“Happy is the man who has made the Lord his trust” (Psalms 40:5) – this is Joseph. “And did not turn to the proud” (Psalms 40:5) – because he said to the chief butler: “Remember me…and mention me,” two years were added for him. “Happy is the man who makes the Lord his trust” – Rabbi Yudan said: Many myriads of myriads tend after falsehood, woe unto anyone who puts his trust in them. “For a dream comes with a multitude of concerns” (Ecclesiastes 5:2) – Pharaoh said: ‘Who stands over whom – I for my god, or my god over me?’5The Nile was an Egyptian deity.
Pharoah said: ‘Does it make sense that I protect my god, or that my god protects me?’ [Joseph] said to him: ‘You, over your god.’ That is what is written: “It was at the conclusion [of two years, and Pharaoh was dreaming: and, behold, he stood at the Nile.]”6The phrase “he stood at [al] the Nile” can alternately be translated, “he stood over the Nile,” as though Pharoah was standing guard to protect the Nile.
“For he emerged from prison to reign” (Ecclesiastes 4:14) – this is Joseph, who emerged from Pharaoh’s prison. “Emerged…to reign” – “Pharaoh sent [and summoned Joseph, and they rushed him from the dungeon]” (Genesis 41:14). “For even in his reign, he is revealed as poor” (Ecclesiastes 4:14) – due to Joseph’s reign, the impoverishment of Potifera was revealed.7As long as Joseph was in his home, Potifar thrived.
After Joseph left, his fortunes changed. Another matter, “it was at the conclusion.” “I saw all the living, who walk under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 4:15) – this is Joseph. “With the second child” (Ecclesiastes 4:15) – these are the two years that were added for him.
Why were two years added for him? So that Pharaoh would dream and [Joseph] would be elevated by means of the dream, as it is stated: “It was at the conclusion of two years.”