וַיְסַפֵּ֧ר שַֽׂר־הַמַּשְׁקִ֛ים אֶת־חֲלֹמ֖וֹ לְיוֹסֵ֑ף וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ בַּחֲלוֹמִ֕י וְהִנֵּה־גֶ֖פֶן לְפָנָֽי׃
Kepala juru minuman menceritakan mimpinya kepada Yusuf, katanya kepadanya: “Dalam mimpiku, tampaklah sebatang pohon anggur di hadapanku.
Shemot Rabbah
“Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom You took an oath by Yourself and spoke to them: I will multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens, and this entire land that I said I will give to your descendants, they will inherit it forever” (Exodus 32:13).
“Remember Abraham” – Rabbi Tanḥuma bar Abba began: “You transported a vine from Egypt” (Psalms 80:9). Why is Israel likened to a vine? Just as a vine, when its owners want it to improve, what do they do? They uproot it from its place and plant it elsewhere, and it improves. So too, when the Holy One blessed be He sought to make Israel known to the world, He uprooted them from Egypt and brought them to the wilderness, and they began thriving there. They began receiving the Torah and saying: “Everything that the Lord spoke we will perform and we will heed” (Exodus 24:7). Their renown went forth in the world, as it is stated: “Your renown went forth among the nations for your beauty” (Ezekiel 16:14).
Another matter: “A vine from Egypt” – You provide support for all the opinions stated in its regard: “Behold, a vine was before me” (Genesis 40:9), “You transported a vine from Egypt”; ultimately You provide support.1God fulfills the various interpretations of these verses, which are understood as comparing Israel to a vine (see Bereshit Rabba 88:5; Vayikra Rabba 36:2). Just as this vine is alive and rests on dead branches,2A grapevine is typically propped up or trellised across sticks or branches to allow it to flourish. so too, Israel is alive and endures, and rests on the deceased; these are the patriarchs. Likewise, you find that Elijah recited many prayers on Mount Carmel so the fire would descend, just as it says, “Answer me, Lord, answer me” (I Kings 18:37); but he was not answered. However, once he mentioned the deceased and said: “Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel” (I Kings 18:36), he was immediately answered.3Although Elijah’s mention of the patriarchs appears in verse 36 and his general plea to “answer me Lord, answer me” appears in verse 37, the verses must be out of order, as it would not make sense to pray in the merit of the patriarchs and then, if that did not work, to pray in a general sense or to pray that he be answered in his own merit (Yefe To’ar). What is written? “The fire of the Lord descended” (I Kings 18:38). Likewise, Moses: when Israel performed that act,4The sin of the golden calf. Moses stood and pleaded in their favor for forty days and forty nights, but he was not answered. However, once he mentioned the deceased he was immediately answered, as it is stated: “Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel.” What is written? “The Lord reconsidered the evil” (Exodus 32:14). That is, just as this vine is alive and rests on dead branches, so too, Israel is alive and endures, and rests on the patriarchs, who are deceased. That is, “remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel.”
“Remember Abraham” – Rabbi Tanḥuma bar Abba began: “You transported a vine from Egypt” (Psalms 80:9). Why is Israel likened to a vine? Just as a vine, when its owners want it to improve, what do they do? They uproot it from its place and plant it elsewhere, and it improves. So too, when the Holy One blessed be He sought to make Israel known to the world, He uprooted them from Egypt and brought them to the wilderness, and they began thriving there. They began receiving the Torah and saying: “Everything that the Lord spoke we will perform and we will heed” (Exodus 24:7). Their renown went forth in the world, as it is stated: “Your renown went forth among the nations for your beauty” (Ezekiel 16:14).
Another matter: “A vine from Egypt” – You provide support for all the opinions stated in its regard: “Behold, a vine was before me” (Genesis 40:9), “You transported a vine from Egypt”; ultimately You provide support.1God fulfills the various interpretations of these verses, which are understood as comparing Israel to a vine (see Bereshit Rabba 88:5; Vayikra Rabba 36:2). Just as this vine is alive and rests on dead branches,2A grapevine is typically propped up or trellised across sticks or branches to allow it to flourish. so too, Israel is alive and endures, and rests on the deceased; these are the patriarchs. Likewise, you find that Elijah recited many prayers on Mount Carmel so the fire would descend, just as it says, “Answer me, Lord, answer me” (I Kings 18:37); but he was not answered. However, once he mentioned the deceased and said: “Lord, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel” (I Kings 18:36), he was immediately answered.3Although Elijah’s mention of the patriarchs appears in verse 36 and his general plea to “answer me Lord, answer me” appears in verse 37, the verses must be out of order, as it would not make sense to pray in the merit of the patriarchs and then, if that did not work, to pray in a general sense or to pray that he be answered in his own merit (Yefe To’ar). What is written? “The fire of the Lord descended” (I Kings 18:38). Likewise, Moses: when Israel performed that act,4The sin of the golden calf. Moses stood and pleaded in their favor for forty days and forty nights, but he was not answered. However, once he mentioned the deceased he was immediately answered, as it is stated: “Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel.” What is written? “The Lord reconsidered the evil” (Exodus 32:14). That is, just as this vine is alive and rests on dead branches, so too, Israel is alive and endures, and rests on the patriarchs, who are deceased. That is, “remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel.”
Bereshit Rabbah
“The chief butler related his dream to Joseph, and said to him: In my dream, behold, a vine was before me” (Genesis 40:9).
“And on the vine were three tendrils, and it was as though it was budding; its blossoms emerged, and its clusters produced ripe grapes” (Genesis 40:10).
“The chief butler related…behold, a vine was before me” – this is Israel, as it is stated: “You transported a vine from Egypt” (Psalms 80:9). “And on the vine were three tendrils” – Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. “It was as though it was budding” – the redemption of Israel was budding. “Its blossoms emerged” – the redemption of Israel blossomed. “Its clusters produced ripe grapes” – the vine that budded immediately blossomed; grapes that emerged immediately ripened.
“And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand; I took the grapes, pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand” (Genesis 40:11).
“Joseph said to him: This is its interpretation: The three tendrils are three days” (Genesis 40:12).
“In three more days Pharaoh will raise your head and restore you to your position, and you will give Pharaoh's cup into his hand, like the former circumstance where you would provide him with drink” (Genesis 40:13).
“And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand” – on this basis the Sages instituted the four cups on Passover eve. Rav Huna said in the name of Rabbi Benaya: Corresponding to the four expressions of redemption that were stated in Egypt: “I will take you out…I will deliver you…I will redeem you…I will take you” (Exodus 6:6–7). Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: Corresponding to the four cups stated here: “And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand… you will give Pharaoh's cup into his hand…”7These are the first and fourth mentions of the word cup. Between them there are: “I took the grapes, pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.” Rabbi Levi said: Corresponding to the four kingdoms. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Corresponding to the four cups [kosot] of bewilderment that the Holy One blessed be He will give the idolaters to drink. That is what is written: “For so said the Lord, God of Israel, to me: Take this cup of the wine of anger” (Jeremiah 25:15); “a golden cup is Babylon in the hand of the Lord…” (Jeremiah 51:7); “he will rain…upon the wicked [ blazing coals and sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot [menat kosam]]” (Psalms 11:6).8The fourth is: “For a cup is in the hand of the Lord, with foaming wine…” (Psalms 75:10) (Jerusalem Talmud Pesaḥim 10:1). Corresponding to them, the Holy One blessed be He will give Israel four cups [kosot] of salvation in the future, as it is stated: “The Lord is my lot [menat kosi]” (Psalms 16:5); “I will lift a cup of salvation [kos yeshuot]” (Psalms 116:13): “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup is full” (Psalms 23:5). “A cup of salvation [kos yeshua]” (Psalms 116:13) is not written here, but rather, “a cup of salvation [kos yeshuot]”9The word yeshuot is plural, such that a more literal translation would be “a cup of salvations.” Consequently, this alludes to the third and fourth cups. – one for the messianic era and one for the days of Gog.
“If only you remember me when it shall be well for you, and please, perform kindness with me and mention me to Pharaoh, and take me out of this house” (Genesis 40:14).
[Joseph] said to him: ‘You gave me good tidings;10The butler’s dream, as explained above, alluded to the redemption of Israel, and therefore constituted good tidings. I, too, will give you good tidings: “In three more days…if only you remember me…”’
“For I was abducted from the land of the Hebrews and here, too, I have done nothing, that they placed me in the pit” (Genesis 40:15).
“For I was abducted [gunov gunavti]” – Rav Aḥa said: From here [it may be derived] that he was abducted twice.11He was sold by his brothers, and then the Midyanites pulled him from the pit and sold him to the Ishmaelites (see Genesis 37:27–28). Alternatively, his being thrown into the pit by his brothers was considered a kidnapping, and he was subsequently stolen from the pit by the Ishmaelites (Maharzu, 84:6). “And here, too, I have done [nothing]…”
“And on the vine were three tendrils, and it was as though it was budding; its blossoms emerged, and its clusters produced ripe grapes” (Genesis 40:10).
“The chief butler related…behold, a vine was before me” – this is Israel, as it is stated: “You transported a vine from Egypt” (Psalms 80:9). “And on the vine were three tendrils” – Moses, Aaron, and Miriam. “It was as though it was budding” – the redemption of Israel was budding. “Its blossoms emerged” – the redemption of Israel blossomed. “Its clusters produced ripe grapes” – the vine that budded immediately blossomed; grapes that emerged immediately ripened.
“And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand; I took the grapes, pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand” (Genesis 40:11).
“Joseph said to him: This is its interpretation: The three tendrils are three days” (Genesis 40:12).
“In three more days Pharaoh will raise your head and restore you to your position, and you will give Pharaoh's cup into his hand, like the former circumstance where you would provide him with drink” (Genesis 40:13).
“And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand” – on this basis the Sages instituted the four cups on Passover eve. Rav Huna said in the name of Rabbi Benaya: Corresponding to the four expressions of redemption that were stated in Egypt: “I will take you out…I will deliver you…I will redeem you…I will take you” (Exodus 6:6–7). Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: Corresponding to the four cups stated here: “And Pharaoh's cup was in my hand… you will give Pharaoh's cup into his hand…”7These are the first and fourth mentions of the word cup. Between them there are: “I took the grapes, pressed them into Pharaoh's cup, and I gave the cup into Pharaoh's hand.” Rabbi Levi said: Corresponding to the four kingdoms. Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: Corresponding to the four cups [kosot] of bewilderment that the Holy One blessed be He will give the idolaters to drink. That is what is written: “For so said the Lord, God of Israel, to me: Take this cup of the wine of anger” (Jeremiah 25:15); “a golden cup is Babylon in the hand of the Lord…” (Jeremiah 51:7); “he will rain…upon the wicked [ blazing coals and sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot [menat kosam]]” (Psalms 11:6).8The fourth is: “For a cup is in the hand of the Lord, with foaming wine…” (Psalms 75:10) (Jerusalem Talmud Pesaḥim 10:1). Corresponding to them, the Holy One blessed be He will give Israel four cups [kosot] of salvation in the future, as it is stated: “The Lord is my lot [menat kosi]” (Psalms 16:5); “I will lift a cup of salvation [kos yeshuot]” (Psalms 116:13): “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup is full” (Psalms 23:5). “A cup of salvation [kos yeshua]” (Psalms 116:13) is not written here, but rather, “a cup of salvation [kos yeshuot]”9The word yeshuot is plural, such that a more literal translation would be “a cup of salvations.” Consequently, this alludes to the third and fourth cups. – one for the messianic era and one for the days of Gog.
“If only you remember me when it shall be well for you, and please, perform kindness with me and mention me to Pharaoh, and take me out of this house” (Genesis 40:14).
[Joseph] said to him: ‘You gave me good tidings;10The butler’s dream, as explained above, alluded to the redemption of Israel, and therefore constituted good tidings. I, too, will give you good tidings: “In three more days…if only you remember me…”’
“For I was abducted from the land of the Hebrews and here, too, I have done nothing, that they placed me in the pit” (Genesis 40:15).
“For I was abducted [gunov gunavti]” – Rav Aḥa said: From here [it may be derived] that he was abducted twice.11He was sold by his brothers, and then the Midyanites pulled him from the pit and sold him to the Ishmaelites (see Genesis 37:27–28). Alternatively, his being thrown into the pit by his brothers was considered a kidnapping, and he was subsequently stolen from the pit by the Ishmaelites (Maharzu, 84:6). “And here, too, I have done [nothing]…”