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Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 47:13-26

Care being taken of Jacob and his family, the preservation of which was especially designed by Providence in Joseph's advancement, an account is now given of the saving of the kingdom of Egypt too from ruin; for God is King of nations as well as King of saints, and provideth food for all flesh. Joseph now returns to the management of that great trust which Pharaoh had lodged in his hand. It would have been pleasing enough to him to have gone and lived with his father and brethren in Goshen;... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 47:27-31

Observe, 1. The comfort Jacob lived in (Gen. 47:27, 28); while the Egyptians were impoverished in their own land, Jacob was replenished in a strange land. He lived seventeen years after he came into Egypt, far beyond his own expectation. Seventeen years he had nourished Joseph (for so old he was when he was sold from him, Gen. 37:2), and now, by way of requital, seventeen years Joseph nourished him. Observe how kindly Providence ordered Jacob's affairs, that when he was old, and least able to... read more

John Gill

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

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 47:27

Verse 27 27.And Israel dwelt in the land. Moses does not mean that Jacob and his sons were proprietors of that land which Pharaoh had granted them as a dwelling-place, in the same manner in which the other parts of Egypt were given to the inhabitants for a perpetual possession: but that they dwelt there commodiously for a time, and thus were in possession by favor, provided they continued to be peaceable. Hence the cause that they so greatly increased, in a very short space of time. Therefore,... read more

John Calvin

John Calvin's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 47:28

Verse 28 28.And Jacob lived. It was no common source of temptation to the holy old man, to be an exile from the land of Canaan, for so many years. Be it so, that on account of the famine, he was compelled to go to Egypt; why could he not return when the fifth year was passed? For he did not stupidly lie there in a state of torpor, but he remained quiet, because free egress was not allowed him. Wherefore, also, in this respect, God did not lightly exercise his patience. For, however sweet might... 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

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