בראשית, פרק מ׳, פסוק ב׳

The sudden anger of the Egyptian king toward his senior officials is not merely a routine political disturbance. It is a carefully calculated act of divine providence. God stirred the master's wrath against his servants and had them thrown into custody specifically to create the circumstances that would bring them into contact with Joseph, setting the stage for his rise to greatness. This mirrors later historical events where God provoked a king's anger against his servants to save the righteous [רבנו בחיי, מלבי״ם].

Tradition notes that the king was furious over foreign objects found in his meals: a fly that flew into his wine and a stone discovered in his bread [ביאור שטיינזלץ]. The king employed many bakers and cupbearers, but his wrath was aimed directly at the chief officials because they failed in their responsibility to properly supervise their subordinates [ספורנו, רד״ק, ביאור יש״ר]. The king was not reacting to a coordinated rebellion. Rather, he was angry at each official individually for his own specific failure [העמק דבר, שפתי כהן].

Commentators debate whose failure was more severe. One perspective argues that the chief baker's offense was worse, as baking a stone into bread indicates gross negligence, whereas a fly landing in a cup is an accident that is difficult to prevent [ריב״א]. Conversely, another view maintains that the chief cupbearer bore greater responsibility. While the baker could not easily see what was hidden inside a baked loaf and was only guilty of poor oversight, the cupbearer had the opportunity and duty to inspect the cup immediately before handing it to the king. According to strict legal logic, the cupbearer should have faced execution. The fact that Joseph interpreted their dreams contrary to this straightforward logic, and that his predictions came true, proved that the spirit of God was within him [מלבי״ם].

Regarding the specific title given to these men, the primary approach among commentators is that it does not indicate a physical defect. Instead, it was a common title in Eastern empires for high-ranking ministers and senior officials, even if they were married. However, some explain the term literally, suggesting they were actual eunuchs because their duties required them to serve in the royal women's quarters [רמב״ן, טור הארוך, מחוקקי יהודה]. A unique perspective proposes that the title describes their punishment rather than their profession. According to this view, the officials plotted to sleep with the king's daughter. In response, the king castrated them and threw them into the very same prison as Joseph, who had been falsely accused of a similar crime. The baker's audacity is particularly emphasized, as a man with a dirty and soot-covered face dared to pursue the princess. Consequently, his punishment was more severe, resulting in his hanging [שפתי כהן, מנחת שי].