Bible Answer Key

Bible Answers

Joseph at Potiphar Gen. 39

Joseph was sold into Egypt to be a slave in the house of Potiphar. God had a plan for Joseph. Joseph worked very hard and soon Potiphar gave Joseph an important position. He let Joseph look after his whole household and everything that he had. Joseph was a very good slave.

Potiphar also had a wife. She was a wicked woman. Many times she asked Joseph to commit adultery with her. She wanted to treat Joseph as if he was her husband. Joseph always refused. He was a good servant and did not want to betray his master or sin against God. This got Joseph in a lot of trouble.

Describe how Joseph ended up in prison.

One day Joseph found himself alone in Potiphar's house with the wife. She asked him to be with her. Joseph refused and there was a struggle. Joseph ran out of the house, but he left his coat. Potiphar's wife started to scream. When people came, she told them that Joseph had attacked her. Joseph was placed in a room and when Potiphar arrived he was thrown in prison. His story was not believed.

Joseph in Prison Gen. 40

Joseph was now in prison. Even here, he showed his faith by doing good work. Joseph was placed in charge of the other prisoners. One day the king (Pharaoh) of Egypt got angry with his cupbearer and baker and threw them in prison too. One night the cupbearer and the baker both had dreams. The cupbearer dreamed that he had a vine before him. On the vine there were three branches. Soon the branches blossomed and produced clusters of grapes The cupbearer took the grapes and squeezed them into juice/wine. He put the wine into Pharaoh's cup and gave it to him.

Joseph told the cupbearer what the dream meant. The three branches were three days. In three days he would be taken from prison and restored to his position in Pharaoh's court. He would serve wine to Pharaoh again,

The baker also had a dream. In his dream he saw three baskets on his head. In the top basket there were all sorts of baked goods for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating out of that basket.

Joseph told the baker what his dream meant. The three baskets were three days. In three days he would be out of prison, but Pharaoh would hang him on a pole and the birds would eat his body.

Joseph also asked the cupbearer to make sure that when he got out of prison to tell Pharaoh about him, so that he too could be released from prison. He wanted Pharaoh to know that he did not commit any crime.

Joseph's interpretations came true. On the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, the cupbearer and the baker were brought out of prison. The cupbearer was brought back to Pharaoh's palace, but the baker was killed.

The cupbearer quickly forgot about Joseph.