Chapter Ten - Dreams in the Night
Zophek and Zanaken could see he was serious about the matter. They looked at each other; neither of them was sure that it was a good idea. Joseph noticed their hesitation and waited expectantly.
Zophek, the butler could see that Joseph was waiting to hear the dreams, so he decided he may as well tell Joseph about his dream. ‘Maybe, Joseph can come up with an interpretation.’ Zophek gazed into Joseph’s eyes to make sure that he was not about to make fun of him. Satisfied, he said “In my dream, I saw a vine and the vine had three branches. Then the vine began to bud and blossoms shot forth. After that clusters of grapes appeared and ripened. When the grapes were ripe, I noticed Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand. I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup and then I put the cup into Pharaoh’s hand.”
Joseph sent a swift, silent prayer to God asking for the interpretation. The butler and baker looked at him carefully. Joseph appeared to be thinking about the dream. Joseph waited on God for a few moments; then the interpretation was given to him.
Joseph said to the butler, “This is the interpretation of it. The three branches are three days and in three days Pharaoh will pardon you. He will make you his chief butler again, and you will serve him wine, just as you used too.”
“But when these good things happen, please tell Pharaoh about me, so I can get out of this place. I was kidnapped from the land of the Hebrews, and here in Egypt I haven’t done anything to deserve being thrown in prison.”
Zophek was pleased! The interpretation was favourable. Zanaken, the baker was encouraged by Joseph’s interpretation of Zophek's dream.
Zanaken said to Joseph, “I also had a dream. On my head I had three white baskets. In the top basket there were all sorts of pastries and cakes for Pharaoh; then birds came along and ate the pastries and cakes out of the basket on my head.”
Joseph again prayed silently. They waited; as the interpretation was given to him.
Joseph gave the baker a grave look and said to him, “This is the interpretation of it. The three baskets are three days, within three days Pharaoh shall hang you and your body shall hang upon a tree and the birds shall eat your flesh.”
Zanaken was stunned! He had expected a favourable interpretation. He gave Joseph a fearful look. The atmosphere inside the cell became gloomy. Zanaken hoped that Joseph’s interpretation was wrong. Although, he knew in his heart that Pharaoh had been extremely angry with him.
Zophek was quiet; he did not know what to say. Joseph realised that his continued presence would only heighten the gloom; he excused himself and carried on his duties. He did not like being the bearer of such sombre news. His mood was serious that day; however he kept the dreams and the interpretations to himself.
The next day Joseph noticed that the butler and baker were not talking to each other. Each was absorbed in his own thoughts. Joseph did not intrude on their privacy; they had plenty to think about. He knew the events would happen as it was told to him. The knowledge that God knew what would happen in the lives of individuals had struck him forcibly.
Those dreams had not happened by chance. Those men had been given their dreams by God himself! He remembered his own dreams back in the land of Canaan, and what about the dreams of Abraham, his great grandfather, and Jacob his father. God could, and did, speak to men through their dreams.
Today was the third day! Joseph was in a very serious frame of mind.
Zophek and Zanaken woke up, they looked at each other. Each could see the question in the others' eyes. 'Would Joseph’s interpretations come true?’ They had no need to speak. They waited for their morning meal in silence. Time seemed to pass very slowly, the morning dragged on and on.
Later that day Joseph arrived with the midday meal. They gave him a questioning look. He shrugged his shoulders, as if to say, the day is not over yet.
“Who knows what Pharaoh is thinking?” he said to them.
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Pharaoh woke up that morning in a happy frame of mind. 'Today is my birthday! I feel good! What will I do to celebrate my birthday?’ Pharaoh was thoughtful for a few minutes.
‘I will give a banquet to all my servants at Court. They can celebrate with me.’
Pharaoh called in Zoken his Chief Steward, and gave the order to prepare a huge banquet for all his servants.
He called in Akentoph, Captain of his armies and told him to make sure that as many soldiers as possible, who could be spared from duty, were to come to the banquet. Pharaoh was feeling pleased with himself, the day was going to be a day to be remembered!
Pharaoh looked around the banqueting hall. He could see the smiling faces of his servants. There was plenty of laughter and merriment. It made him very happy. He took special notice of each Chief Officer and then remembered that he had to replace his Chief Butler and Chief Baker. A frown appeared on his face. He thought about each man for a while and after careful consideration, he decided what he would do to each one.
He sent for Potiphar. Potiphar came immediately. Pharaoh gave him two sets of instructions. He was to bring Zophek to the banquet. Also, he was to take Zanaken, hang him and leave his body on a tree, in public view as a reminder to all Pharaoh’s subjects, not to try and deceive Pharaoh.
Potiphar hurried to the prison. He dismounted from his chariot and strode to the main doors. The sentry on guard duty saw him coming and raced to the small side door to let him in. Potiphar walked briskly inside. Zanak was informed that Potiphar had arrived at the prison.
Potiphar said to him, “Pharaoh has ordered that Zophek be taken immediately to the Banqueting Hall in the Palace. Make sure that he is clean; he can dress in better raiment when he reaches the Palace. I want you to make sure that he arrives there as soon as possible. Pharaoh is waiting for him!”
Zanak nodded in agreement. Potiphar continued to speak, “Pharaoh has ordered that Zanaken is to be executed immediately. He is to be hanged and his body is to hang on a tree in public view as a warning to all subjects, not to deceive Pharaoh. I will attend to this matter myself. You will ensure that Oznak takes Zophek to Pharaoh. Is that clear?”
Zanak replied, “Yes, the instructions are clear enough.”
Zanak sent immediately for Oznak. Zanak explained Pharaoh’s orders to him. Oznak gathered a squad of guards and marched quickly to the prisoners’ cell.
All the prisoners wondered what the commotion was all about. It was very unusual for anybody to hurry inside the prison. The duty guard heard the squad coming and was waiting for them. They marched up to the prisoners’ cell door. The guard unbolted the door, he swung the door open.
Zophek and Zanaken were startled. They had heard the sound of marching feet, now their door was being unbolted. A squad of guards stood at the door.
A chill ran down their spines!
Oznak ordered half the squad to take Zophek with them and clean him up.
He looked at Zanaken and said, “You are coming with me. Potiphar is waiting for you.”
Cold fear gripped Zanaken. Potiphar was Pharaoh’s chief executioner. He was marched to Zanak's office. Potiphar inspected the prisoner.
He spoke to him, “Pharaoh has ordered that you are to be hanged and your body hung on a tree in public view as a warning to all his subjects not to try and deceive him.”
Zanaken knew that Joseph’s interpretation was true! It was actually going to happen to him.
Potiphar watched Zanaken's face, the man was terrified. He spoke to the guards, “Take him away. You will accompany me to hang his body as Pharaoh ordered.”
The guards marched the condemned man out into the prison courtyard. His hands and feet were tied. He was thrown roughly into a wagon. The wagon rumbled down the road. Potiphar decided to hang him on a tree, on the approach to Pharaoh’s Palace. That would surely get Pharaoh’s message across. He scanned the approach to the Palace for the best position. He ordered them to stop the wagon.
“That palm tree
just ahead will be the perfect. Hang him from that tree.”
The guards took the condemned man, then put a rope around his neck, threw the rope over a branch, tied it off and drove the wagon out from under his body. It was a grisly sight. Potiphar was satisfied that Pharaoh would be pleased with his choice of location. He ordered the guards to return to the prison. Potiphar hurried back to the Palace.
Meanwhile, Oznak moved briskly, Pharaoh was waiting for his former Chief Butler. The guards quickly stripped Zophek and he washed himself. Zanak ordered them to hurry up. He sent a guard for a fresh robe for the butler. The guard raced away, he returned promptly with a fresh robe. Zophek dressed quickly, he had caught the sense of urgency and knew from experience; it was not good to keep Pharaoh waiting.
Oznak ordered them to take Zophek to Zanak's chariot. Oznak returned to Zanak and reported that the prisoner was ready. Zanak told him to go immediately to Pharaoh’s Palace. Oznak hurried out to the chariot. He ordered one of his men to hold the prisoner in the chariot. Oznak mounted the chariot and then drove furiously out of the prison towards the Palace.
Pharaoh was enjoying his banquet; he knew that Potiphar would attend promptly to the two matters he had given him. Pharaoh relaxed, this was a fine banquet. His servants were enjoying themselves. It was good to share his birthday with them in this way. The cooks and bakers had done a superb job with the food. For once, they would also be able to partake of their efforts. The dancing girls were appreciated by all, the musicians were playing magnificently. The comedians and jugglers were at their best. Pharaoh was a happy man! This banquet would be long remembered by all concerned.
Oznak was nearing the Palace, people scattered quickly out of his way. His errand was obviously urgent. Chariots were not usually driven at breakneck speed through the city streets. No one was going to argue with one of Pharaoh’s army captains. The Palace gates came into view. Oznak slowed the chariot; he greeted the sentries on duty. They were expecting him; they directed him to a doorway. Oznak stopped the chariot. They all dismounted quickly. A squad of soldiers formed a guard around them. Oznak ordered them to take them immediately to Pharaoh.
A courtier intercepted them and redirected them to a room to dress the prisoner appropriately for his audience with Pharaoh.
When the prisoner was dressed, the courtier ordered them to follow him. The courtier approached Pharaoh, bowed deeply and told him that Oznak had arrived with Zophek. Pharaoh ordered him to show the men in immediately. Pharaoh looked expectantly at the entrance. He did not have to wait long.
Pharaoh ordered the musicians to stop playing.
Everyone looked at Pharaoh!
All eyes turned to the entrance. Oznak marched the prisoner up to Pharaoh. Pharaoh took a long, hard look at his former Chief Butler; then he spoke, “Zophek, I hope that your time in prison has taught you a valuable lesson. Do not ever try to deceive me again. I have decided to restore you to your old position as Chief Butler. You can begin at once.”
Zophek could hardly believe his ears. Pharaoh had restored him. He prostrated himself on the floor, in gratitude to Pharaoh. Pharaoh was pleased! ‘I should not have any further problems with Zophek.’
He signalled to the musicians to commence playing. The feasting carried on again. Zophek was pleased to see his friends again, and he entered heartily into the banqueting. Surely he had reason for rejoicing!
Potiphar slowed his chariot; he was nearly at the Palace entrance. He greeted the sentries on duty and drove his chariot to the barracks. Potiphar hurried into the Palace to report to Pharaoh. Pharaoh noticed him coming in and motioned to him to come to him.
“Well, Potiphar, have you carried out the execution?”
“Yes, Pharaoh; the body is hanging on a tree on the approach to the Palace. All your subjects will know that you have ordered it.”
“Excellent! When they learn the reason for the hanging, I am sure that they will think before they ever try to deceive me. You have done well, today. I will not forget it. You may rejoin the banqueting.”
Potiphar was pleased to rejoin the festivities. The visit to the prison had reawakened the treachery of his slave, Joseph. 'He can rot in the prison.’
Joseph returned from the prison kitchen, there was a lot of excited talk going on. He asked one of the guards, what was happening. The guard told him Pharaoh had ordered that Zanaken was to be hanged and that Zophek was to be brought to him immediately. Joseph listened with rapt attention. 'The dreams had come true!’ He hoped that Zophek would mention him to Pharaoh. Joseph was filled with reverential awe for his God. 'What knowledge! What power!’
Zophek was very glad to be back in his old position. He consciously avoided thinking about his time in prison. As a result, he soon forgot what Joseph had done for him. Pharaoh was not interested in what had happened to him in prison. Zophek did not even bring the subject up in his presence. He went about his duties a much wiser, thoughtful man.
‘Never again will I put myself in such a position.' He often remembered what had happened to Zanaken. It created quite a stir in Zoan. People were a lot more respectful to Pharaoh, after they saw the body hanging at the approach to the Palace.