בראשית רבה פ״חBereshit Rabbah 88

Section 4ד׳

וַיִּתֵּן אֹתָם בְּמִשְׁמַר, וַיִּפְקֹד שַׂר הַטַּבָּחִים, וַיַּחַלְמוּ חֲלוֹם שְׁנֵיהֶם וגו' (בראשית מ, ג ה), רַבִּי חִיָּא בַּר אַבָּא אָמַר חֶלְמָא וּפִתְרוֹנֵיהּ דַּחֲלַם חַבְרֵיהּ. (בראשית מ, ו): וַיָּבֹא אֲלֵיהֶם יוֹסֵף, (בראשית מ, ח): וַיֹּאמְרוּ חֲלוֹם חָלַמְנוּ וגו' (בראשית מ, ח): הֲלוֹא לֵאלֹהִים פִּתְרֹנִים, תָּלָה אֶת הַגְּדֻלָּה בִּבְעָלֶיהָ.

“He placed them in custody in the household of the chief executioner, in the prison, the place where Joseph was incarcerated” (Genesis 40:3). “The chief executioner assigned Joseph to them, and he served them, and they were in custody one year” (Genesis 40:4). “They dreamed a dream, both of them, each man his dream during one night, each man in accordance with the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were incarcerated in the prison” (Genesis 40:5). “He placed them in custody…the chief executioner assigned…they dreamed a dream, both of them…” – Rabbi Ḥama bar Abba said: The dream, and the interpretation of his counterpart’s dream. “Joseph came to them in the morning, and saw them, and, behold, they were distressed” (Genesis 40:6). “They said to him: We dreamed a dream, and there is no interpreter for it. Joseph said to them: Are interpretations not for God? Please, relate it to me” (Genesis 40:8). “Joseph came to them…they said…we dreamed a dream…are interpretations not for God?” He attributed the greatness to its Owner.

Section 5ה׳

וַיְסַפֵּר שַׂר הַמַּשְׁקִים (בראשית מ, ט), וְהִנֵּה גֶּפֶן לְפָנָי, אֵלּוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים פ, ט): גֶּפֶן מִמִּצְרַיִם תַּסִּיעַ. (בראשית מ, י): וּבַגֶּפֶן שְׁלשָׁה שָׂרִיגִם, משֶׁה אַהֲרֹן וּמִרְיָם. (בראשית מ, י): הִוא כְפֹרַחַת, הִפְרִיחָה גְּאֻלָּתָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל. (בראשית מ, י): עָלְתָה נִצָּהּ, הֵנֵצָה גְּאֻלָּתָן שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל. (בראשית מ, י): הִבְשִׁילוּ אַשְׁכְּלֹתֶיהָ עֲנָבִים, גֶּפֶן שֶׁהִפְרִיחָה מִיָּד הֵנֵצָה, עֲנָבִים שֶׁהֵנֵצוּ מִיָּד בָּשָׁלוּ. (בראשית מ, יא): וְכוֹס פַּרְעֹה בְּיָדִי, מִכָּאן קָבְעוּ חֲכָמִים אַרְבַּע כּוֹסוֹת שֶׁל לֵילֵי פֶּסַח. אָמַר רַב הוּנָא בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי בְּנָיָה כְּנֶגֶד אַרְבַּע גְּאֻלּוֹת שֶׁנֶּאֶמְרוּ בְּמִצְרַיִם (שמות ו, ו): וְהוֹצֵאתִי, וְהִצַּלְתִּי, וְגָאַלְתִּי, (שמות ו, ז): וְלָקַחְתִּי. רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן אָמַר כְּנֶגֶד אַרְבַּע כּוֹסוֹת שֶׁנֶּאֶמְרוּ כָּאן (בראשית מ, יא): וְכוֹס פַּרְעֹה בְּיָדִי וגו' וְנָתַתָּ כּוֹס פַּרְעֹה וגו'. רַבִּי לֵוִי אָמַר כְּנֶגֶד אַרְבַּע מַלְכֻיּוֹת. רַבִּי יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בֶּן לֵוִי אָמַר כְּנֶגֶד אַרְבַּע כּוֹסוֹת שֶׁל תַּרְעֵלָה שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַשְׁקֶה אֶת עוֹבְדֵי כּוֹכָבִים, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (ירמיה כה, טו): כִּי כֹה אָמַר ה' אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֵלַי קַח אֶת כּוֹס הַיַּיִן הַחֵמָה. (ירמיה נא, ז): כּוֹס זָהָב בָּבֶל בְּיַד ה' וגו'. (תהלים יא, ו): יַמְטֵר עַל רְשָׁעִים וגו', וּכְנֶגְדָּן הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מַשְׁקֶה אֶת יִשְׂרָאֵל אַרְבַּע כּוֹסוֹת שֶׁל יְשׁוּעָה לֶעָתִיד לָבוֹא, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים טז, ה): ה' מְנָת חֶלְקִי וגו', (תהלים קטז, יג): כּוֹס יְשׁוּעוֹת אֶשָּׂא, (תהלים כג, ה): תַּעֲרֹךְ לְפָנַי שֻׁלְחָן נֶגֶד צֹרְרָי דִּשַׁנְתָּ בַשֶּׁמֶן רֹאשִׁי כּוֹסִי רְוָיָה. כּוֹס יְשׁוּעוֹת, כּוֹס יְשׁוּעָה אֵין כְּתִיב כָּאן אֶלָּא כּוֹס יְשׁוּעוֹת, אֶחָד לִימוֹת הַמָּשִׁיחַ וְאֶחָד לִימוֹת גּוֹג. אָמַר לוֹ אַתְּ בִּשַּׂרְתַּנִּי בְּשׂוֹרָה טוֹבָה אַף אֲנִי אֲבַשְּׂרֶךָ בְּשׂוֹרָה טוֹבָה, (בראשית מ, יג): בְּעוֹד שְׁלשֶׁת יָמִים וגו', (בראשית מ, יד): כִּי אִם זְכַרְתַּנִּי אִתְּךָ (בראשית מ, טו): כִּי גֻּנֹּב גֻּנַבְתִּי, אָמַר רַב אַחָא מִכָּאן שֶׁנִּגְנַב שְׁתֵּי פְּעָמִים, (בראשית מ, טו): וְגַם פֹּה לֹא עָשִׂיתִי וגו'.

“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…” 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). 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]” – 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; 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. “And here, too, I have done [nothing]…”