Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 40:4

And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.

4. charged Joseph with them ] i.e. put them under the care of Joseph, who is to be in attendance on them, not as a fellow-prisoner, but as a servant in his master’s house. Compare the words of “the chief butler” in Gen 41:12 (also from E), “there was with us there a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard.” This is different from the idea given in Gen 39:22, where he is a prisoner, and appointed by the “keeper of the prison” to look after the other prisoners.

a season ] Lit. “days.”

Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges

Verse 4. They continued a season] yamim, literally days; how long we cannot tell. But many suppose the word signifies a complete year; and as Pharaoh called them to an account on his birthday, Ge 40:20, Calmet supposes they had offended on the preceding birthday, and thus had been one whole year in prison.

Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible

A season, Heb. days, i.e. either many days, or a year, as that word sometimes signifies. See Gen 24:55.

Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole

4. The captain of the guard chargedJoseph with themnot the keeper, though he was most favorablydisposed; but Potiphar himself, who, it would seem, was by this timesatisfied of the perfect innocence of the young Hebrew; though,probably, to prevent the exposure of his family, he deemed it prudentto detain him in confinement (see Ps37:5).

They continued a season inwardliterally, “days,” how long, is uncertain; butas they were called to account on the king’s birthday, it has beensupposed that their offense had been committed on the precedinganniversary [CALVIN].

Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible

And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them,…. Committed them to his care and custody, he being very probably recommended to him by the keeper of the prison for his prudence and fidelity; and if it was Potiphar, he knew his character full well, and might be now reconciled unto him, as having had a more full and clear account of the affair between him and his wife from the keeper of the prison; and therefore though he might not think fit for his own and his wife’s reputation to remove him from prison as yet, nevertheless might be inclined to do him what service he could, as well as honour, as this was, to have two such state prisoners committed to his care. Some render it, “he committed Joseph with them” x; to be with them, as Jarchi interprets it; they were put together, not merely for the sake of company, but that Joseph might wait upon them, which might be beneficial as well as creditable, as it follows:

and he served them; he ministered unto them, and brought them every thing they wanted:

and they continued a season in ward; or “days” y; some certain days, many days, a year, as Jarchi and Ben Gersom interpret it, and which is sometimes the use of the word. The story of the butler and baker is told, partly to show the divine faculty of interpreting dreams Joseph was possessed of; and partly to observe the remarkable steps in Providence, though secret, towards his advancement in Pharaoh’s court.

x – “et commisit Josephum cum eis”, Junius & Tremellius. y “per annum”, Pagninus, Vatablus, Schmidt.

Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible

4. Charged Joseph with them Being royal officers, it would be natural to charge a Hebrew slave to serve them, though he had charge of all the prison . Gen 39:22.

Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments

Gen 40:4. A season They were days, , iamim, the Hebrew has it; that is, say some, a whole year. It is thought by the generality of commentators, that the captain of the guard here mentioned, was Potiphar: it is a point of no great consequence, but I should rather conceive that he was a different person. Houbigant denies that iamim, singly, ever denotes a year. See his Prolegomena.

REFLECTIONS.The favour of princes is an uncertain possession. These two chief officers of Pharaoh experience a sad reverse of fortune, from a palace to a prison. They little thought for whose sake they were brought thither: it was for Joseph’s, and into his custody they were committed. The links of the chain of providence are strangely connected, but in wisdom all.

Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke

Gen 40:4 And the captain of the guard charged Joseph with them, and he served them: and they continued a season in ward.

Ver. 4. And the captain of the guard, &c. ] This was Potiphar probably: who by this time saw his own error, and Joseph’s innocency; yet kept him still in prison, perhaps to save his wife’s honesty. Truth is the daughter of Time; a it wil1 not always lie hid. Splendet cure obscuratur; vincit cum opprimitur, Hinc, ut Pacis templum in media urbe extruxerunt olim Romani, ita Veritatis statuam in suis urbibus olim coluerunt Aegyptii. b

a The word A is from and

b Caseus, in Ethic

Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)