Genesis 47:21-26 NIV1984

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 47:24

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. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 47:26

And Joseph made it a law - That the people should hold their land from the king, and give him the fifth part of the produce as a yearly tax. Beyond this it appears the king had no farther demands. The whole of this conduct of Joseph has been as strongly censured by some as applauded by others. It is natural for men to run into extremes in attacking or defending any position. Sober and judicious men will consider what Joseph did by Divine appointment as a prophet of God, and what he did... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 47:21

Verse 21 21.And as for the people, he removed them to cities. This removal was, indeed, severe; but if we reflect how much better it was to depart to another place; in order that they might be free cultivators of the land, than to be attached to the soil, and employed as slaves in servile work; no one will deny that this was a tolerable, and even a humane exercise of authority. Had each person cultivated his field, as he had been accustomed to do, the exaction of tribute would have seemed to be... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 47:22

Verse 22 22.Only the land of the priests. The priests were exempted from the common law, because the king granted them a maintenance. It is, indeed, doubtful, whether this was a supply for their present necessity, or whether he was accustomed to nourish them at his own expense. But seeing that Moses makes mention of their lands, I rattler incline to the conjecture, that, whereas they had before been rich, and this dearth had deprived them of their income, the king conferred this privilege upon... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 47:23

Verse 23 23.Then Joseph said unto the people. Here Moses describes the singular humanity of Joseph, which, as it then repressed all complaints, so, at this time, it justly dispels and refutes the calumnies with which he is assailed. The men, who were entirely destitute, and, in a sense, exiles, he reinstates in their possessions, on the most equitable condition, that they should pay a fifth part of the produce to the king. It is well known that formerly, in various places, kings have demanded... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 47:11-27

Joseph's policy in Egypt. I. TOWARDS THE ISRAELITES . 1. He gave them a settlement in Goshen . Though in one sense the land of Goshen was Pharaoh's grant, it is apparent from the story that they owed it chiefly to the wise and prudent management of Joseph that they found themselves located in the fattest corner of the land. In thus providing for them Joseph had without doubt an eye to their enrichment, to their separation as a people from the Egyptian inhabitants of the land,... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 47:13-26

The policy of Joseph is faithfully employed for his monarch. The advantage taken of the people's necessities to increase the power of the throne is quite Eastern in its character—not commended to general imitation, but permitted to be carded out through Joseph, because it gave him greater hold upon the government, and perhaps wrought beneficially on the whole in that early period of civilization. The honor of the priesthood is a testimony to the sacredness which the Egyptians attached to... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 47:21

And as for the people, he removed them —not enslaved them, converted them into serfs and bondmen to Pharaoh ( LXX ; Vulgate), but simply transferred them, caused them to pass over— to cities —not from cities to cities, as if changing their populations (Onkelos, Rosenmüller, Kalisch), but either from the country districts to the towns (Targums Jonathan and Jerusalem, Lange, Schumann, Gerlach, Murphy), or according to the cities, i.e. in which the grain had been previously collected... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 47:22

Only the land of the priests (so the LXX ; Vulgate, and Chaldee render cohen , which, however, sometimes signifies a prince) bought he not; for the priests had a portion— not of land (Lange, Kalisch), but of food (Keil, Murphy)—assigned them of Pharaoh (not of Joseph, who must not, therefore, be charged with the sin of extending a State allowance to an idolatrous priesthood), and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their lands ,—that is, in... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 47:23-24

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. This proves the time to have been the last year of the famine; and since the people obtained seed from the viceroy, it is reasonable to suppose that they would also have their cattle restored to them to enable them to till the ground. And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall... read more

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 47:24

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 47:26

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 47:21

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 47:22

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 47:23

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 47:11-27

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 47:13-26

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 47:21

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 47:22

The Pulpit Commentary - Genesis 47:23-24

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