Why Two More Years?
NOTE: I was not able to finish this article before Shabbos. I
therefore added several addendums throughout the article
to clarify a few points and fill in the gaps.
Yosef is sitting in an Egyptian dungeon --- far from home, far from his father, and far from the dreams that once hinted at greatness. Into this dark, forgotten space are thrown two new prisoners, men who once served in Paro's palace: the Sar HaMashkim (aka the Chief Cupbearer) and the Sar HaOfim (the Chief Baker).
In time, both of these royal officials experience troubling dreams. Yosef notices their anxiety and offers to interpret the dreams for them, insisting --- as he always does --- that "interpretations belong to God."
The first dream he interprets is that of the Sar HaMashkim:
In three days, Paro will lift your head, restore you to your position, and take you out of this prison.
This is obviously good news for the Sar HaMashkim. But Yosef sees it as (potentially) good news for him also. And so, he makes a personal request. I paraphrase:
"When things go well for you, remember me. When you are restored, please mention me to Paro. Help me get out of this prison."
Now we fast-forward just a few pesukim to the very end of the parasha. Yosef's interpretations of both dreams come true. The Sar HaOfim is executed, and the Sar HaMashkim is restored to his post --- serving Paro once again.
And here it is --- Yosef's opportunity to go free. All that is needed is for the Sar HaMashkim to mention Yosef to Paro. He could note how he had looked after them in jail. He could mention how he had accurately interpreted both dreams. He can even add Yosef's proclamation that he is innocent of any wrongdoing.
In essence, the Sar HaMashkim can be G-d's emissary to Yosef's freedom. All it requires is a word with Paro.
But the Sar HaMashkim doesn't mention Yosef. He doesn't say a single word. And, in due time, he forgets Yosef altogether.
And so, the hope has now faded. The opportunity is lost, and Yosef remains in jail.
But, of course, we know the continuation of the story. In due time, Paro will have his own dreams and will require someone who can properly interpret them. At that point, the Sar HaMashkim will not only remember, but will also mention Yosef to Paro. And then, Yosef will go free.
But Yosef will have to wait for that moment. How long? Two years. We know it's two years, because the Torah tells us that it was two years.
And that is interesting.
Let's put this all together.
Yosef asks the Sar HaMashkim to mention him when he goes free. And our parsha ends by noting that not only did he not mention him, but that he also forgot him:
"וְלֹא זָכַר... וַיִּשְׁכָּחֵהוּ"
He did not remember Yosef --- and then he forgot him.
And then the very next line lets us know that at the end of two years, Paro had his dreams:
"וַיְהִי מִקֵּץ שְׁנָתַיִם יָמִים..."
"And it was, at the end of two years..."
If Paro's two dreams were the end, then what was the beginning?
Perhaps we could say that the beginning was the two dreams of Paro's advisors --- the Sar HaMashkim and the Sar HaOfim. There is a nice symmetry there --- and on one level I think that is obviously true.
But there is another beginning --- hidden within the juxtaposition of our verses; namely, two years from the moment that the Sar HaMashkim did not mention Yosef. Two years after that, Paro had his dreams --- and therefore two years after that, the Sar HaMashkim mentioned Yosef.
This is not some minor point --- there is something deeper going on here --- and Chazal pick up on that something. As such, they ask:
Why is it that the Sar HaMashkim did not mention Yosef to Paro?
And why did he then forget him entirely?
According to Chazal, the answer lies in the dual request Yosef made when he interpreted the Sar HaMashkim's dream. Yosef said:
"זכרתני" --- remember me
"והזכרתני" --- and mention me
Two separate mentions. Two explicit appeals.
And Chazal say for each request, Yosef was required to spend one extra year in prison. Evidently, there was something off or inappropriate about this request --- and that 'something' resulted in Yosef being in prison for two more years.
But what is that 'something'?
Indeed, wasn't Yosef's response the appropriate one? Why else would G-d place these two men in Yosef's cell and give them these dreams, if not for Yosef to take advantage of this opportunity to set himself free?
Says Chazal --- yes, you may have thought that. But the Chumash --- through its clever telling of the story --- is indicating otherwise. It is indicating that there was something wrong with Yosef's request.