Bible Verses About Land: Monopoly of

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.

Woe to those who think up evil and plan wickedness as they lie in bed. When morning comes, they do it, since they have it in their power.

They covet fields and seize them; they take over houses as well, doing violence to both owner and house, to people and their inherited land.