Pt1 Talmudic Typological Interpretations: Egyptian Butler's Dream in Genesis 40, Hosea’s Wife in Hosea 3, and Zechariah 11 (Chullin 92a)

This is the first part of a two-part series. The outline for the series is below.

This sugya gathers a chain of typological interpretations around three scriptural passages:¹ the dream of Pharaoh’s butler in Genesis 40, Hosea’s symbolic marriage in Hosea 3, and Zechariah’s prophecy of the thirty pieces of silver in Zechariah 11. Each verse is transformed into an allegory for Israel’s leaders, destiny, and the balance between Israel and the nations.

Rav Ḥiyya bar Abba, citing Rav, explains the “three branches” in the butler’s dream as three proud princes found in every generation, sometimes two in Babylonia and one in Eretz Yisrael, sometimes the reverse. The rabbis applied this to their own time, pointing to Rav’s grandsons Rabbana Ukva and Rabbana Neḥemya. Rava instead sees the branches as three ministering angels assigned to the nations, who plead for Israel.

Other voices expand the symbolism. R. Eliezer reads the vine as the world, its branches the Patriarchs, blossoms the Matriarchs, and clusters the Twelve Tribes. R. Yehoshua objects that dreams must point to the future, not the past, and so interprets the vine as Torah, the branches as the wilderness siblings Moses, Aaron, and Miriam, the blossoms as the Sanhedrin, and the clusters as the righteous. R. Elazar HaModa’i, cited by Rabban Gamliel, sets the entire verse in Jerusalem: Temple, king, and High Priest as branches; young priests as blossoms; libations as clusters.

R. Yehoshua b. Levi takes the vine as Torah, the branches as the wilderness gifts of the well, manna, and cloud, the blossoms as first fruits, the clusters as libations. R. Yirmeya bar Abba makes the vine Israel itself, the branches the three pilgrimage festivals, the blossoms the time to multiply and be redeemed, and the clusters Egypt’s punishment.

Rava connects the butler’s “three cups” to Egypt’s punishments—in the time of Moses, in the days of Pharaoh Necho, and in the messianic future. R. Abba testifies that Rav himself interpreted like R. Yirmeya. R. Shimon b. Lakish, too, likens Israel to a vine: householders as branches, scholars as clusters, common people as leaves, and the empty ones as tendrils.

The focus then shifts to Hosea 3:2: “So I bought her for fifteen silver and a ḥomer and a half-ḥomer of barley.” R. Yoḥanan, citing R. Shimon b. Yehotzadak, derives kira as “sale.” The fifteen pieces of silver are the fifteenth of Nisan, the date of the Exodus. The “silver” refers to the righteous, while the 45 measures of barley correspond to forty-five righteous individuals by whose merit the world endures. Zechariah 11:13 clarifies that thirty are in Eretz Yisrael and fifteen in Babylonia, and Abaye notes that most of the Babylonian group are found in a particular synagogue.

Zechariah’s “thirty pieces of silver” receive further readings. R. Yehuda identifies them as thirty righteous among the nations, sustaining the nations themselves. Ulla interprets them as thirty commandments accepted by the descendants of Noah, of which only three are kept: they do not write marriage contracts for male couples, they do not publicly sell human flesh, and they honor the Torah.

This sugya thus stitches together dreams, prophecy, and allegory, layering biblical images onto the realities of Israel’s leadership, its righteous, and its place among the nations.

Verses

The Egyptian Butler's Dream - Genesis 40:9-13

Genesis.40.9-13, translation JPS 1985, with slight adjustments:

ויספר שר־המשקים את־חלמו ליוסף

ויאמר לו:

Then the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph.

He said to him:

בחלומי:

והנה־גפן לפני

ובגפן שלשה שריגם

והוא כפרחת

עלתה נצה

הבשילו אשכלתיה ענבים

“In my dream:

there was a vine in front of me.

On the vine were three branches (שריגם)

It had barely budded (כפרחת - literally: “like flowered”)

when out came its blossoms (נצה)

and its clusters ripened (הבשילו) into grapes.

וכוס פרעה בידי

ואקח את־הענבים

ואשחט אתם אל־כוס פרעה

ואתן את־הכוס על־כף פרעה

Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand,

and I took the grapes,

pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup,

and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.”

ויאמר לו יוסף:

זה פתרנו:

Joseph said to him,

“This is its interpretation:

שלשת השרגים —

שלשת ימים הם

בעוד שלשת ימים --

ישא פרעה את־ראשך

והשיבך על־כנך

ונתת כוס־פרעה בידו

כמשפט הראשון אשר היית משקהו

The three branches —

are three days.

In three days --

Pharaoh will pardon you

and restore you to your post;

you will place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand,

as was your custom formerly when you were his cupbearer.

Hosea's marriage to an adulterous woman - Hosea 3:1-2

See Wikipedia, “Hosea 3”:

[C]hapter 3 refers autobiographically to Hosea's marriage to a woman who is an adulterer [...]

And ibid., section “Verse 1”

"A woman": presumed to be Gomer, who had left Hosea and was at that time living in adultery with another man, referred to as "a lover."

And ibid., section “”:

"Bought": from the Hebrew root כָּרָה (karah; "to trade" or "get by trade"), the use here may be in the sense of "hiring" [...], as well as a term fitting for a harlot. The Latin Vulgate translates it as "I dug her," referring to the "digging" of a slave's ear who chose to stay with his master (Exodus 21:6).

"Fifteen shekels of silver": half the price of a slave (Exodus 21:32) or may allude to the dowry for a bride (1 Samuel 18:25) [...]

Hosea.3.1-2 (translation New American Standard Bible 1995, with adjustments):

ויאמר יהוה אלי:

עוד לך אהב־אשה

אהבת רע

ומנאפת

כאהבת יהוה את־בני ישראל

והם פנים אל־אלהים אחרים

ואהבי אשישי ענבים

Then YHWH said to me,

“Go again, love a woman

who is loved by [her] husband,

yet an adulteress (מנאפת),

even as YHWH loves the sons of Israel,

though they turn to other gods

and love raisin cakes (אשישי ענבים).”

ואכרה לי ב

1. חמשה עשר כסף

2. וחמר שערים

3. ולתך שערים

ואמר אליה:

ימים רבים תשבי לי

לא תזני

ולא תהיי לאיש

וגם־אני אליך

So I bought her (אכרה) for myself for

1. fifteen [shekels of] silver,

2. a ḥomer of barley,

3. and a lethech of barley

Then I said to her:

“You shall stay with me for many days.

You shall not prostitute yourself (תזני),

nor shall you have a man;

so I will also be toward you.”

Zechariah 11:12-13

See Wikipedia, “Zechariah 11”, section “Prophecy of the Shepherds (verses 4–17)”, sub-section “Verse 12”:

"My price": that is, "my wages" for taking care of the "flock", which represents "people" [...]

"Thirty pieces of silver": is the price of a slave, gored to death by an ox (Exodus 21:32) [...]

"Thirty pieces of silver" (NRSV: "Thirty shekels of silver"): is the price of a slave in Exodus 21:32.

Zechariah.11.12-13

ואמר אליהם:

אם־טוב בעיניכם --

הבו שכרי

ואם־לא -- 

חדלו

וישקלו את־שכרי שלשים כסף

Then I said to them:

“If you are satisfied --

pay me my wages;

if not --

don’t.”

So they weighed out my wages, thirty shekels of silver—

ויאמר יהוה אלי:

השליכהו אל־היוצר אדר היקר אשר יקרתי מעליהם

ואקחה שלשים הכסף

ואשליך אתו בית יהוה אל־היוצר

the noble sum that I was worth in their estimation (JPS 1985 note: “Meaning of Hebrew uncertain.”)

YHWH said to me:

“Deposit it in the treasury.”

And I took the thirty shekels

and deposited it in the treasury (יוצר) in the House of YHWH

Outline

Intro

1. Verses

   1. The Egyptian Butler's Dream - Genesis 40:9-13

   2. Hosea's marriage to an adulterous woman - Hosea 3:1-2

   3. Zechariah 11:12-13

The Passage - Talmudic Typological Interpretations: Egyptian Butler's Dream in Genesis 40, Hosea’s Wife in Hosea 3, and Zechariah 11 (Chullin 92a)

Typological Interpretations of the Egyptian Butler's Dream in Genesis 40:10

1. Rav Ḥiyya bar Abba citing Rav - “Three branches” (‘sarigim’) = 3 proud princes per generation - Gen 40:10

   1. Sometimes 2 in Bavel and 1 in Eretz Yisrael, sometimes the reverse

   2. Examples of two Babylonian Exilarchs at once -- Rabbana Ukva and Rabbana Neḥemya, the grandsons of Rav

2. Rava - Alternately, the “3 branches” are 3 ministering angels over the non-Jews who plead for Israel - Gen 40:10

3. R’ Eliezer - “Vine” = world; “3 branches” = Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Patriarchs); “blossoms” = Matriarchs; “ripe clusters” = 12 Tribes - Gen 40:10

4. R’ Yehoshua - Dreams show the future: Vine = Torah; 3 branches = Moses, Aaron, Miriam; blossoms = Sanhedrin; clusters = the righteous - Gen 40:10

5. Rabban Gamliel citing R’ Elazar HaModa’i - “Vine” = Jerusalem; “3 branches” = Temple, king, High Priest; blossoms = young priests; clusters = libations - Gen 40:10

6. R’ Yehoshua b. Levi - Vine = Torah; 3 branches = well, cloud-pillar, manna; blossoms = first fruits; clusters = libations - Gen 40:10

7. R’ Yirmeya bar Abba - “Vine” = Israel; “3 branches” = 3 pilgrimage festivals; “blossoms” = time to multiply/ be redeemed; “ripe clusters” = Egypt’s punishment - Gen 40:10–11; Ps 80:9; Ex 1:7; Isa 63:3

8. Rava (on Egypt’s “3 cups”) - The 3 cups signify Egypt’s 3 punishments: in Moses’ time, under Pharaoh Necho, and in the (messianic) future with all non-Jewish nations - Gen 40:11

9. R’ Shimon b. Lakish - Israel is like a vine: householders = branches, scholars = clusters, amei ha’aretz = leaves, “empty ones” = tendrils

   1. “Clusters” should pray for “leaves”

Typological Interpretations of Hosea 3:2

1. ‘Kira’ - R’ Yoḥanan citing R’ Shimon b. Yehotzadak -‘kira’ = sale

2. “15 silver” = 15 Nisan

3. “Silver” = righteous - Proverbs 7:20

4. “So I bought her for 15 silver and a ḥomer + half-ḥomer of barley” - the 45 righteous individuals in whose merit the world continues to exist

5. Abaye - Most of the 15 in Babylonia are found in the synagogue “under the upper room” - Zech 11:12

Typological Interpretations of “Thirty” in Zechariah 11:12

1. R’ Yehuda - “Thirty” = 30 non-Jewish righteous, by whose merit the non-Jews endure

2. Ulla - “Thirty” = 30 Noahide mitzvot accepted by non-Jews; however, in practice, they keep only 3

3. ... Non-Jews keep only 3: no ketubah for male–male union; don’t sell human flesh publicly; honor the Torah

The Passage

Chullin.92a.5-92b.1

Typological Interpretations of the Egyptian Butler's Dream in Genesis 40:10

Chullin.92a.5-16

Table:

Rav Ḥiyya bar Abba citing Rav - “Three branches” (‘sarigim’) = 3 proud princes per generation - Gen 40:10

(בראשית מ, י) "ובגפן שלשה שריגים"

אמר רב חייא בר אבא, אמר רב:

אלו ג' שרי גאים

היוצאים מישראל בכל דור ודור

Similarly, with regard to the dream of Pharaoh’s butler, the verse states: “And in the vine were 3 branches [sarigim]; and as it was budding, its blossoms shot forth, and its clusters brought forth ripe grapes” (Genesis 40:10).

Rav Ḥiyya bar Abba says that Rav says:

These 3 branches refer to the 3 proud princes [sarei ge’im]

who emerge from the Jewish people in each and every generation.

Sometimes 2 in Bavel and 1 in Eretz Yisrael, sometimes the reverse

• פעמים ש

  • שנים כאן

  • ואחד בארץ ישראל

• פעמים ש

  • שנים בארץ ישראל

  • ואחד כאן

• There are times when

  • 2 are here in Babylonia

  • and 1 is in Eretz Yisrael,

• and there are times when

  • 2 are in Eretz Yisrael

  • and 1 is here in Babylonia.

Examples of two Babylonian Exilarchs at once -- Rabbana Ukva and Rabbana Neḥemya, the grandsons of Rav

יהיבו רבנן עינייהו ב

1. רבנא עוקבא

2. ורבנא נחמיה

בני ברתיה דרב

When this was stated in the study hall, the rabbis present turned their eyes toward

1. Rabbana Ukva

2. and Rabbana Neḥemya,

the sons of the daughter of Rav,

who were from the family of the Exilarch and were two leaders of the generation who resided in Babylonia.

Rava - Alternately, the “3 branches” are 3 ministering angels over the non-Jews who plead for Israel - Gen 40:10

רבא אמר:

אלו שלשה שרי גוים

שמלמדים זכות על ישראל בכל דור ודור

Rava says a different explanation of the verse:

These three branches [sarigim] are the three ministering angels appointed to oversee the non-Jews [sarei goyim],

who plead in favor (מלמדים זכות) of the Jewish people in each and every generation.

R’ Eliezer - “Vine” = world; “3 branches” = Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Patriarchs); “blossoms” = Matriarchs; “ripe clusters” = 12 Tribes - Gen 40:10

תניא

רבי אליעזר אומר:

1. "גפן" --

   1. זה העולם

2. "שלשה שריגים" --

   1. זה

      1. אברהם

      2. יצחק

      3. ויעקב

3. "והיא כפורחת עלתה נצה" --

   1. אלו האמהות

4. "הבשילו אשכלותיה ענבים" --

   1. אלו השבטים.

It is taught in a baraita:

R' Eliezer says an alternate interpretation of the verse:

1. “Vine”;

   1. this is a reference to the world.

2. “Three branches”;

   1. this is a reference to

      1. Abraham,

      2. Isaac,

      3. and Jacob.

3. “And as it was budding, its blossoms shot forth”;

   1. these are the Matriarchs.

4. “And its clusters brought forth ripe grapes”;

   1. these are the Twelve tribes, i.e., the twelve sons of Jacob.

R’ Yehoshua - Dreams show the future: Vine = Torah; 3 branches = Moses, Aaron, Miriam; blossoms = Sanhedrin; clusters = the righteous - Gen 40:10

אמר לו רבי יהושע:

וכי מראין לו לאדם מה שהיה?!

והלא אין מראין לו לאדם אלא מה שעתיד להיות!

R' Yehoshua said to him:

But is a person shown in a dream what was in the past?!

Isn’t it true that one is shown only what will be in the future?!

Since the Patriarchs, Matriarchs, and Sons of Jacob were all born prior to this dream, the dream was not alluding to them.

אלא:

1. "גפן" --

   1. זה תורה

2. "שלשה שריגים" --

   1. אלו

      1. משה

      2. ואהרן

      3. ומרים

3. "והיא כפורחת עלתה נצה" --

   1. אלו סנהדרין

4. "הבשילו אשכלותיה ענבים" --

   1. אלו הצדיקים שבכל דור ודור.

Rather, the verse should be interpreted as follows:

1. “Vine”;

   1. this is a reference to the Torah.

2. “Three branches”;

   1. these are

      1. Moses,

      2. Aaron,

      3. and Miriam.

3. “And as it was budding, its blossoms shot forth”;

   1. these are the members of the Sanhedrin.

4. “And its clusters brought forth ripe grapes”;

   1. these are the righteous people who live in each and every generation.

1. This sugya is a continuation of the one that I discussed in my previous series.