We should not have had this story of Pharaoh's butler and baker
recorded in scripture if it had not been serviceable to Joseph's
preferment. The world stands for the sake of the church, and is
governed for its good. Observe, 1. Two of the great officers of
Pharaoh's court, having offended the king, are committed to prison.
Note, High places are slippery places; nothing more uncertain than the
favour of princes. Those that make God's favour their happiness, and
his service their business, will find him a better Master than Pharaoh
was, and not so extreme to mark what they do amiss. Many conjectures
there are concerning the offence of these servants of Pharaoh; some
make it no less than an attempt to take away his life, others no more
than the casual lighting of a fly into his cup and a little sand into
his bread. Whatever it was, Providence by this means brought them into
the prison where Joseph was. 2. The captain of the guard himself, who
was Potiphar, charged Joseph with them (v. 4), which intimates that he
began now to be reconciled to him, and perhaps to be convinced of his
innocence, though he durst not release him for fear of disobliging his
wife. John Baptist must lose his head, to please Herodias.