not forgotten. We justly blame the chief butler's ingratitude to Joseph, yet we conduct ourselves much more disingenuously toward the Lord Jesus. Joseph had but foretold the chief butler's enlargement, but Christ wrought out our's, mediated with the King of kings for us; yet we forget him, though often reminded of him, though we have promised never to forget him: thus ill do we requite him, like foolish people and unwise.

CHAP. XLI. Two things Providence is here bringing about. I. The advancement of Joseph. II. The maintenance of Jacob and his family in a time of famine; for the eyes of the Lord run to and fro through the earth, and direct the affairs of the children of men for the benefit of those few whose hearts are upright with him. In order to these, here is, 1. Pharaoh's dreams, v. 1..8. 2. The recommendation of Joseph to him for an interpreter, v. 9..13. 3. The interpretation of the dreams, and the prediction of seven years plenty, and seven years' famine in Egypt, with the prudent advice given to Pharaoh thereupon, v. 14..36. 4. The preferment of Joseph to a place of the highest power and trust in Egypt, v. 37..45. 5. The accomplishment of Joseph's prediction, and his fidelity to his trust, v. 46..57.

ND it came to pass at the end of two full years, that Pharaoh dreamed, and, behold, he stood by the river. 2. And, behold, there came up out of the river seven well-favoured kine, and fat-fleshed; and they fed in a meadow. 3. And, behold, seven other kine came up after them out of the river, ill-favoured and lean-fleshed; and stood by the other kine upon the brink of the river. 4. And the ill-favoured and lean-fleshed kine did eat up the seven well-favoured and fat kine. So Pharaoh awoke. 5. And he slept and dreamed the second time: and, behold, seven ears of corn came up upon one stalk, rank and good. 6. And, behold, seven thin ears and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them. 7. And the seven thin ears devoured the seven rank and full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and, behold, it was a dream. 8. And it came to pass in the morning, that his spirit was