וַיַּ֥רְא שַׂר־הָאֹפִ֖ים כִּ֣י ט֣וֹב פָּתָ֑ר וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֔ף אַף־אֲנִי֙ בַּחֲלוֹמִ֔י וְהִנֵּ֗ה שְׁלֹשָׁ֛ה סַלֵּ֥י חֹרִ֖י עַל־רֹאשִֽׁי׃
Le maître panetier, voyant qu’il avait interprété dans un sens favorable, dit à Joseph: "Pour moi, dans mon songe j’avais trois corbeilles à claire voie sur la tête.
Esther Rabbah
“Haman said: ‘Indeed, Queen Esther gave a feast and besides the king she did not bring anyone but me. And tomorrow too I am invited by her along with the king” (Esther 5:12).
“Haman said: Indeed [af], Queen Esther…did not bring anyone.” Four began with af and were eliminated with af,3One of the meanings of the word af is anger. The midrash is saying that these four individuals or groups, who used the word af, were eliminated by divine anger due to their sins. and they are: The snake, the baker, the congregation of Koraḥ, and Haman. The snake, as it is written: “Did God actually [af] say” (Genesis 3:1); the baker, as it is written: “I, too [af], in my dream” (Genesis 40:16); the congregation of Koraḥ, as it is written: “Yet [af] [you did not take us] to a land flowing with milk and honey” (Numbers 16:14); Haman, as it is written: “Indeed [af], Queen Esther did not bring anyone.”
“Haman said: Indeed [af], Queen Esther…did not bring anyone.” Four began with af and were eliminated with af,3One of the meanings of the word af is anger. The midrash is saying that these four individuals or groups, who used the word af, were eliminated by divine anger due to their sins. and they are: The snake, the baker, the congregation of Koraḥ, and Haman. The snake, as it is written: “Did God actually [af] say” (Genesis 3:1); the baker, as it is written: “I, too [af], in my dream” (Genesis 40:16); the congregation of Koraḥ, as it is written: “Yet [af] [you did not take us] to a land flowing with milk and honey” (Numbers 16:14); Haman, as it is written: “Indeed [af], Queen Esther did not bring anyone.”
Bereshit Rabbah
“It said to the woman: Did [af] God actually say…” – Rabbi Ḥanina ben Sansan said: There are four people who began a statement with af and perished by [divine] wrath [af], and they are: The serpent, the baker [in prison with Joseph], the congregation of Koraḥ, and Haman. The serpent – “It said to the woman: Did [af] God actually say…” The baker – “I, too [af], in my dream…” (Genesis 40:16). The congregation of Koraḥ – “Moreover, [af] not to a land…” (Numbers 16:14). Haman – “Moreover, [af] Esther did not bring…” (Esther 5:12).
Bereshit Rabbah
“The chief baker saw that he interpreted well, and he said to Joseph: I too, in my dream, behold, three wicker baskets were on my head” (Genesis 40:16).
“And in the uppermost basket there was all manner of food for Pharaoh, baked products, and the birds were eating them from the basket above my head” (Genesis 40:17).
“Joseph answered and said: This is its interpretation: The three baskets are three days” (Genesis 40:18).
“In three more days Pharaoh shall lift your head from upon you, and shall hang you on a tree, and the birds shall eat your flesh from upon you” (Genesis 40:19).
“The chief baker saw…[and he said to Joseph: I too [af]…]” – Rav Ḥama said: They are four who began with af and were eradicated with wrath [af].12The serpent, the chief baker, the congregation of Koraḥ, and Haman, as explained in Bereshit Rabba 19:2.
“Behold, three wicker baskets” – these are the first three kingdoms.13The first three of the four kingdoms that would subjugate Israel and many other peoples: Babylon, Media, and Greece. “And in the uppermost basket” – this is the fourth kingdom,14Rome. which imposes taxes upon all the nations of the world.
“The birds were eating them” – after they ate [the contents of] the uppermost one, they then ate [the contents of] the lower one. [Joseph] said to him: ‘You gave me bad tidings;15The baker’s dream alluded to the nations that would subjugate Israel. I, too, will give you bad tidings: “In three more days…”’
“It was on the third day, Pharaoh's birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and raised the head of the chief butler and the head of the chief baker among his servants” (Genesis 40:20).
“It was on the third day” – the day of Pharaoh’s birthday celebration.
“He restored the chief butler to his butlership, and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand” (Genesis 40:21).
“And he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph interpreted for them” (Genesis 40:22).
“He made a feast…he restored the chief butler…and…the chief baker” – it befell this one what was stated to him and to that one what was stated to him.
“And in the uppermost basket there was all manner of food for Pharaoh, baked products, and the birds were eating them from the basket above my head” (Genesis 40:17).
“Joseph answered and said: This is its interpretation: The three baskets are three days” (Genesis 40:18).
“In three more days Pharaoh shall lift your head from upon you, and shall hang you on a tree, and the birds shall eat your flesh from upon you” (Genesis 40:19).
“The chief baker saw…[and he said to Joseph: I too [af]…]” – Rav Ḥama said: They are four who began with af and were eradicated with wrath [af].12The serpent, the chief baker, the congregation of Koraḥ, and Haman, as explained in Bereshit Rabba 19:2.
“Behold, three wicker baskets” – these are the first three kingdoms.13The first three of the four kingdoms that would subjugate Israel and many other peoples: Babylon, Media, and Greece. “And in the uppermost basket” – this is the fourth kingdom,14Rome. which imposes taxes upon all the nations of the world.
“The birds were eating them” – after they ate [the contents of] the uppermost one, they then ate [the contents of] the lower one. [Joseph] said to him: ‘You gave me bad tidings;15The baker’s dream alluded to the nations that would subjugate Israel. I, too, will give you bad tidings: “In three more days…”’
“It was on the third day, Pharaoh's birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and raised the head of the chief butler and the head of the chief baker among his servants” (Genesis 40:20).
“It was on the third day” – the day of Pharaoh’s birthday celebration.
“He restored the chief butler to his butlership, and he gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand” (Genesis 40:21).
“And he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph interpreted for them” (Genesis 40:22).
“He made a feast…he restored the chief butler…and…the chief baker” – it befell this one what was stated to him and to that one what was stated to him.