Genesis 47

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 47:9

The days of the years of my pilgrimage - מגורי megurai , of my sojourning or wandering. Jacob had always lived a migratory or wandering life, in different parts of Canaan, Mesopotamia, and Egypt, scarcely ever at rest; and in the places where he lived longest, always exposed to the fatigues of the field and the desert. Our word pilgrim comes from the French pelerin and pelegrin , which are corrupted from the Latin peregrinus , an alien, stranger, or foreigner, from the adverb ... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 47:14

Gathered up all the money - i. e., by selling corn out of the public stores to the people; and this he did till the money failed, Genesis 47:15 , till all the money was exchanged for corn, and brought into Pharaoh's treasury. Be sides the fifth part of the produce of the seven plentiful years, Joseph had bought additional corn with Pharaoh's money to lay up against the famine that was to prevail in the seven years of dearth; and it is very likely that this was sold out at the price for... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 47:16

Give your cattle - This was the wisest measure that could be adopted, both for the preservation of the people and of the cattle also. As the people had not grain for their own sustenance, consequently they could have none for their cattle; hence the cattle were in the most imminent danger of starving; and the people also were in equal danger, as they must have divided a portion of that bought for themselves with the cattle, which for the sake of tillage, etc., they wished of course to... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 47:18

When that year was ended - The sixth year of the famine, they came unto him the second year, which was the last or seventh year of the famine, in which it was necessary to sow the land that there might be a crop the succeeding year; for Joseph, on whose prediction they relied, had foretold that the famine should continue only seven years, and consequently they expected the eighth year to be a fruitful year provided the land was sowed, without which, though the inundation of the land by the... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 47:19

Buy us and our land for bread - In times of famine in Hindostan, thousands of children have been sold to prevent their perishing. In the Burman empire the sale of whole families to discharge debts is very common - Ward's Customs. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 47:21

And as for the people, he removed them to cities - It is very likely that Joseph was influenced by no political motive in removing the people to the cities, but merely by a motive of humanity and prudence. As the corn was laid up in the cities he found it more convenient to bring them to the place where they might be conveniently fed; each being within the reach of an easy distribution. Thus then the country which could afford no sustenance was abandoned for the time being, that the people... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 47:22

The land of the priests bought he not - From this verse it is natural to infer that whatever the religion of Egypt was, it was established by law and supported by the state. Hence when Joseph bought all the lands of the Egyptians for Pharaoh, he bought not the land of the priests, for that was a portion assigned them by Pharaoh; and they did eat - did live on, that portion. This is the earliest account we have of an established religion supported by the state. read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 47:23

I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh - It fully appears that the kingdom of Egypt was previously to the time of Joseph a very limited monarchy. The king had his estates; the priests had their lands; and the common people their patrimony independently of both. The land of Rameses or Goshen appears to have been the king's land, Genesis 47:11 . The priests had their lands, which they did not sell to Joseph, Genesis 47:22 , Genesis 47:26 ; and that the people had lands... read more

Adam Clarke

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

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