That’s kind of where we find Mirod, Pharaoh’s chief butler, in this story from Legends of the Jews (Ginzberg).
Pharaoh, you see, is in a right state. He's had these terrifying dreams (we'll get to those, I promise!), and nobody can figure out what they mean. He’s so distraught, Mirod fears the king might actually… well, die of frustration. And a dead Pharaoh? Not exactly job security for the chief butler. Who knows if the new king would keep him around?
So, Mirod gets a bright idea – or rather, remembers a past one. He steps forward, perhaps a little nervously, and addresses the king. "I do remember two faults of mine this day," he begins, as we read in Legends of the Jews. Talk about an opening line! "I showed myself ungrateful to Joseph…"
Ah, yes, Joseph. Remember him? The young Hebrew slave, skilled in dream interpretation? Mirod admits he basically forgot to mention Joseph's abilities to Pharaoh before. Major oversight.
And then comes the second fault: seeing the king in distress over the dream, and still keeping mum about Joseph! Mirod is really laying it on thick.
He continues, spinning a tale of how, when he and the chief baker were imprisoned, this "simple young man, one of the despised race of the Hebrews," correctly interpreted their dreams. Ginzberg bases this part of the narrative on the original biblical account (Genesis 41:9-13). "It came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was." Pretty convincing, right?
Mirod, in his slightly belated attempt to save the day (and his own neck), pleads with Pharaoh. "O king, stay the hand of the hangmen, let them not execute the Egyptians." (Pharaoh was apparently considering drastic measures to solve his dream problem). He assures the king that Joseph is still in the dungeon.
And then comes the big pitch: "If the king will consent to summon him hither, he will surely interpret thy dreams."
Think about the risk Mirod is taking here. He’s admitting to past failures, vouching for a slave, and promising results. It's a gamble, for sure. But sometimes, a little bit of honesty – even if self-serving – can be the key to unlocking a whole new chapter. The fate of Egypt, and indeed, Joseph's destiny, hangs in the balance. What do you think Pharaoh will do?