MPV Commentary

The Baker's Dream.

16. The baker had three wicker baskets, full of holes, used to carry food from the kitchen to the dining rooms on his head. One basket was piled on top of another, with the baked goods in the uppermost one. This was a common practice in ancient Egyptian palaces, where birds like vultures and eagles would often swoop down to steal food from the baskets as they were being carried through open courtyards.

18-19. Joseph interpreted the dream for the baker, explaining that it signified his execution by decapitation, followed by his body being left on a tree by the highway to be devoured by birds. This was one form of capital punishment used in ancient Egypt, where the condemned person's headless body would be displayed as a warning to others.

20-22. Three days passed, which coincided with Pharaoh's birthday - a time of celebration and pardon for prisoners. As Joseph had predicted, the baker's fate was sealed on this day. Despite the gravity of his message, Joseph felt compelled to share God's revelation with him, even though it meant delivering bad news.

23. However, the chief butler failed to remember Joseph, despite their shared experiences in prison. This is a common human tendency - to forget those who were once close to us when we experience success and prosperity (Amos 6:6). Yet, God's providence had other plans for Joseph's deliverance, which would come through different means.