Read Genesis 40 here or at Bible Gateway.
The Hebrew paragraph:
40:1-23 {p} Joseph in prison
This paragraph makes its own Chiastic Structure.
And it also concludes a multi-chapter Chiastic Structure.
Three is a Sign of Messiah in the Bible, and in today’s passage threes figure prominently. In the chief butler’s dream, the vine had three branches which budded, and Joseph’s interpretation was that the three branches meant three days. On the third day, Pharaoh will raise him up out of the prison house and restore his former life to him. Besides the sign of three, this is also the sign of resurrection and life. Being cast into slavery or being cast into prison is a Torah metaphor for death, for it ends the life previously known. So the chief butler’s previous life was ended when he was cast into prison, but on the third day (according to the interpretation) he would be raised up and his life would be restored to him.
In the chief baker’s dream, he had three baskets on his head, and Joseph’s interpretation was that the three baskets also meant three days. But on the third day, the chief baker would be lifted out of the prison house and executed for his crime. I think the point is not so much that the chief baker’s outcome was different from the chief butler’s, but that two prisoners, two dreams, and two interpretations are a witness from God that the dreams and interpretations are from Him, for every fact is established on the testimony of two witnesses (Gen 41:32, Deu 19:15, Mat 18:16).
If there are questions, these are good resources:
Gen 38:1-30, Why the history of Judah and Tamar is the central axis – Christine Miller
Gen 39:1-23, Prosperity and favor – Christine Miller
Gen 40:1-23, Offense, anger, and vexation – Christine Miller
Genesis in Chiastic Structure – Christine Miller
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