Genesis 47

King James Version

Full text for Genesis Chapter 47

1¶ Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they [are] in the land of Goshen.

2And he took some of his brethren, [even] five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh.

3And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What [is] your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants [are] shepherds, both we, [and] also our fathers.

4They said moreover unto Pharaoh, For to sojourn in the land are we come; for thy servants have no pasture for their flocks; for the famine [is] sore in the land of Canaan: now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants dwell in the land of Goshen.

5And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee:

6The land of Egypt [is] before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest [any] men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.

7And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

8And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old [art] thou?

9And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage [are] an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.

10And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh.

11And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.

12And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father's household, with bread, according to [their] families.

13¶ And [there was] no bread in all the land; for the famine [was] very sore, so that the land of Egypt and [all] the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine.

14And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house.

15And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth.

16And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail.

17And 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.

18When 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 ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands:

19Wherefore 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.

20And 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.

21And as for the people, he removed them to cities from [one] end of the borders of Egypt even to the [other] end thereof.

22Only 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.

23Then 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.

24And 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.

25And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants.

26And 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.

27¶ And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.

28And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years.

29And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt:

30But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said, I will do as thou hast said.

31And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head.

AI Analysis

AI Summaries

Short Summary

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.

Medium Summary

Joseph presents his father and brethren to Pharaoh, who grants them the fertile land of Goshen, acknowledging their occupation as shepherds. Jacob, at 130 years old, meets Pharaoh, describing his life as a pilgrimage marked by few and difficult years, and blesses the king. As the severe famine depletes all money and livestock, the Egyptians offer their land and themselves to Pharaoh in exchange for food and seed. Joseph acquires all Egyptian land for Pharaoh, except that of the priests, and establishes a law requiring a fifth of all produce as a perpetual tax. This policy ensures the people's survival and makes them servants to Pharaoh. Meanwhile, the family of Israel thrives and multiplies exceedingly in Goshen. Nearing the end of his 147 years, Jacob makes Joseph swear an oath to bury him not in Egypt, but in the burial place of his fathers in Canaan.

Long Summary

The chapter opens with Joseph informing Pharaoh of his father Jacob and his brethren's arrival from Canaan, settling them in the land of Goshen. Joseph then presents five of his brethren to Pharaoh, who confirms their occupation as shepherds and their desire to sojourn due to the severe famine. Pharaoh graciously grants them the best of the land, Goshen, and suggests placing capable men over his own cattle. Joseph subsequently brings his father Jacob before Pharaoh, where Jacob blesses the king. Pharaoh inquires about Jacob's age, to which Jacob responds that his 130 years have been "few and evil" days of pilgrimage, not attaining the longevity of his forefathers. Joseph then settles his family in the land of Rameses (Goshen) and provides for their sustenance. As the famine intensifies across Egypt and Canaan, all money is exhausted, leading the Egyptians to offer their cattle to Joseph in exchange for food for a year. When the cattle are depleted, the people, facing starvation, offer their bodies and lands to Pharaoh, requesting seed to live and prevent desolation. Joseph, acting for Pharaoh, purchases all the land of Egypt, except for the priests' portions, which were already provided by Pharaoh. He then relocates the populace to cities and establishes a lasting law: a fifth part of all agricultural produce is to be given to Pharaoh, while the remaining four parts are for the people's sustenance and seed. The people express gratitude to Joseph for saving their lives, accepting their new status as Pharaoh's servants. The family of Israel, dwelling in Goshen, prospers greatly and multiplies exceedingly. Jacob lives seventeen more years in Egypt, reaching the age of 147. Sensing his approaching death, Jacob calls Joseph and makes him swear a solemn oath to bury him not in Egypt, but with his fathers in their burial place in Canaan, to which Joseph agrees.

Core Concepts

  • Settlement in GoshenJoseph's family, including Jacob and his brethren, are granted permission by Pharaoh to dwell in the fertile land of Goshen, also called Rameses, due to the severe famine in Canaan. This provision ensures their sustenance and allows them to maintain their pastoral lifestyle.
  • Jacob's PilgrimageWhen meeting Pharaoh, Jacob describes his 130 years of life as a "pilgrimage," emphasizing its transient nature and the "few and evil" days he has experienced, acknowledging he has not lived as long as his ancestors. This reflects a theological understanding of life as a journey.
  • Joseph's Economic PolicyAmidst the severe famine, Joseph implements a system where Egyptians first exchange money, then cattle, and finally their land and themselves for food and seed. This policy consolidates all land ownership (except for priests) under Pharaoh and establishes a permanent tax of one-fifth of the produce.
  • Land Ownership and TaxationJoseph's policy results in Pharaoh acquiring nearly all the land of Egypt, with the people becoming tenants who pay a perpetual tax of one-fifth of their harvest. This system ensures the people's survival while centralizing economic power with the crown.
  • Israel's ProsperityDespite the widespread famine affecting Egypt, the family of Israel, dwelling in the land of Goshen, is described as having possessions, growing, and multiplying exceedingly. This highlights their favored status and God's blessing upon them.
  • Jacob's Burial OathNearing death, Jacob makes Joseph swear a solemn oath to bury him not in Egypt, but to carry his body back to Canaan to lie with his fathers. This request underscores Jacob's desire to be buried in the promised land, reflecting his faith in God's covenant.