Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 47:16
And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail.
16. I will give you ] The word “bread” is evidently understood; and is found supplied in the Sam., LXX and Vulg. versions.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 16. Give your cattle] This was the wisest measure that could be adopted, both for the preservation of the people and of the cattle also. As the people had not grain for their own sustenance, consequently they could have none for their cattle; hence the cattle were in the most imminent danger of starving; and the people also were in equal danger, as they must have divided a portion of that bought for themselves with the cattle, which for the sake of tillage, c., they wished of course to preserve till the seven years of famine should end. The cattle being bought by Joseph were supported at the royal expense, and very likely returned to the people at the end of the famine for how else could they cultivate their ground, transport their merchandise, &c., &c.? For this part of Joseph’s conduct he certainly deserves high praise and no censure.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
16. And Joseph said, Give yourcattle“This was the wisest course that could be adoptedfor the preservation both of the people and the cattle, which, beingbought by Joseph, was supported at the royal expense, and very likelyreturned to the people at the end of the famine, to enable them toresume their agricultural labors.”
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And Joseph said, give your cattle,…. Oxen, sheep, horses, asses, as follows:
and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail; that is, corn for cattle, if they had no money to give.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
16. Give your cattle. It was a miserable spectacle, and one which might have softened hearts of iron, to see rich farmers, who previously had kept provision stored in their granaries for others, now begging food. Therefore, Joseph might be deemed cruel, because he does not give bread gratuitously to those who are poor and exhausted, but robs them of all their cattle, sheep, and asses. Seeing, however, that Joseph is transacting the business of another, I dare not charge his strictness with cruelty. If, during the seven fruitful years, he had extorted corn by force from an unwilling people, he would now have acted tyrannically in seizing their flocks and herds. But seeing that they had been at liberty to lay up, in their private stores, what they had sold to the king, they now pay the just penalty of their negligence. Joseph also perceived that they were deprived of their possessions by a divine interposition, in order that the king alone might be enriched by the spoils of all. Besides, since it was lawful for him to offer corn for sale, it was also lawful for him to exchange it for cattle. Truly, the corn belonged to the king; why then should he not demand a price from the purchasers? But they were poor, and therefore it was but just to succor them in their want. Were this rule to prevail, the greater part of sales would be unlawful. For no one freely parts with what he possesses. Wherefore, if his valuation of the cattle was fair, I do not see what was deserving of reprehension in the conduct of Joseph; especially as he was not dealing with his own property, but had been appointed prefect over the corn, with this condition, that he should acquire gain, not for himself, but for the king. If any one should object that he ought at least to have exhorted the lying to content himself with the abundant pecuniary wealth which he had obtained; I answer, that Moses relates, by the way, but a few things out of many. Any one, therefore, may easily conjecture, that a business of such great consequence, was not transacted by Joseph, without the cognizance and judgment of the king. But what, if it appeared to the king’s counselors, an equitable arrangement, that the farmers should receive, in return for their cattle, food for the whole year? Lastly, seeing that we stand or fall by the judgment of God alone, it is not for us to condemn what his law has left undecided.
Fuente: Calvin’s Complete Commentary
JOSEPHS POLICY IN EGYPT.
(16) Give your cattle.As the people were in want of food, and their land incapable of cultivation as long as the Nile ceased to overflow, this was a merciful arrangement, by which the owners were delivered from a burden, and also a portion of the cattle saved for the time when they would be needed again for agricultural purposes. As the charge of so many cattle in time of dearth would be a very serious matter (1Ki. 18:5-6), we now see the reason why Pharaoh wished the ablest of Josephs brethren to be employed in the task; and probably while there was no food for them in the Nile Valley, there would still be grass in the alluvial soil of the delta, which men used to move about with cattle would be able to find.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 47:16. Joseph said, Give your cattle There was certainly no injustice, as Chandler in his Vindication observes, in making the AEgyptians pay for the corn, which Joseph had bought with Pharaoh’s money, and laid up with great care and expence: and in demanding their cattle, he had, most probably, a view to save them; for, as they had not corn for themselves, they could much less have it for their cattle; and therefore this was the only way to preserve the lives of both, and to prevent that waste of the corn which must have been made if they had had the keeping and feeding of the cattle themselves: and it is highly probable, that he returned them their cattle after the famine, when they were fixed again in their several habitations, otherwise it would have been hardly possible for them to support their families, and carry on their business.
Fuente: Commentary on the Holy Bible by Thomas Coke
Gen 47:16 And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail.
Ver. 16. Give your cattle. ] See Trapp on “ Gen 47:17 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
you. Samaritan Pentateuch, The Targum of Jonathan ben Uzziel, and Septuagint add “bread”.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
Give your cattle: This was the wisest measure that could be adopted, both for the preservation of the people and the cattle. As the people had not grain for their own sustenance, consequently they could have none for their cattle: hence they were in the most imminent danger of starving; and the people also were in equal danger; as they must have divided a portion of that bought for themselves with the cattle, which, for the sake of tillage, etc., they wished of course to preserve till the seven years’ famine should end. Dan 6:5-7, Pro 12:17, 1Co 10:32, Phi 4:8, Col 4:5
Reciprocal: Gen 47:6 – cattle