13 Now there was no food in all the land , because the famine was very severe , so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because e of the famine . 14 Joseph gathered all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan for the grain which they bought , and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house . 15 When the money was all spent in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan , all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said , "Give us food , for why should we die in your presence ? For our money is gone ." 16 Then Joseph said , "Give up your livestock , and I will give you food for your livestock , since your money is gone ." 17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph , and Joseph gave them food in exchange for the horses and the flocks and the herds and the donkeys ; and he fed them with food in exchange for all their livestock that year . 18 When that year was ended , they came to him the next year and said to him, "We will not hide from my lord that our money is all spent , and the cattle e are my lord's . There is nothing left for my lord except e our bodies and our lands . 19 "Why should we die before your eyes , both we and our land ? Buy us and our land for food , and we and our land will be slaves to Pharaoh . So give us seed , that we may live and not die , and that the land may not be desolate ." 20 So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh , for every Egyptian sold his field , because the famine was severe upon them. Thus the land became Pharaoh's . 21 As for the people , he removed them to the cities from one end of Egypt's border to the other . 22 Only the land of the priests he did not buy , for the priests had an allotment from Pharaoh , and they lived off the allotment which Pharaoh gave them. Therefore e , they did not sell their land . 23 Then Joseph said to the people , "Behold , I have today bought you and your land for Pharaoh ; now , here is seed for you, and you may sow the land . 24 "At the harvest you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh , and four-fifths e shall be your own for seed of the field and for your food and for those of your households and as food for your little ones ." 25 So they said , "You have saved our lives ! Let us find favor in the sight of my lord , and we will be Pharaoh's slaves ." 26 Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt valid to this day , that Pharaoh should have the fifth ; only the land of the priests did not become Pharaoh's .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 47:13-26
Commentary on Genesis 47:13-26
(Read Genesis 47:13-26)
Care being taken of Jacob and his family, which mercy was especially designed by Providence in Joseph's advancement, an account is given of the saving the kingdom of Egypt from ruin. There was no bread, and the people were ready to die. See how we depend upon God's providence. All our wealth would not keep us from starving, if rain were withheld for two or three years. See how much we are at God's mercy, and let us keep ourselves always in his love. Also see how much we smart by our own want of care. If all the Egyptians had laid up corn for themselves in the seven years of plenty, they had not been in these straits; but they regarded not the warning. Silver and gold would not feed them: they must have corn. All that a man hath will he give for his life. We cannot judge this matter by modern rules. It is plain that the Egyptians regarded Joseph as a public benefactor. The whole is consistent with Joseph's character, acting between Pharaoh and his subjects, in the fear of God. The Egyptians confessed concerning Joseph, Thou hast saved our lives. What multitudes will gratefully say to Jesus, at the last day, Thou hast saved our souls from the most tremendous destruction, and in the season of uttermost distress! The Egyptians parted with all their property, and even their liberty, for the saving of their lives: can it then be too much for us to count all but loss, and part with all, at His command, and for His sake, who will both save our souls, and give us an hundredfold, even here, in this present world? Surely if saved by Christ, we shall be willing to become his servants.