Upon their arrival in Egypt, the merchants who had bought Joseph sold him to Putiphar. a captain in the king's army. Putiphar came to trust Joseph, and made him chief servant in his house.Upon their arrival in Egypt, the merchants who had bought Joseph sold him to Putiphar. a captain in the king's army. Putiphar came to trust Joseph, and made him chief servant in his house.
One day Putiphar's wife became very angry and told her husband a wicked lie about Joseph. Putiphar believed her, and sent Joseph to prison.
The chief keeper soon grew to trust Joseph. He gave him charge of all the other prisoners, among whom were the chief butler and the chief baker of the king.
One morning Joseph saw the two servants of the king very sad. When he asked them the reason, they answered. "We have each dreamed a dream, but there is no one to tell us the meaning."
"With God's help, I shall explain your dreams," replied Joseph.
The butler had dreamed of a vine on which were three branches. Little by little ripe grapes grew on the branches. He took the grapes and pressed them into the king's cup that he held in his hands. Then he gave the cup to the king.
Joseph explained: "The three branches are three days. Within three days the king will forgive you. He will take you back into his service. Do not forget to help me out of prison when you are free." The butler gladly promised to help Joseph when he should again be with the king.
The baker had dreamed that he carried three baskets on his head. The topmost basket contained all kinds of pastry. The birds of the air came to eat out of it.
Joseph explained. "The three baskets are three days. Within three days you will be hanged. The birds of the air will eat your flesh."
On the third day everything happened as Joseph had predicted. The chief butler was taken back into the king's service, while the chief baker was hanged. But the chief butler forgot his promise to help Joseph out of prison.
Joseph in prison, with two offenders, one of whom is restored to favor and the other perishes, is a figure of Jesus on the Cross between two thieves, one of whom receives the promise of eternal life.
- from My Bible History in Pictures, by Bishop Louis LaRavoire Morrow, D.D., 1934; it has the Imprimatur of Archbishop Michael J O'Doherty of Manila, Philippines