Joseph has gone from being a favorite son, to his life threatened by his brothers, to being sold into slavery, to being falsely accused, and now in prison. Genesis leads off with a little more narrative….
Genesis, Chapter 39
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 Lord was with him, and that which he did, the Lord made it to prosper.
The Quran, 12 Yusuf
Again we see Joseph prospering even in difficult circumstances and being entrusted by those who rule over him.
Genesis, Chapter 40
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.
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.
The Quran, 12 Yusuf
Genesis tells us a bit about two new prisoners that come under Joseph’s charge, two officers of Pharaoh, chief butler and chief baker.
Some confusion can come from verse 3, that the prisoners were brought to the house of the “captain of the guard”. Back at the beginning of Genesis chapter 39 we read, “Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him”. Was Potiphar the same captain of the guard Joseph was now imprisoned to? Did he go from slave to prisoner under the same man? I have read one interpretation of Genesis 39:1 that Potiphar and the captain of the guard in that one verse should be read as two different people. That seems like a stretch to me. I think more possible is that “captain of the guard” was a title bestowed to multiple people. I don’t know the answer and don’t really even have an opinion because I don’t think it matters too much, but I did want to point it out.
On to the dreams. Both passages are a bit long in their own way, but eventually the end result is the same….
Genesis, Chapter 40
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 in my hand: and I took the grapes, and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh’s hand.
12. And Joseph said unto him, This is the interpretation of it: The three branches are three days:
13. Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thine head, and restore thee unto thy place: and thou shalt deliver Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, after the former manner when thou wast his butler.
14. But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:
15. For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.
16. When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was good, he said unto Joseph, I also was in my dream, and, behold, I had three white baskets on my head:
17. And in the uppermost basket there was of all manner of bakemeats for Pharaoh; and the birds did eat them out of the basket upon my head.
18. And Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation thereof: The three baskets are three days:
19. Yet within three days shall Pharaoh lift up thy head from off thee, and shall hang thee on a tree; and the birds shall eat thy flesh from off thee.
20. And it came to pass the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, 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.
The Quran, 12 Yusuf
37. He said: “No food will come to you (in wakefulness or in dream) as your provision, but I will inform (in wakefulness) its interpretation before it (the food) comes. This is of that which my Lord has taught me. Verily, I have abandoned the religion of a people that believe not in Allah and are disbelievers in the Hereafter (i.e. the Kan’aniun of Egypt who were polytheists and used to worship sun and other false deities).
38. “And I have followed the religion of my fathers , – Ibrahim (Abraham), Ishaque (Isaac) and Ya’qub (Jacob), and never could we attribute any partners whatsoever to Allah. This is from the Grace of Allah to us and to mankind, but most men thank not (i.e. they neither believe in Allah, nor worship Him).
39. “O two companions of the prison! Are many different lords (gods) better or Allah, the One, the Irresistible?
40. “You do not worship besides Him but only names which you have named (forged), you and your fathers, for which Allah has sent down no authority. The command (or the judgement) is for none but Allah. He has commanded that you worship none but Him (i.e. His Monotheism), that is the (true) straight religion, but most men know not.
41. “O two companions of the prison! As for one of you, he (as a servant) will pour out wine for his lord (king or master) to drink; and as for the other, he will be crucified and birds will eat from his head. Thus is the case judged concerning which you both did inquire.”
42. And he said to the one whom he knew to be saved: “Mention me to your lord (i.e. your king, so as to get me out of the prison).” But Shaitan (Satan) made him forget to mention it to his Lord [or Satan made [(Yusuf (Joseph)] to forget the remembrance of his Lord (Allah) as to ask for His Help, instead of others]. So [Yusuf (Joseph)] stayed in prison a few (more) years.
In both, two new prisoners come, they have dreams, and Joseph interprets that one will be restored to his position, the other will be executed. In both Joseph also asks for help from the man who will be saved, and in both is instead forgotten for years.
In the Quran, before Joseph gives the interpretations of the dreams he gives praise to God and then rebukes his fellow prisoners for their pagan polytheistic beliefs. I highly suspect that it was Joseph’s character to preach to those around him.
I find it interesting that the Quran gives the cause for the forgetfulness of the cup bearer. Even if it is just human folly of being so easily distracted by daily life and chores, Satan desires us to forget what is important, to forget those who need our help, and instead to focus on our selfish selves.
Of the three English translations of the Quran I am using, only the online Noble Quran adds the alternative brackets […] in verse 42 surrounding Joseph forgetting to rely on God for help and instead asking for help from his fellow-prisoner. It implies that a reliance on false things is at least partly to blame for Joseph’s extended stay in prison. Since I am not sure the significance of those brackets [..], I will add no further comment.
From Joseph’s time in prison we learn that no matter your circumstances you can always make right choices, be responsible, share the truth with others, serve others, and be an example.