Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 47:24
And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth [part] unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones.
24. a fifth ] Cf. Gen 41:34. This seems an immense impost. But it is said to compare favourably with the ruthless standard of taxation by Oriental governments, in which corruption was rife and liberty did not exist: cf. the letter of King Demetrius, 1Ma 10:30 , “the third part of the seed,” “the half of the fruit of the trees which falleth to me to receive.”
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 24. Ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh] This is precisely the case in Hindostan; the king has the fifth part of all the crops.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Whereas he might have reserved four parts to Pharaoh, and have allowed them only the fifth. Herein he showed both his humanity and kindness, in mitigating that hard bargain which themselves had made, and were necessitated to make, and his prudence in composing, sweetening, and winning the hearts of the people to the king, and making them pay their tribute for the future with more cheerfulness.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And it shall come to pass, in the increase,…. When the land shall produce an increase, and it shall be gathered in:
that you shall give the fifth [part] unto Pharaoh; a fifth part of the increase:
and four parts shall be your own; for the following uses, one part
for seed of the field: to sow again with for the next year: a second part
for your food; for food for themselves: a third part
for them of your household; their servants and maids: and the fourth part
for food for your little ones; for their children, be they young or old; or however four parts of five he proposed they should have for their own use, and for the maintenance of their families, which was a kind and generous proposal, when all might have been demanded, and they and theirs treated as slaves.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Gen 47:24 And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth [part] unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones.
Ver. 24. Ye shall give the fifth part. ] See Trapp on “ Gen 47:19 “
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
fifth part. This is the Turkish law in Palestine to-day, if the landlord supplies cattle and seed. So the terms would not be too onerous.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the fifth part: Gen 47:25, Gen 41:34, Lev 27:32, 1Sa 8:15-17, Psa 41:1, Psa 112:5
Reciprocal: Gen 47:12 – according to their families Gen 47:15 – Give us bread 2Co 9:10 – he