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E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - Genesis 47:21

removed them to cities. Samaritan Pentateuch, Pentateuch, and Vulgate read, "made them serve as servants"; or, "made them bondmen". read more

James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 47:20-26

"So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine was sore upon them: and the land became Pharaoh's. And, as for the people, he removed them to the cities from one end of the border of Egypt even to the other end thereof. Only the land of the priests bought he not: for the priests had a portion from Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them; wherefore they sold not their land. Then Joseph said unto the people,... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 47:21

Genesis 47:21. As for the people, he removed them to cities— Chandler, in his Vindication, observes well, "that in ch. Genesis 41:48. we are told, that Joseph gathered up the food, and laid it up in the cities; the food of the field, which was round about every city, laid he up in the same: so that, instead of suffering the people to live in the country, where it would have been difficult to have taken due care of them, he removed them into the cities where the corn was laid up, for the better... read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 47:21

21. as for the people, he removed them to cities—obviously for the convenience of the country people, who were doing nothing, to the cities where the corn stores were situated. read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 47:13-27

God’s provision of land and food for Pharaoh 47:13-27This section demonstrates the fulfillment of Jacob’s blessing on Pharaoh (Genesis 46:31 to Genesis 47:6 and Genesis 47:7-10). Joseph was able to save Egypt and its neighbors from a very severe famine and to alleviate the desperate plight of the Egyptians. Pharaoh received money from Egypt and Canaan (Genesis 47:13-14), livestock (Genesis 47:15-17), land and slaves (Genesis 47:18-21; Genesis 47:23; Genesis 47:25), and 20 percent of future... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 47:20-26

Early Greek writers, as well as monument evidence, seem to confirm Joseph’s political reforms and redistribution of land in Egypt. [Note: Herodotus, Diodorus Siculus, and Strabo. See Keil and Delitzsch, 1:379, and Cambridge Ancient History, 1:306-310.] In a very real sense Joseph became a savior of the Gentiles as well as the Jews. [Note: See Frankfort, pp. 36-43.] His 20 percent tax was generous compared to what is known elsewhere in the ancient Near East. [Note: Mathews, Genesis 11:27-50:26,... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 47:1-31

Joseph presents his Brethren and his Father to Pharaoh. He makes extensive Changes in the Land Tenure of Egypt6. Rulers over my cattle] The superintendenee of the royal flocks and herds would be a position of importance. 9. Few and evil, etc.] Abraham was 175 years and Isaac 180 years old at their death. Jacob, therefore, regarded his years as comparatively few. The ’evil ’times in his life are not difficult to trace.11. Land of Rameses] or Raamses. Evidently identical with the ’land of Goshen... read more

Charles John Ellicott

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers - Genesis 47:21

(21) He removed them to cities.—Joseph’s object in this measure was most merciful. As the corn was stored up in the cities, the people would be sure of nourishment only if they were in the immediate neighbourhood of the food. As a consequence, possibly, of Joseph’s policy, the number of cities in the Valley of the Nile became so enormous that Herodotus computes them at 20,000. Thus the people would not dwell at any distance from their lands, while it would be impossible for them to reside... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Dictionary of Texts - Genesis 47:1-31

Jacob's Retrospect of Life Genesis 47:7-9 I. Jacob had lived a long life as we should count it; one of half the length is as much as most men are able to look forward to. And he had lived a holy life; the one great sin of his youth had been punished by a long and hard discipline that had not been in vain. The father whom he had deceived had blessed him again without deceit; and the God of Bethel had been with him still ever since the hour of his first covenant with him. How could he complain... read more

William Nicoll

Expositor's Bible Commentary - Genesis 47:13-26

JOSEPH’S ADMINISTRATIONGenesis 41:37-57, Genesis 47:13-26"He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance: To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom." Psalms 105:21-22."MANY a monument consecrated to the memory of some nobleman gone to his long home, who during life had held high rank at the court of Pharaoh, is decorated with the simple but laudatory inscription, ‘His ancestors were unknown people.’" -so we are told by our most accurate informant... read more

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