Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 40:14
But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:
14. But have me, &c.] Joseph claims no reward for his interpretation beyond that of an act of kindness.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 14. Make mention of me unto Pharaoh] One would have supposed that the very circumstance of his restoration, according to the prediction of Joseph, would have almost necessarily prevented him from forgetting so extraordinary a person. But what have mere courtiers to do either with gratitude or kindness?
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Though he patiently endures his prison, yet he prudently useth all lawful means to get his freedom.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
But think on me, when it shall be well with thee,…. He desires no reward for the interpretation of his dream, only that he would remember him in adversity, when he should be in prosperity in Pharaoh’s court, and speak a good word for him, which was the least he could do; and though Joseph knew by his own dreams that he should be raised from his low estate to a very high and advanced one, yet he thought proper, in a dependence on God, to make use of all lawful means for his deliverance; nor is he to be blamed, as if he sought help of man and not of God, as he is by some writers, both Christian and Jewish, particularly by the Targum of Jonathan,
“Joseph lost his superior confidence, and retained the confidence of men;”
whereas means are always to be used in order to the end, in subordination to the divine will; and what Joseph asked of the butler was but reasonable, and what he ought to have done for him, and was prudently moved by Joseph, as a rational method of his deliverance, and in which he was, no doubt, guided and directed by the providence of God, as the event shows:
and show kindness, I pray thee, unto me; he pleads no merit for what he had done in interpreting his dream, but puts the good office he desires him to do for him upon the foot of kindness to a man in distress, and asks it as a favour, by way of entreaty and request:
and make mention of me and bring me out of this house: the prison in which he was; for though he had much favour shown him, and had more liberty granted him than other prisoners had, yet a prisoner he was, and a prison he dwelt in, and deliverance from it was desirable, could it be had; and this was a likely way to obtain it, if the butler would speak a good word for him to Pharaoh, which he would have an opportunity to do, being often in his presence, and frequently when cheerful.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
14. Show kindness I pray thee unto me (152) Although the expression show kindness is used among the Hebrews to describe the common exercise of humanity; there is yet no doubt that Joseph spoke simply as his own sad and afflicted condition suggested, for the purpose of inclining the mind of the butler to procure him help. He insists, however, chiefly on this, that he had been thrust into prison for no crime, in order that the butler might not refuse his assistance to an innocent man. For although they who are most wicked find patrons; yet commendation elicited by importunity, which rescues a wicked man from deserved punishment, is in itself an odious and infamous thing. It is, however, probable that Joseph explained his whole cause, so that he fully convinced the butler of his innocence.
(152) Fac quaeso mecum misericordiam.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
14. Think on me Here we note how Joseph longs for liberty .
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Gen 40:14. But think on me, &c. The confidence which Joseph had in the certainty of the event which the dream foretold, is manifest from hence; nor can he be blamed for this application to human means, in order to clear himself and be delivered from confinement. He most probably informed the butler of his whole history; as we read, Gen 40:15 that he told him he was stolen away, that is, secretly and by force sold for a slave to strangers; a crime which the Romans distinguished by the name of plagiary. Qui hominem liberum vendit, plagiarius est; “he who sells a freeman, is guilty of plagiary.” I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, i.e.. that land in which the Hebrews sojourned, in which they were become very considerable, and well known to the AEgyptians, and which they were afterwards entirely to possess. See ch. Gen 14:13.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Gen 40:14 But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:
Ver. 14. But think on me, &c. ] Liberty is sweet, and should be sought by all lawful means. 1Co 7:21 The Jews censure Joseph for requesting this favour of the butler; and say, he was therefore two years longer imprisoned. But this is a hard saying. Possible it is, that Joseph might trust too much to this man, and be too hasty to set God this time, and no other; and so might be justly crossed of his expectation. It is hard and happy so to use the means as not to trust to them; and so to wait God’s good leisure, as not to “limit the Holy One of Israel.” We trust a skilful workman to go his own way to work, and to take his own time. Shall we not do as much for God! He oft goes a way by himself, and gives a blessing to those times and means whereof we despair.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
think on me, &c. Compare Luk 23:42.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
think on me: Heb. remember me with thee
on me: 1Sa 25:31, Luk 23:42, 1Co 7:21
show: Jos 2:12, 1Sa 20:14, 1Sa 20:15, 2Sa 9:1, 1Ki 2:7
Reciprocal: Gen 41:9 – I do remember Rth 3:1 – may be Neh 5:19 – Think Act 23:18 – Paul Eph 1:16 – making Heb 13:3 – them that
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 40:14-15. Think on me Though the respect paid to Joseph made the prison as easy to him as a prison could be, yet none can blame him for being desirous of liberty. See what a modest representation he makes of his own case. He doth not reflect upon his brethren that sold him, he only saith, I was stolen out of the land of the Hebrews. Nor doth he reflect on the wrong done him in this imprisonment by his mistress, that was his prosecutor, and his master, that was his judge, but mildly avers his own innocence. Here have I done nothing, that they should put me into the dungeon When we are called to vindicate ourselves, we should carefully avoid, as much as may be, speaking ill of others. Let us be content to prove ourselves innocent, and not fond of upbraiding others with their guilt.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
40:14 But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and {e} make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:
(e) He does not refuse the method of deliverance which he thought God had appointed.