Genesis 47

Jacob and his sons settle in the land of Goshen (vs. 1-12)—As I mentioned in the last chapter, Jacob counseled his brothers to lie to Pharaoh when the king asked them what their occupation was (46:34). Well, in this case, the brothers one-upped Joseph and told Pharaoh the truth (v. 3). Their being shepherds didn’t seem to bother the Egyptian monarch at all, indeed, he said to Joseph “if you know any competent men among them, then make them chief herdsmen over my livestock" (v. 6). Joseph then presented his father to Pharaoh, who asked Jacob how old he was (v. 8). It took Jacob 49 words to tell the Egyptian he was 130 years old: “The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years; few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage” (v. 9). That’s probably more than Pharaoh wanted to know. Anyway, Jacob blessed Pharaoh (v. 10), and went with his sons to dwell in the land of Goshen (v. 11). Joseph made sure they were provided for (v. 12).

Joseph collects from the Egyptians (vs. 13-26)—The Egyptian government wasn’t running a welfare state. When the people ran out of grain, Joseph made them pay for the grain (vs. 13-14). When they ran out of money (v. 15), Joseph said, “Give your livestock, and I will give you bread for your livestock” (v. 16). When they ran out of bread the next year, “Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. So the land became Pharaoh's" (v. 20). Joseph then moved the people into the cities (v. 21), probably because, since the land wasn’t producing, they would be easier to feed there. Once the famine was over, they would be allowed to return to their agricultural occupations.

Just a quick note here about the famine: the Nile River overflowed its banks each year from the melting snows in the highlands south of Egypt; once the water receded, it left a very rich soil in which the Egyptians could plant their crops. But no snow, no overflow. Not water, no food. So the seven years of famine were caused by excessively dry conditions in the regions south of the country. Interestingly, that isn’t a concern any more for Egypt because of the Aswan Dam, which was completed in 1970 and controls the flow of the water now.

Moses mentions in verse 22 that Joseph didn’t buy the land of the priests. They were too important. Pharaoh was a god to the Egyptians, but their priesthood was of such significance that even he didn’t tread on their rights. Joseph, after he bought the people and their land, gave them seed (v. 23) for when the famine was over. And then he told them, “It shall come to pass in the harvest that you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh. Four-fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and for your food, for those of your households and as food for your little ones" (v. 24). They would be taxed at a 20% rate. The average American today pays between 35-40% of his/her income in taxes (federal, state, local). And we’re “free,” and the Egyptians lived under a “tyranny.” The people of Egypt agreed whole-heartedly to live under this “despotism” (vs. 25-26). Well, I guess we agree to live under ours, too. Where’s Thomas Jefferson when you need him?

Jacob nears death (vs. 27-31)—Jacob lived 17 years in Egypt, and when he knew he was near death, he called Joseph to him and made him swear that he would take his father back and bury him in the land of Canaan (v. 30). Joseph agreed to this, of course (v. 31). It’s interesting that Israel called Joseph to him and not any of the other sons, but the father no doubt felt more comfortable trusting Joseph than the other boys, who had deceived him for so long in the matter of selling Joseph into slavery.