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Genesis 40:2 - Anger reveals divine providence

Genesis 40:2 - בראשית 40:2

Hebrew Text

וַיִּקְצֹף פַּרְעֹה עַל שְׁנֵי סָרִיסָיו עַל שַׂר הַמַּשְׁקִים וְעַל שַׂר הָאוֹפִים׃

English Translation

And Par῾o was angry against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers.

Transliteration

Vayiktzof Paro al shnei sarisav al sar hamashkim ve'al sar ha'ofim.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיִּקְצֹ֣ף פַּרְעֹ֔ה עַ֖ל שְׁנֵ֣י סָרִיסָ֑יו עַ֚ל שַׂ֣ר הַמַּשְׁקִ֔ים וְעַ֖ל שַׂ֥ר הָאוֹפִֽים׃
וַיִּקְצֹ֣ף פַּרְעֹ֔ה עַ֖ל שְׁנֵ֣י סָרִיסָ֑יו עַ֚ל שַׂ֣ר הַמַּשְׁקִ֔ים וְעַ֖ל שַׂ֥ר הָאוֹפִֽים׃

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Parasha Commentary

Pharaoh's Anger Against His Officers

The verse states: "And Pharaoh was angry against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers and against the chief of the bakers" (Genesis 40:2). This incident occurs in the context of Yosef's (Joseph's) imprisonment, where he later interprets the dreams of these two officers.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) comments that Pharaoh's anger was directed at these two officers because they had failed in their duties. Specifically:

  • The chief of the butlers was responsible for Pharaoh's wine, and a fly was found in his cup.
  • The chief of the bakers was responsible for Pharaoh's bread, and a pebble was found in it.

Rashi cites the Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 88:2) as the source for this explanation, emphasizing that even minor negligence in serving a king—especially a ruler like Pharaoh—could lead to severe consequences.

Ibn Ezra's Perspective

Ibn Ezra offers a more straightforward interpretation, suggesting that Pharaoh's anger was due to a suspicion of treason or conspiracy. The term "סָרִיס" (saris), often translated as "officer," can also imply a high-ranking court official who may have been involved in palace intrigues. Their imprisonment was a precautionary measure.

Rambam's Insight on Kingship

Rambam (Maimonides), in Hilchot Melachim (Laws of Kings), discusses the severity with which a monarch must govern to maintain order. Pharaoh's reaction aligns with the principle that a king must swiftly address even perceived disloyalty among his closest advisors to prevent rebellion or chaos in his kingdom.

Midrashic Interpretation

The Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 88:2) elaborates that these events were orchestrated by Divine Providence to bring Yosef closer to his eventual rise to power. The officers' imprisonment led to Yosef interpreting their dreams, which later facilitated his introduction to Pharaoh.

  • This highlights the concept of "השגחה פרטית" (Divine Providence), where seemingly unrelated events are part of a larger divine plan.

Symbolism in Their Roles

Some commentators note symbolic significance in the roles of these two officers:

  • The chief of the butlers (wine) represents joy and elevation, foreshadowing Yosef's eventual exaltation.
  • The chief of the bakers (bread) represents sustenance and basic needs, hinting at Yosef's role in providing food during the famine.

Their downfall and Yosef's involvement set the stage for his future leadership in Egypt.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Berakhot 55a
The verse is referenced in a discussion about dreams and their interpretations, relating to the story of Pharaoh's butler and baker.
📖 Chullin 95b
Mentioned in the context of discussing the anger of Pharaoh and its consequences, as part of a broader discussion on leadership and divine providence.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why was Pharaoh angry at his two officers?
A: The verse (Genesis 40:2) states that Pharaoh was angry at his chief butler and chief baker, but it doesn't specify the reason. Rashi explains based on the Midrash (Bereshit Rabbah 88:2) that a fly was found in Pharaoh's cup of wine (the butler's responsibility) and a pebble was found in his bread (the baker's responsibility), which angered him.
Q: What is the significance of the chief butler and chief baker in the Torah?
A: The chief butler (sar hamashkim) and chief baker (sar ha'ofim) were high-ranking officials in Pharaoh's court. Their imprisonment and dreams (later in the parsha) set the stage for Yosef's (Joseph's) rise to power in Egypt. The Ramban notes that their roles were significant because they were close to Pharaoh, showing how Hashem orchestrates events to fulfill His plans.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Pharaoh's anger in this verse?
A: The Midrash teaches that anger often leads to poor decisions. Pharaoh's anger resulted in the imprisonment of his officers, which ultimately led to Yosef's interpretation of their dreams and his eventual rise to power. This teaches us the importance of controlling our temper, as the Rambam writes in Hilchot De'ot (2:3) about the dangers of excessive anger.
Q: Why does the Torah mention Pharaoh's anger at these two officers?
A: The Torah includes this detail to show how Hashem guides events behind the scenes. As the Sforno explains, this anger was part of the divine plan to bring Yosef into a position where he could interpret dreams, leading to his eventual role in saving Egypt and his family from famine. Every detail in the Torah has a purpose in Hashem's greater plan.