Genesis 40 (Identity of the cup bearer and the baker)

A deeper look into the identities of the cup bearer and the baker in Genesis 40.

Both are sent to prison by Pharao.

It is the prison where Joseph also is held captive.

GENESIS 40: 1-23 The purpose of this deeper look into the text is to show that Genesis 40 contains a prophetic message about the, then, future exiles of the House of Yudah and the House of Ephraim. First some background information. The kingdom of Yisrael split into two kingdoms after King Solomon's death. You can read that history in 1 Kings 11 and 1 Kings 12

These two kingdoms are called the house of Yudah and the house of Ephraim. The fact that the kingdom of Yisrael would split into two has always been known by God. This is not something that we may believe, it is also something that we are allowed to know because God recorded this in the writings of Moses in Genesis 40. Moses is the man who lived 500 years before Solomon's time. Solomon was the last king of a united Yisrael. Allow me to take you on a journey through the Bible. It will elude no one that Genesis 40 is found in between two other chapters. Genesis 39 and Genesis 41. I'm not writing this to be funny. I write this because it is important for the context. Actually, all the words written in the Bible are important for the context of the Bible.

Similarly, for the explanation of Genesis 40.

It is also important to keep in mind that prophecies always have multiple layers of fulfillment. Genesis 40: 1.2 “After these things it happened that the cup bearer of the king of Egypt and the baker sinned against their lord, the king of Egypt, so that Pharaoh became very angry with his two courtiers, the head of the cup bearers and the head of the bakers.”

The cup bearer, identified as the head of the cup bearers in Genesis 40: 9, is a typology of the house of Yudah. Why do I think this? The prophet Nehemiah writes in chapter 1:11 that he is the king's cup bearer. This is the only other time the term cup bearer is used in the Bible. Nehemiah is a man from the tribe of Yudah. So there is a connection between the cup bearer of the king and Yudah. Also, the "blood of the grape" / wine / the vine is associated with the messianic promise. That Messianic promise also coincides with the eventual restoration of Yisrael. Amos 9: 11-15 (Micah 4: 4/1 Kings 4:25) In John 15, Yeshua calls Himself the true Vine. The Messiah, Yeshua of Nazareth is of the tribe of Yudah. Whenever Yisrael built the Tabernacle on a resting place in the desert, the tribes were positioned around the Tabernacle in the form of a cross. Yudah was the tribe with the most people, it was the chief tribe of the three tribes that stood on the east side of the Tabernacle. (Yudah / Issachar / Zebulon)

https://www.bible-history.com/tabernacle/TAB4The_Encampment.htm

In this sense, Yudah is the "head of the cup bearers” (of wine). The baker, who is called the head of the bakers in Genesis 40:16, is a type of the house of Ephraim. Why do I think this? The prophet Hosea writes in chapter 7: 8 that Ephraim is like a cake that is not turned upside down, it mixes with the nations. (become gentiles) In Psalm 14: 4 and Psalm 53: 4, the Psalmist writes that the people of God are eaten by the nations as if it were bread. Whenever Israel built the tabernacle on a resting place in the desert, the tribes were positioned around the tabernacle in the form of a cross. Ephraim was the tribe with the most people, it was the main tribe of the three tribes that stood on the west side. (Ephraim / Manasseh / Benjamin)

https://www.bible-history.com/tabernacle/TAB4The_Encampment.htm In this sense, Ephraim is the “head of the bakers”. The king of Egypt, and Egypt in itself, is a typology of the worldly powers. Those powers are under the spell of Satan and his demons. You can therefore say that Yisrael (Yudah / the head of the cup bearers and Ephraim / the head of the bakers) were in the service of the world. What do I mean by that? You can read about the seven Feasts of YHWH in Leviticus 23: 1-42 and

Deuteronomy 16: 1-17. One of those Feasts is called the Feast of Tabernacles. This Feast is also known as the Feast of the Nations. During this Feast, 70 cattle were slaughtered in addition to small livestock. By slaughtering these cattle, the sins of the nations got covered by blood. 70 cattle for 70 nations (read about the Table of Nations: Genesis 10). Because the grace of God is great, He remained faithful in His care for the people who had rejected Him. They had rejected Him by following and serving other gods. (Genesis 11 / Deuteronomy 32) But now!! The head of the cup bearers and the head of the bakers (Yudah and Ephraim) sin against Pharaoh. (Genesis 40: 1) What does that mean? Since Yudah and Ephraim will go into exile in the future, it will be impossible for Yisrael at that time to carry out their task of reconciliation for the world, by slaughtering the 70 cattle, thereby sinning against the world and against their Heavenly King.

Therefore, worldly powers (Pharaoh and Egypt) attack Yisrael and take them into exile.

Yudah is taken away by the Babylonian King Nebuchadnezzar 2 (609 BC)

Ephraim is taken away by the Assyrian king Tiglath Pileser 3 (740 BC)

Both are taken captive.

In Isaiah 51:14 you can read that the exiles of Yisrael are called captives.

Genesis 40: 5

And in one night they both had a dream, each his own dream with its own meaning: the cup bearer and the baker who belonged to the king of Egypt and who were imprisoned in prison.

Yudah and Ephraim both go into exile, but each with their own period of time.

For Yudah this will be a period of 70 years and for Ephraim this will be a period of 2700 years in exile.

Genesis 40: 8

They said to him, we have had a dream, and there is no one who can explain it. Joseph said to them, Is not the explanation to God? Just tell them to me.

Joseph as a type of Christ shows that Christ is the One Who, in His Divine nature, can reveal to Yisrael (Yudah and Ephraim) what their sins are and what the consequences will be of these sins.

Genesis 40: 9-13

Then the head of the cup bearers told Joseph his dream and said to him, ``Behold, in my dream a vine stood before me, there were three branches on the vine. He was sprouting, his blossom came out, and his clusters produced ripe grapes.

The cup of Pharaoh was in my hand, and I took the grapes, squeezed them into the cup of Pharaoh, and gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.

Then Joseph said to him, This is the explanation of it: the three branches represent three days.

Within three days Pharaoh will give you a high place, (a high place - literally, lift your head); and restore you to office; you will give Pharaoh's cup into his hand according to your former position when you were his cup bearer.

Three is the number of completeness. The sins of Yudah will come to completion for which the head of the cup bearers will be punished, but Yudah will be restored again in the service of Pharaoh (the world). The sacrifices of, among others, the 70 cattle will start again in the Holy Land. (after 70 years: Yerimyahu 25: 1-11; 29: 1-10 / Daniel 9).

The vine that blossoms and bears fruit also represents the Messianic promise and fulfillment in Christ.

Genesis 40:14

But remember me when it will go well with you; please show me kindness and tell me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house.

It has always been a task of Yisrael to proclaim the Gospel to the world, to declare that YHWH is the Only Savior.

However, it is true that Yudah forgot this and began to emphasize their own identity and traditions as the door to salvation.

Genesis 40:16

When the chief of the bakers saw that he had given a favorable explanation, he said to Joseph, I also had a dream, and behold, there were three baskets of white bread on my head.

The top basket contained all kinds of food for Pharaoh, the work of a baker, but the birds ate it from the basket on top of my head. Then Joseph answered and said, This is the interpretation of it: The three baskets mean three days.

Within three days Pharaoh will give you a high place: he will hang you on a stake, and the birds will eat your flesh from you.

Three is the number of completeness. The sins of Ephraim will come to completion for which they will be punished. (Hosea 9: 1-17)

The penalty will eventually be 7 times more severe because Ephraim refuses to repent of their sins. (Leviticus 26: 17,18)

In Psalm 14: 4 and Psalm 53: 4, the Psalmist writes that the people of God are eaten by the nations as if it was bread.

Ephraim will eventually lose his strength. (Hosea 7: 9) and will eventually die spiritually.

BUT the grace of YHWH is greater than great because in Ezekiel 37: 1-28

we read about the valley of the dead bones. The (spiritual) dead will come to live again.

God restores the flesh (eaten by the nations) to the bones and the power of the Holy Spirit will bring the (spiritually) dead back to life.

While this chapter has focused on Yudah and Ephraim, the Bible's message is that YHWH is faithful to his own promises to Yisrael. He also demonstrates His faithfulness to all who will become a part of the renewed covenant through the Blood of Jesus Christ, the Man-God.

I hope this introduction to Genesis 40 will encourage you to study the Bible with renewed interest and understand it with different insights.

All thanks and honor go to YHWH ha Elohim, His Anointed Yeshua ha Mashiach and His Holy Spirit Who will assist us when we study The Word when we ask for it in prayer.

Psalm 32: 8

HalleluYAH, praise be to the Most High God