Genesis 47

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 47:26

And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day ,.... With the consent of Pharaoh, his nobles, and all the people of the land, who readily came into it; and so it became, a fundamental law of their constitution, and which continued to the times of Moses, the writer of this history: that Pharaoh should have the fifth part ; that is, of the increase the whole land of Egypt produced: except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh's ; it not being... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 47:27

And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen ,.... The historian returns to the account of the Israelites, having before observed the placing of them in Goshen by Joseph, at the direction of Pharaoh, in compliance with their own request; and here they continued until they were grown more numerous, when they were obliged to spread themselves further in this same country: and they had possessions therein ; fields and vineyards, as the Targum of Jonathan; all the land was... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 47:28

And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years ,.... He lived just the same term of years with Joseph in Egypt as he had lived with him in Syria and Canaan, Genesis 37:2 ; about two hours' walk from Fium are now to be seen the ruins of an ancient town, which the Coptics say was inhabited by the patriarch Jacob, and for this cause they name it, yet, Modsellet Jacub, or the tabernacle of Jacob F14 Vansleb's Relation of a Voyage to Egypt, p. 167. , which place is supposed to be in... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 47:29

And the time drew nigh that Israel must die ,.... As all men must, by the appointment of God, even good men, the Israel of God; though they shall not die a spiritual death, nor an eternal one, yet a corporeal one, which is for their good, and is a blessing to them; the sting being removed, and so not a penal evil, which is owing to Christ's dying for them, who has abolished death as such; and there is a time fixed for their death, beyond which they must not live, and before which they must... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 47:30

But I will lie with my fathers ,.... Abraham and Isaac, whose bodies lay in the land of Canaan, where Jacob desired to be buried; partly to express his faith in the promised land, that it should be the inheritance of his posterity; and partly to draw off their minds from a continuance in Egypt, and to incline them to think of removing thither at a proper time, and to confirm them in the belief of their enjoyment of it; as well as to intimate his desire after, and faith in the heavenly glory... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 47:31

And he said, swear unto me ,.... This he required, not from any distrust of Joseph, but to show his own eagerness, and the intenseness of his mind about this thing, how much he was set upon it, and what an important thing it was with him; as also, that if he should have any objections made to it, or arguments used with him to divert him from it, by Pharaoh or his court, he would be able to say his father had bound him by an oath to do it, which would at once stop their mouths, and be judged... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 47

Joseph informs Pharaoh that his father and brethren are arrived in Goshen, Genesis 47:1 . He presents five of his brethren before the king, Genesis 47:2 , who questions them concerning their occupation; they inform him that they are shepherds, and request permission to dwell in the land of Goshen, Genesis 47:3 , Genesis 47:4 . Pharaoh consents, and desires that some of the most active of them should be made rulers over his cattle, Genesis 47:5 , Genesis 47:6 . Joseph presents his... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 47:2

He took some of his brethren - There is something very strange in the original; literally translated it signifies "from the end or extremity ( מקצה miktseh ) of his brethren he took five men." This has been understood six different ways. 1. Joseph took five of his brethren that came first to hand - at random, without design or choice. 2. Joseph took five of the meanest-looking of his brethren to present before Pharaoh, fearing if he had taken the sightliest that Pharaoh would detain them... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 47:6

In the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell - So it appears that the land of Goshen was the best of the land of Egypt. Men of activity - חיל אנשי anshey chayil , stout or robust men - such as were capable of bearing fatigue, and of rendering their authority respectable. Rulers over my cattle - מקנה mikneh signifies not only cattle, but possessions or property of any kind; though most usually cattle are intended, because... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 47:7

Jacob blessed Pharaoh - Saluted him on his entrance with Peace be unto thee, or some such expression of respect and good will. For the meaning of the term to bless, as applied to God and man, See Clarke on Genesis 2:3 ; (note). read more

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