seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
Genesis 47:13 There was no food, however, in the whole region because the famine was severe; both Egypt and Canaan wasted away because of the famine. 14 Joseph collected all the money that was to be found in Egypt and Canaan in payment for the grain they were buying, and he brought it to Pharaoh’s palace. 15 When the money of the people of Egypt and Canaan was gone, all Egypt came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? Our money is all gone.”
16 “Then bring your livestock,” said Joseph. “I will sell you food in exchange for your livestock, since your money is gone.” 17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for their horses, their sheep and goats, their cattle and donkeys. And he brought them through that year with food in exchange for all their livestock.
18 When that year was over, they came to him the following year and said, “We cannot hide from our lord the fact that since our money is gone and our livestock belongs to you, there is nothing left for our lord except our bodies and our land. 19 Why should we perish before your eyes—we and our land as well? Buy us and our land in exchange for food, and we with our land will be in bondage to Pharaoh. Give us seed so that we may live and not die, and that the land may not become desolate.”
20 So Joseph bought all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh. The Egyptians, one and all, sold their fields, because the famine was too severe for them. The land became Pharaoh’s, 21 and Joseph reduced the people to servitude,[c] from one end of Egypt to the other. 22 However, he did not buy the land of the priests, because they received a regular allotment from Pharaoh and had food enough from the allotment Pharaoh gave them. That is why they did not sell their land.
23 Joseph said to the people, “Now that I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh, here is seed for you so you can plant the ground. 24 But when the crop comes in, give a fifth of it to Pharaoh. The other four-fifths you may keep as seed for the fields and as food for yourselves and your households and your children.”
25 “You have saved our lives,” they said. “May we find favor in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh.”
26 So Joseph established it as a law concerning land in Egypt—still in force today—that a fifth of the produce belongs to Pharaoh. It was only the land of the priests that did not become Pharaoh’s.
16 “Then bring your livestock,” said Joseph. “I will sell you food in exchange for your livestock, since your money is gone.” 17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for their horses, their sheep and goats, their cattle and donkeys. And he brought them through that year with food in exchange for all their livestock.
18 When that year was over, they came to him the following year and said, “We cannot hide from our lord the fact that since our money is gone and our livestock belongs to you, there is nothing left for our lord except our bodies and our land. 19 Why should we perish before your eyes—we and our land as well? Buy us and our land in exchange for food, and we with our land will be in bondage to Pharaoh. Give us seed so that we may live and not die, and that the land may not become desolate.”
20 So Joseph bought all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh. The Egyptians, one and all, sold their fields, because the famine was too severe for them. The land became Pharaoh’s, 21 and Joseph reduced the people to servitude,[c] from one end of Egypt to the other. 22 However, he did not buy the land of the priests, because they received a regular allotment from Pharaoh and had food enough from the allotment Pharaoh gave them. That is why they did not sell their land.
23 Joseph said to the people, “Now that I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh, here is seed for you so you can plant the ground. 24 But when the crop comes in, give a fifth of it to Pharaoh. The other four-fifths you may keep as seed for the fields and as food for yourselves and your households and your children.”
25 “You have saved our lives,” they said. “May we find favor in the eyes of our lord; we will be in bondage to Pharaoh.”
26 So Joseph established it as a law concerning land in Egypt—still in force today—that a fifth of the produce belongs to Pharaoh. It was only the land of the priests that did not become Pharaoh’s.
Bible-commentaries.com says this.
The way Joseph carries out the transition from relative independence to complete dependence upon Pharaoh is admirable. He does it in such a positive way that the people are grateful. God had endowed him with wisdom and foresight which he used to save people's lives. The things that happened in Egypt illustrate the spiritual principle that salvation and independence are incompatible. We are saved by becoming God's property. Insisting upon our independence means death, as it would have meant death for the Egyptians.
Joseph first brings the money of the Egyptians into Pharaoh's palace. We could say that what he did was the equivalent of centralizing the banking system. It does not seem that currency was used yet. Payment was probably exclusively made with precious metals, the value of which was established by weight. The next step was the livestock of the Egyptians. This may have meant the animals used to plow the land, but we are not told. The third stage is the transfer of land. The crown gets the title for all real estate, but the people keep on using it with the obligation to pay a tax of 20% on each harvest. If we compare Joseph's measures with the infrastructure of our modern society we have to say that what he did was a complete overhaul carried out with several strokes of genius. And the people loved him for it. So did Pharaoh!
Joseph first brings the money of the Egyptians into Pharaoh's palace. We could say that what he did was the equivalent of centralizing the banking system. It does not seem that currency was used yet. Payment was probably exclusively made with precious metals, the value of which was established by weight. The next step was the livestock of the Egyptians. This may have meant the animals used to plow the land, but we are not told. The third stage is the transfer of land. The crown gets the title for all real estate, but the people keep on using it with the obligation to pay a tax of 20% on each harvest. If we compare Joseph's measures with the infrastructure of our modern society we have to say that what he did was a complete overhaul carried out with several strokes of genius. And the people loved him for it. So did Pharaoh!
I never really liked Joseph. When he was at home, I considered him a whiny baby, self absorbed. When he was in prison I considered him hoity toity. When he was dealing with his brothers, all that sobbing made me consider him to be self absorbed, hoity toity, and weak. Now, I consider him to be sneaky. It doesn't matter what I think about him, however. The people of Egypt loved him and he did his job to the best of his ability. Sometimes, when we do our job right, it takes from those who cannot afford it. At least Joseph was fair. People sold themselves [and the generations to come] into slavery but they survived the famine. At least they were happy about it.... then....
