Bible Commentary

And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, [that] Pharaoh should have the fifth [part]; except the land of the priests only, [which] became not Pharaoh’s. 26. a statute ] The Israelites preserved this tradition concerning the origin of the system of land-tenure which prevailed in Egypt at a … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 47:26”

And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants. Without thy care and providence we had all been dead men; and therefore if thou hadst kept us to the first bargain, thou hadst done us more kindness than wrong, much … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 47:25”

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 … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 47:24”

Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, [here is] seed for you, and ye shall sow the land. Verse 23. I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh] It fully appears that the kingdom of Egypt was previously to the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 47:23”

Only the land of the priests bought he not; for the priests had a portion [assigned them] of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their lands. 22. Only the land of the priests ] The priests of Egypt enjoyed special privileges. They were greatly enriched by the … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 47:22”

And as for the people, he removed them to cities from [one] end of the borders of Egypt even to the [other] end thereof. 21. he removed them ] Better, as Samar., Sept. and Vulg., he made bondmen of them, from &c. The reading in the text, followed by the R.V., in all probability is … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 47:21”

And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh’s. 20. Joseph bought all the land ] This transaction, by which, at a single stroke of business, Joseph, the Hebrew, was said to have purchased for … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 47:20”

Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give [us] seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate. Verse 19. Buy us and our land for bread] … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 47:19”

When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide [it] from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not aught left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands: … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 47:18”

And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread [in exchange] for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year. 17. horses flocks, and for the herds ] Heb. cattle of … Continue reading “Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 47:17”