Midrash su Genesi 40:14

Another interpretation (of Job 28:3): HE PUTS AN END TO THE DARKNESS. All the afflictions which come upon humankind have an end to them, as stated (ibid., cont.): AND HE SEARCHES OUT EVERY LIMIT. < The verse > speaks about Joseph when he was bound in the prison. He had been there ten years, and he was to get out in eleven. Ergo (in Job 28:3): HE PUTS AN END TO THE DARKNESS. What is the meaning of (ibid., cont.): AND HE SEARCHES OUT EVERY LIMIT? That, when his time arrived to get out, the Holy One sat down, searched out, and saw that he was required to be in the prison two more years because he had trusted in the chief of the cupbearers in that he said to him two times (in Gen. 40:14): BUT KEEP ME IN YOUR REMEMBRANCE (rt.: ZKR) … AND MENTION (rt.: ZKR) ME UNTO PHARAOH.³Tanh., Gen. 9:9; Gen. R. 89:2; Exod. R. 7:1; M. Pss. 18:28. The Holy One said to him: You trusted in him with two rememberings (rt.: ZKR). By your life, do two more years < in prison > . Thus it is stated (in Gen. 41:1): NOW IT CAME TO PASS AT THE END OF TWO FULL YEARS.

Another interpretation (of Prov. 14:23): IN ALL TOIL THERE IS PROFIT. This was Joseph, who suffered in prison and had gain.⁶Gen. R. 89:2; Exod. R. 7:1. NOW (according to Gen. 42:6) JOSEPH WAS THE GOVERNOR. (Prov. 14:23:) BUT TALK FROM THE LIPS < LEADS > ONLY TO A LOSS. Because he had spoken < merely > with his lips and said < to a cupbearer rather than to God > (in Gen. 40:14): BUT KEEP ME IN YOUR REMEMBRANCE, the Holy One said to him: By your life, inasmuch as you spoke improper words with your lips; by your life, you are doing two years more in the prison. Thus it is stated (in Genesis 41:1): NOW IT CAME TO PASS AT THE END OF TWO FULL YEARS.

Since he was sentenced to remain in prison for ten years, why were two additional years added? The Holy One, blessed be He, said to him: You abandoned your trust in Me and placed your trust in the chief butler, whom you implored twice to remember you: That thou wouldst remember me and make mention of me unto Pharaoh (Gen. 40:14). Therefore, you shall be forgotten in prison for two additional years. Thus it is written: And it came to pass at the end of two years (ibid. 41:1), that is, two years after the butler had departed from prison.

And it was at the end of two years of days - "in all labour there is profit, but in speech there is only loss" (Mishlei 14:23). Rabbi Shimon bar Abba says, as the difference between one who drinks hot water and one who drinks cold. "But in speech there is only loss" - there was a bone gatherer in Tziporin, and some say it was Rabbi Shimon bar Abba. When he would see black bones, he'd say "these are from water-drinkers"; red bones, "these are of wine-drinkers"; white bones, "these are of hot water drinkers." Another take, "in every labour ['etzev; עֶצֶב, also meaning 'suffering'] there is profit" - everything which Yosef caused suffering to his master, caused him excess from it, since he married his daughter. "But in speech there is only loss" - since he said to the master of drinks, "remember me... and mention me [to Paroh]" (Bereishit 40:14). And he was there two further years, as it says, "And it was at the end..."

"Happy is the man who makes the Eternal his trust" (Tehillim 40:5) - this is Yosef. "And does not turn to the proud" (ibid.) - since he said to the chief of drinks, "remember me... and mention me..." (Bereishit 40:14), two years [in jail] were added for him. "Happy is the man who makes the Eternal his trust" - Rabbi Yudan said, many myriads of proud ones who "pursue deceit" (Tehillim 40:5) - woe to him and to one who trusts in him. "Dreams come with much brooding" (Kohelet 5:2) - Paroh said, "Whose existence is dependent on whom? Me on my god, or my god on me?" He said to him, "You are dependent on your god: behold it is written "And it was at the end [of two years, and Paroh dreamed that he was standing on the Nile,]" (Bereishit 41:1)". "For from the jailhouse one can come to rule" (Kohelet 4:14) - this is Yosef, who came from the jail of paroh and came to rule - "And Paroh sent [for Yosef]..." (Genesis 41:14). "And even in his kingship can come to poverty" (Kohelet 14:4) - in the kingship of Yosef was born the poverty of Potifar. Another take, "And it was at the end" (Bereishit 41:1) - "I saw all life which walks under the sun" (Kohelet 4:15) - this is Yosef. "they were with the second son" (ibid.) these are the two years that were added for him. And why were two years added for him? So that Paroh could dream and he could grow great by means of this dream, as it says "And it was at the end of two years of days." (Bereishit 41:1)