Genesis 47:23-26

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

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 47:23

Then Joseph said unto the people ,.... After he had bought their land, and before the removal of them to distant parts: behold, I have bought you this day, and your land, for Pharaoh : which he observes to them, that they might take notice of it, and confirm it, or object if they had anything to say to the contrary: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land : by which it should seem that they were not removed from the spot where they lived, but retained their own land... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 47:24

And it shall come to pass, in the increase ,.... When the land shall produce an increase, and it shall be gathered in: that you shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh ; a fifth part of the increase: and four parts shall be your own ; for the following uses, one part for seed of the field : to sow again with for the next year: a second part for your food ; for food for themselves: a third part for them of your household ; their servants and maids: and the fourth part ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 47:25

And they said, thou hast saved our lives ,.... Preserved them from death through famine, by laying up stores of corn, which he had sold out to them for their money, cattle, and land, or otherwise they must have perished, they and theirs, and this favour they thankfully acknowledge: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants ; signifying, that they esteemed it a great favour to be so on the foot of the bargain made with them, and they desired a... 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

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

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

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