Genesis Rabbah 88

¹“It was after these matters; the butler of the king of Egypt and the baker sinned against their master, against the king of Egypt” (Genesis 40:1). “It was after these matters…sinned.” “Deliver me from all my transgressions; do not disgrace me among the scoundrels” (Psalms 39:9) – Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina and Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman, Rabbi Ḥama bar Ḥanina said: The nations of the world were not fit to have anguished and despised individuals in their midst. ). Why, then, do they have anguished and despised individuals in their midst? It is so they will not taunt Israel and say to them: ‘You are a nation of anguished and despised people.’ This is in accordance with [the verse]: “Do not disgrace me among the scoundrels.” Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: The nations of the world were not fit to have those who develop scabs in their midst. Why, then, do they have those who develop scabs in their midst? It is so they will not taunt Israel and say to them: ‘Are you not a nation of lepers?’ This is in accordance with [the verse]: “Do not disgrace me among the scoundrels.” Another matter, “deliver me from all my transgressions…” – this is Joseph. Because it is written in his regard: “She called to the people of her household…” (Genesis 39:14) – she placed him in the mouths of all of them, the Holy One blessed be He said: ‘It is preferable that they turn against one another and not turn against this righteous one.’ That is what is written: “It was after these matters…sinned….” (Genesis 40:1). ²The Rabbis say: The butler – a fly was found in his goblet; the baker – a pebble was found in his loaf. That is what is written: “The butler of the king of Egypt and the baker sinned against their master” – in the service of their master. Rabbi Evyatar said: They sought to consort with the king’s daughter. Here it is stated: “Sinned” and elsewhere it is stated: “[How can I do this wicked thing] and sin against God?” (Genesis 39:9). ³Rabbi Yuda bar Simon and Rabbi Ḥanin in the name of Rabbi Yoḥanan: It is written: “Come behold the works of the Lord…” (Psalms 46:9) – the Holy One blessed be He caused masters to become angry at their servants to grant prominence to the righteous: “Pharaoh became angry at his servants” (Genesis 41:10) – to grant prominence to Joseph. [And He caused] servants [to become angry] at their masters in order to grant prominence to the righteous: “Bigtan and Teresh became angry” (Esther 2:21) – to grant prominence to Mordekhai. Rabbi Yudan was speaking about these actions of Bigtan and Teresh. Rav said: They placed a short dagger in their shoes. Rabbi Ḥanin said: They prepared an apparatus to strangle him. Shmuel said: They placed serpent’s venom in his cup. “The matter was investigated, and was discovered” (Esther 2:23). The Rabbis say: They placed a fly in his goblet; ; cf. Rabbi David Luria). immediately, “the matter was investigated, and was discovered.” ⁴“He placed them in custody in the household of the chief executioner, in the prison, the place where Joseph was incarcerated” (Genesis 40:3). “The chief executioner assigned Joseph to them, and he served them, and they were in custody one year” (Genesis 40:4). “They dreamed a dream, both of them, each man his dream during one night, each man in accordance with the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were incarcerated in the prison” (Genesis 40:5). “He placed them in custody…the chief executioner assigned…they dreamed a dream, both of them…” – Rabbi Ḥama bar Abba said: The dream, and the interpretation of his counterpart’s dream. “Joseph came to them in the morning, and saw them, and, behold, they were distressed” (Genesis 40:6). “They said to him: We dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter for it. Joseph said to them: Are interpretations not for God? Please, relate it to me” (Genesis 40:8). “Joseph came to them…they said…we dreamed a dream…are interpretations not for God?” He attributed the greatness to its Owner. ⁵“The chief butler related his dream to Joseph, and said to him: In my dream, behold, a vine was before me” (Genesis 40:9). “And on the vine were three tendrils, and it was as though it was budding; its blossoms emerged, and its clusters produced ripe grapes” (Genesis 40:10). “The chief butler related…behold, a vine was before me” – this is Israel, as it is stated: “You transported a vine from Egypt” (Psalms 80:9). “And on the vine were three tendrils” – Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. “It was as though it was budding” – the redemption of Israel was budding. “Its blossoms emerged” – the redemption of Israel blossomed. “Its clusters produced ripe grapes” – the vine that budded immediately blossomed; grapes that emerged immediately ripened. “And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand; I took the grapes, pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand” (Genesis 40:11). “Joseph said to him: This is its interpretation: The three tendrils are three days” (Genesis 40:12). “In three more days Pharaoh will raise your head and restore you to your position, and you will give Pharaoh's cup into his hand, like the former circumstance where you would provide him with drink” (Genesis 40:13). “And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand” – on this basis the Sages instituted the four cups on Passover eve. Rav Huna said in the name of Rabbi Benaya: Corresponding to the four expressions of redemption that were stated in Egypt: “I will take you out…I will deliver you…I will redeem you…I will take you” (Exodus 6:6–7). Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: Corresponding to the four cups stated here: “And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand… you will give Pharaoh's cup into his hand…” Rabbi Levi said: Corresponding to the four kingdoms. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Corresponding to the four cups [ kosot ] of bewilderment that the Holy One blessed be He will give the idolaters to drink. That is what is written: “For so said the Lord, God of Israel, to me: Take this cup of the wine of anger” (Jeremiah 25:15); “a golden cup is Babylon in the hand of the Lord…” (Jeremiah 51:7); “he will rain…upon the wicked [ blazing coals and sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot [ menat kosam ]]” (Psalms 11:6). Corresponding to them, the Holy One blessed be He will give Israel four cups [ kosot ] of salvation in the future, as it is stated: “The Lord is my lot [ menat kosi ]” (Psalms 16:5); “I will lift a cup of salvation [ kos yeshuot ]” (Psalms 116:13): “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup is full” (Psalms 23:5). “A cup of salvation [ kos yeshua ]” (Psalms 116:13) is not written here, but rather, “a cup of salvation [ kos yeshuot ]” – one for the messianic era and one for the days of Gog. “If only you remember me when it shall be well for you, and please, perform kindness with me and mention me to Pharaoh, and take me out of this house” (Genesis 40:14). [Joseph] said to him: ‘You gave me good tidings; I, too, will give you good tidings: “In three more days…if only you remember me…”’ “For I was abducted from the land of the Hebrews and here, too, I have done nothing, that they placed me in the pit” (Genesis 40:15). “For I was abducted [ gunov gunavti ]” – Rav Aḥa said: From here [it may be derived] that he was abducted twice. “And here, too, I have done [nothing]…” ⁶“The chief baker saw that he interpreted well, and he said to Joseph: I too, in my dream, behold, three wicker baskets were on my head” (Genesis 40:16). “And in the uppermost basket there was all manner of food for Pharaoh, baked products, and the birds were eating them from the basket above my head” (Genesis 40:17). “Joseph answered and said: This is its interpretation: The three baskets are three days” (Genesis 40:18). “In three more days Pharaoh shall lift your head from upon you, and shall hang you on a tree, and the birds shall eat your flesh from upon you” (Genesis 40:19). “The chief baker saw…[and he said to Joseph: I too [ af ]…]” – Rav Ḥama said: They are four who began with af and were eradicated with wrath [ af ]. “Behold, three wicker baskets” – these are the first three kingdoms. “And in the uppermost basket” – this is the fourth kingdom, which imposes taxes upon all the nations of the world. “The birds were eating them” – after they ate [the contents of] the uppermost one, they then ate [the contents of] the lower one. [Joseph] said to him: ‘You gave me bad tidings; I, too, will give you bad tidings: “In three more days…”’ “It was on the third day, Pharaoh's birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and raised the head of the chief butler and the head of the chief baker among his servants” (Genesis 40:20). “It was on the third day” – the day of Pharaoh’s birthday celebration. “He restored the chief butler to his butlership, and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand” (Genesis 40:21). “And he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph interpreted for them” (Genesis 40:22). “He made a feast…he restored the chief butler…and…the chief baker” – it befell this one what was stated to him and to that one what was stated to him. ⁷“And the chief butler did not remember Joseph, but forgot him” (Genesis 40:23). “And the chief butler did not remember…” – each day, he would stipulate conditions, and an angel would come and reverse them. He would tie knots and an angel would come and untie them. The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘You forget him, but I will not forget him.’ That is what is written: “And the chief butler did not remember.” Another matter, the chief butler forgot you, but I will not forget you. Who was expecting Abraham and Sarah, who were old, to have a son born to them? Who was expecting Jacob, who crossed the Jordan with [but] his staff, to expand and become wealthy? Who was expecting Joseph, who experienced all these troubles, to become king? Who was expecting Moses, who was cast into the Nile, to become what he became? Who was expecting Ruth, who was a proselyte, to return to the kingdom of Israel? Who was expecting David to become king until the end of the generations? Who was expecting Yehoyakhin to leave prison? Who was expecting Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya to emerge from the fire? Who was expecting, in the days of Haman, that the Holy One blessed be He would save Israel? Who expects the exiles to achieve renown and glory? Who expects the Holy One blessed be He to raise the fallen booth of David, as it is stated: “On that day, I will raise the fallen booth of David” (Amos 9:11). [Who expects] that the whole world will become one group, as it is stated: “For then I will convert all the peoples to a pure language, for all of them to call in the name of the Lord, to serve Him with a common effort” (Zephaniah 3:9).