“The chief butler spoke to Pharaoh, saying: I mention my sins today” (Genesis 41:9). When the chief butler saw that Pharaoh’s soul was on the verge of departing, he began calculating and saying: If Pharaoh dies and another king assumes the throne, I do not know whether or not he will keep me in my position of trust. “The chief butler spoke” – he said: ‘I have committed two sins. First, I did not perform a favor for Joseph and mention him before you.
And, after I saw that you were tormented over the interpretation of a dream, I did not reveal to you that he knows its interpretation.’ “There with us was a Hebrew lad, a slave of the chief executioner; we told him, and he interpreted our dreams for us; each of us in accordance with his own dream, he interpreted” (Genesis 41:12). “It was, as he interpreted to us, so it was: Me, he restored to my position, and him, he hanged” (Genesis 41:13).
“Pharaoh sent and summoned Joseph, and they rushed him from the dungeon. He shaved, changed his garments, and came to Pharaoh” (Genesis 41:14). “There with us was a Hebrew lad…” – although he mentioned him, he demeaned him, because he knew the prominence into which [Joseph] would enter. Immediately, “Pharaoh sent and summoned.”
“There with us…” – Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: Cursed are the wicked, who do not perform complete goodness: “Lad” – a fool; “Hebrew” – an enemy; “slave” – as so it was written in Pharaoh’s books, that a slave cannot reign and does not wear kelidim keli yadayim]>.20Bracelets worn by royals.