Genesis 47:21-26 NIV1984

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

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 47:22

Genesis 47:22. Only the land of the priests bought he not— Lord Shaftesbury has from this circumstance taken occasion to observe, in his usual way, "to what height of power the established priesthood was arrived, since the crown offered not to meddle with the church-lands: and that, in this great revolution, nothing was attempted, so much as by way of purchase or exchange, in prejudice of this landed clergy; the prime minister himself having joined his interest with theirs, and entered, by... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 47:23-25

Genesis 47:23-25. Then Joseph said, &c.— These three verses confirm all that we have said of the wisdom and humanity of Joseph. A wise minister of state, but, at the same time, generous, tender, and compassionate, he acquired for his king all that his subjects possessed; yet, instead of rigorously insisting upon the bargain they had made, he returns them their estates, and only lays a tax upon them for the better support of his prince's crown and government, at the rate of four shillings in... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 47:26

Genesis 47:26. Joseph made it a law— Chandler remarks, that Joseph, to his honour, was so far from enslaving the country, that, with the consent of king and people, he settled both the rights of the crown and of the subject upon the foundation of an irrepealable law, and was the first who limited the power of their princes. This circumstance seems confirmed by Diodorus, who, among other instances of the good government of AEgypt, mentions this, b. 1: "That the people were not oppressed with... 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

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 47:22

22. Only the land of the priests bought he not—These lands were inalienable, being endowments by which the temples were supported. The priests for themselves received an annual allowance of provision from the state, and it would evidently have been the height of cruelty to withhold that allowance when their lands were incapable of being tilled. read more

Robert Jamieson; A. R. Fausset; David Brown

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 47:23

23-28. Joseph said, Behold, c.—The lands being sold to the government (Genesis 47:19 Genesis 47:20), seed would be distributed for the first crop after the famine; and the people would occupy them as tenants-at-will on the payment of a produce rent, almost the same rule as obtains in Egypt in the present day. 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

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

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

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 47:22

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 47:23-25

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Genesis 47:26

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

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 47:22

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible - Genesis 47:23

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

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

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