Genesis: Joseph - from a slave to Prime Minister

Joseph: from a slave to Prime Minister

text: Genesis 39 – 41

Outline:

A. 39, Joseph cares for Potiphar's house

  B. 40, Joseph interpreted dreams in prison

  B'. 41:1-26, Joseph interpreted dreams for pharaoh

A'. 41:27-57, Joseph cares for Egypt

Comments: After an intermission filled with the story of Judah, we are coming back to Joseph. There are three main parts of Joseph's life in Egypt. First, his rise from slave to the Prime Minister. Second, interaction with his brothers. Third, reunion with Jacob and settlement of the family in Egypt.

A. Joseph cares for Potiphar's house. Joseph ends up in the house of the top rank officer in Egypt empire. Interesting fact that Potiphar recognizes that Joseph carries with him the LORD's blessing. Not divine, not God's (a vague term in the Ancient world), but the LORD's (39:3). As a result, Joseph ends up being in charge of everything in Potiphar's (part of the) house.

Yet, there was another part of the house – the one of the Potiphar's wife. She wanted to engage with him. Apart from a provocative flirty reason, we need to clarify one term from 39:1. ESV says that Potiphar was an officer. Yet, Hebrew S'rim first of all means eunuch. Apparently, she was not satisfied. It doesn't justify she obnoxious behavior, but explains a lot. Also, this is the SECOND time, when Joseph is disrobed – first were his brothers (37:23); now – Potiphar's wife (39:12).

Now. Very important question – did Potiphar believe his wife? Honestly, I don't think so. There are a few reasons to say that. First, verse 19 says he got angry, but it DOESN'T say he was angry toward Joseph. Avoiding a major scandal Potiphar removes Joseph to “king's prison” – a place for the prisoners of high position. Being captain of the guard, he was responsible for this facility (compare 39:1 and 40:3-4). So, Potiphar could keep an eye on Joseph, but after a short time he AGAIN put Joseph in charge of everything (39:23). Also, we need to add to it the fact that the toughest guys in the Empire knew how to turn a situation of slave's disobedience into a parade example for all the other servants. If he would believe his wife, Joseph would go through PT – not Physical Therapy, but Pain and Torture. By the end he would beg for death, and I'm not sure that his petition would be granted. Putting these things together, we can deduce that Potiphar trusted Joseph, probably knowing or suspecting his wife being too playful...

B. Joseph interpreted dreams in prison. As I said Joseph ended up in a special place for “elite” law-breakers (cp. 39:20, “king's prisoners”). Chief baker is the minister of agriculture. Chief cupbearer is the minister of foreign affairs. Their dreams are relatively easy to dissect – the whole new that in three days there will be Pharaoh's birthday. He probably will make a decision about his main officers by then. So three “things” (either branches or baskets) are three days. Now, the difference is a pro-active stand of the cupbearer vs passive stand of the chief baker. Therefore, one head goes up in an act of restoration, while the other one is lifted up in the execution. The phrases in v. 13 and 19 are identical to the last point – restore you vs. from you.

Bear in mind Joseph's request to remember him. As we talked many times – remember in the Bible is not a mental exercise only. It means to act upon it. I'm sure the chief cupbearer “remembered” Joseph in our sense of the word, but he failed to bring his matter to the authorities (at least say a good word to Potiphar after being released). It will be important for the next story.

B'. Joseph interpreted dreams for pharaoh. Two dreams of the officers correspond to two dreams of Pharaoh; also, remember that Joseph himself had TWO dreams in the days of his youth.

Pharaoh's dream is also relatively easy to understand, but what Joseph excels at is giving the suggestion on how to handle the situation. The first dream relates to the river – Nile and cows. The second one – Sun and the bread. So, the whole agricultural system is going to fail. But – it is also a look into the future: the first plague against Egypt in the time of Exodus involved Nile, the last one – Sun. So, in Joseph's time the gods of Egypt failed them for the first time. And Joseph, being guided by the spirit of creator was able to mitigate the impact. The second time, Pharaoh of Moses days rejected YHWH (Exodus 5:1-5), therefore, Egypt was doomed.

A'. Joseph cares for Egypt. Being acknowledged as the one with the spirit of God (the creator) and appointed to the PM office, Joseph now cares for the land of Egypt. He manages the gifts of the earth in a way that will help in the future. Actually, this is the first tax system in the Bible.

Also, Joseph got married and had two sons, both of them had symbolic names. The first one – Mannaseh – was named as a signal that Joseph forgot the troubles of the past. But (!) when you son runs around your house and you call him “I forgot the troubles,” just his name reminds you of the troubles of the past...

The second one is Ephraim, meaning being fruitful in the land of affliction. Is he talking about Egypt? Or Canaan? And the answer is YES.