Génesis 40:11 Comentario: Rashi, Rashbam, Kli Yakar & Radak

ואשחט translate it as the Targum AND I PRESSED — The word occurs frequently in the Mishna (but only here in the Bible).

ואשחוט, I squeezed.

“And Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand.” In Genesis Rabbah (88:5), they said from here the Sages instituted the four cups of wine on Passover, corresponding to the four times the word “cup” is mentioned here. One must wonder what did the Holy One, Blessed be He, show the chief butler in this, and what is the connection between the four cups of Passover and the chief butler’s dream? It seems to me that it is known that drinking from a cup symbolizes salvation from some trouble, as it is written I will lift up the cup of salvation (Psalms 116:13), and the four cups of Passover prove this. Every prisoner is surrounded by four evil families that are mentioned in the book of Jeremiah (15:2): Thus says the Lord: Those destined for death, to death; those for the sword, to the sword; those for famine, to famine; and those for captivity, to captivity. And in Bava Batra (8b), Rabbi Yochanan said that each punishment mentioned later in the verse is harder than the previous one, until captivity, which includes them all. For it is in the master’s hand to punish him with the sword, to kill him, to starve him, and to afflict him with imprisonment. Thus, every prisoner in the dungeon, when he leaves prison, it is appropriate that he should drink four cups of salvation. Since captivity includes all the other afflictions, when he leaves the prison he is saved from all four. Therefore, the word “cup” is mentioned four times regarding the chief butler, for it was shown to him in the dream that he would leave the dungeon and be saved from these four evils, and would be worthy of drinking four cups of salvation. Consequently, our Sages learned from here that on Passover every person is obligated to drink four cups, because the Israelites were also captives in Egypt, and captivity includes all other afflictions. Therefore, it is appropriate that they drink four cups of salvation corresponding to being saved from all four afflictions, for the Holy One, Blessed be He, did not only redeem our ancestors from Egypt, but He redeemed us with them as well. This is a precious interpretation. From here Joseph judged with his intellect that the chief butler would leave prison and return to his position, but regarding the chief baker, he saw nothing indicating his redemption and the ransom of his soul.