Joseph finds himself in custody with two of Pharaoh’s officers, the cupbearer and the chief baker (40:1–23). Potiphar’s house would have to be in the capital city of the empire. That is the only way Joseph would end up in the same prison as Pharaoh’s officials. Both officials have dreams relating to their position. The cupbearer dreams of three blossoming branches on a grapevine. He squeezes the grapes into Pharaoh’s cup and puts the cup in his hand (40:9–11). The baker dreams of three baskets of bread on his head, and of birds, which eat the bread out of the basket (40:16–17).

Joseph is not a skilled dream interpreter by nature. He makes that plain when he says, “Do not interpretations belong to God?” (40:8). He knows who is to get the credit. It is not without significance that in an anci…