Joseph in Pharaoh's Prison

When Potiphar heard his wife's false accusation against Joseph, he burned with anger. He took Joseph and put him in prison, the place where the king's prisoners were confined.

But the Lord was with Joseph there too and showed him kindness. He granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden. Soon the warden put Joseph in charge of all those held in the prison, and he was made responsible for all that was done there. The warden paid no attention to anything under Joseph's care, because the Lord was with Joseph and gave him success in whatever he did.

Some time later, the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt offended their master, and Pharaoh put them in custody in the same prison where Joseph was confined. They were there for some time, and Joseph attended them.

One night, each of the two men had a dream. When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were dejected. 'Why do you look so sad today?' he asked.

'We both had dreams,' they answered, 'but there is no one to interpret them.'

Joseph said, 'Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.'

The chief cupbearer told his dream: 'In my dream I saw a vine with three branches. As soon as it budded, it blossomed, and its clusters ripened into grapes. Pharaoh's cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into the cup, and put it in his hand.'

Joseph said, 'The three branches are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will restore you to your position. But when all goes well with you, remember me and show kindness to me; mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this prison.'

The chief baker saw that Joseph had given a favorable interpretation, so he said, 'In my dream there were three baskets of bread on my head. Birds were eating out of the basket on my head.'

Joseph said, 'The three baskets are three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift off your head and impale your body on a pole.'

On the third day, Pharaoh's birthday, he gave a feast for all his officials. He lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker. He restored the cupbearer to his position, but he impaled the baker—just as Joseph had interpreted.

The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him. Joseph would wait two more years in that prison, but God had not forgotten him.