Genesis47

Joseph informs Pharaoh of his family's arrival, and Pharaoh grants them the land of Goshen. Jacob meets Pharaoh, blessing him and reflecting on his life's pilgrimage. As the famine worsens, Joseph implements a policy where Egyptians sell their land and themselves to Pharaoh for food, establishing a perpetual tax of one-fifth of their produce. Israel prospers in Goshen, and Jacob, at 147, requests Joseph to promise to bury him in Canaan with his ancestors.

Joseph Presents His Family to Pharaoh

Then Yosef went in and told Pharaoh, "My father and brothers have come from the land of Kena'an with their flocks, livestock and all their possessions; right now they are in the land of Goshen."

He took five of his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh.

Pharaoh said to his brothers, "What is your occupation?" They answered Pharaoh, "Your servants are shepherds, both we and our ancestors,"

and added, "We have come to live in the land, because in the land of Kena'an there is no place to pasture your servant's flocks, the famine is so severe there. Therefore, please, let your servants live in the land of Goshen."

Pharaoh said to Yosef, "Your father and brothers have come to you,

and the land of Egypt lies before you. Have your father and brothers live on the best property in the country - let them live in the land of Goshen. Moreover, if you know that some of them are particularly competent, put them in charge of my livestock."

Yosef then brought in Ya'akov his father and presented him to Pharaoh, and Ya'akov blessed Pharaoh.

Pharaoh asked Ya'akov,"How old are you?"

and Ya'akov replied, "The time of my stay on earth has been 130 years; they have been few and difficult, fewer than the years my ancestors lived."

Then Ya'akov blessed Pharaoh and left his presence.

Yosef found a place for his father and brothers and gave them property in the land of Egypt, in the best region of the country, in the land of Ra'amses, as Pharaoh had ordered.

Yosef provided food for his father, his brothers and all his father's household, taking full care of even the youngest.

Joseph Manages the Famine Economy

There was no food anywhere, for the famine was very severe, so that both Egypt and Kena'an grew weak from hunger.

Yosef collected all the money there was in Egypt and Kena'an in exchange for the grain they bought, and put the money in Pharaoh's treasury.

When all the money in Egypt had been spent, and likewise in Kena'an, all the Egyptians approached Yosef and said, "Give us something to eat, even though we have no money; why should we die before your eyes?"

Yosef replied, "Give me your livestock. If you don't have money, I will give you food in exchange for your livestock."

So they brought Yosef their livestock; and Yosef gave them food in exchange for the horses, flocks, cattle and donkeys -all that year he provided them with food in exchange for all their livestock.

When that year was over, they approached Yosef again and said to him, "We won't hide from my lord that all our money is spent, and the herds of livestock belong to my lord. We have nothing left, as my lord can see, but our bodies and our land.

Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for food, and we and our land will be enslaved to Pharaoh. But also give us seed to plant, so that we can stay alive and not die, and so that the land won't become barren."

So Yosef acquired all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh, as one by one the Egyptians sold their fields, because the famine weighed on them so severely. Thus the land became the property of Pharaoh.

As for the people, he reduced them to serfdom city by city, from one end of Egypt's territory to the other.

Only the priests' land did he not acquire, because the priests were entitled to provisions from Pharaoh, and they ate from what Pharaoh provided them; therefore they did not sell their land.

Then Yosef said to the people, "As of today I have acquired you and your land for Pharaoh. Here is seed for you to sow the land.

When harvest time comes, you are to give twenty percent to Pharaoh; eighty percent will be yours to keep for seed to plant in the fields, as well as for your food and for that of your households and your little ones."

They replied, "You have saved our lives! So if it pleases my lord, we will be Pharaoh's slaves."

Yosef made it a law for the country of Egypt, valid to this day, that Pharaoh should have twenty percent. Only the property belonging to the priests did not become Pharaoh's.

Israel Settles; Jacob Requests Burial

Isra'el lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. They acquired possessions in it and were productive, and their numbers multiplied greatly.

Ya'akov lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years; thus Ya'akov lived to be 147 years old.

The time came when Isra'el was approaching death; so he called for his son Yosef and said to him, "If you truly love me, please put your hand under my thigh and pledge that, out of consideration for me, you will not bury me in Egypt.

Rather, when I sleep with my fathers, you are to carry me out of Egypt and bury me where they are buried." He replied, "I will do as you have said."

He said, "Swear it to me," and he swore to him. Then Isra'el bowed down at the head of his bed.

Study Notes for Genesis 47

Verse 2

Joseph strategically selected five men to present. This small group represented the family and likely aimed to avoid overwhelming Pharaoh while demonstrating their humble, pastoral status.

Verse 3

Pharaoh’s question about occupation was crucial. By identifying as shepherds, they solidified their placement in Goshen, as shepherding was often seen as undesirable by the Egyptians (Gen 46:34).

Verse 4

The term 'sojourn' (Hebrew: *gur*) emphasizes that their stay in Egypt is temporary, maintaining the theological understanding that Canaan remains their permanent, promised inheritance.

Verse 6

Pharaoh’s offer to put Jacob’s family in charge of his royal cattle shows the immense authority and trust placed in Joseph and his family's reputation for competence.

Verse 9

Jacob describes his life as a 'pilgrimage,' reflecting the nomadic reality of the patriarchs and their faith in a future inheritance. His lament ('few and evil') acknowledges the hardship he endured throughout his life.

Verse 11

The land of Rameses is an alternate name for Goshen, referring specifically to the productive eastern Delta region. This settlement fulfills God's provision to sustain the covenant family.

Verse 13

This verse marks a thematic shift, detailing the severity of the famine and Joseph’s centralized administration. The crisis affected Canaan equally, justifying Jacob's relocation.

Verse 17

When money failed, Joseph implemented the second phase of his economic policy, exchanging grain for livestock, thereby transferring the agricultural and transport assets of the people to the crown.

Verse 19

The people offer themselves and their land into servitude, prioritizing survival over ownership. This desperation highlights Joseph’s immense power and the effectiveness of his preparation.

Verse 20

Joseph’s land acquisition resulted in Pharaoh owning virtually all the productive land in Egypt, establishing the crown as the ultimate economic and political authority.

Verse 21

The relocation of the people to cities was likely an administrative measure to consolidate the population, making rationing and tax collection easier.

Verse 22

The priests were exempt from the land sale because Pharaoh already provided them with a fixed allowance, illustrating the high status of the priestly class in Egyptian society.

Verse 24

Joseph established a law requiring a 20% tax (the fifth part) on the harvest. This centralized system provided stability for the people while securing Pharaoh’s permanent revenue stream.

Verse 26

This law, granting Pharaoh one-fifth of the yield, became the long-standing legal standard for land tenure in Egypt, demonstrating the profound and lasting impact of Joseph's policies.

Verse 27

In stark contrast to the suffering Egyptians, the family of Israel 'grew, and multiplied exceedingly,' fulfilling God’s promise of fertility even while in a foreign land.

Verse 29

Jacob demands this solemn oath ('put thy hand under my thigh') from Joseph. This action stresses the importance of the request, tying it to the covenant promises made to Abraham.

Verse 30

Jacob’s insistence on burial in Canaan (the Cave of Machpelah) confirms his faith that the land, not Egypt, remains the promised inheritance for his descendants.

Verse 31

Jacob bowing upon the bed's head is an act of worship or reverence, thanking God for the assurance that he would be buried in the Promised Land (cf. Heb 11:21).

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Genesis47

Joseph Presents His Family to Pharaoh

Joseph Manages the Famine Economy

Israel Settles; Jacob Requests Burial

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