Worthy.Bible » STRONG » Genesis » Chapter 47 » Verse 1-31

Genesis 47:1-31 King James Version with Strong's Concordance (STRONG)

1 Then Joseph H3130 came H935 and told H5046 Pharaoh, H6547 and said, H559 My father H1 and my brethren, H251 and their flocks, H6629 and their herds, H1241 and all that they have, are come out H935 of the land H776 of Canaan; H3667 and, behold, they are in the land H776 of Goshen. H1657

2 And he took H3947 some H7097 of his brethren, H251 even five H2568 men, H582 and presented H3322 them unto H6440 Pharaoh. H6547

3 And Pharaoh H6547 said H559 unto his brethren, H251 What is your occupation? H4639 And they said H559 unto Pharaoh, H6547 Thy servants H5650 are shepherds, H7462 H6629 both we, and also our fathers. H1

4 They said H559 moreover unto Pharaoh, H6547 For to sojourn H1481 in the land H776 are we come; H935 for thy servants H5650 have no pasture H4829 for their flocks; H6629 for the famine H7458 is sore H3515 in the land H776 of Canaan: H3667 now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants H5650 dwell H3427 in the land H776 of Goshen. H1657

5 And Pharaoh H6547 spake H559 unto Joseph, H3130 saying, H559 Thy father H1 and thy brethren H251 are come H935 unto thee:

6 The land H776 of Egypt H4714 is before thee; H6440 in the best H4315 of the land H776 make H3427 thy father H1 and brethren H251 to dwell; H3427 in the land H776 of Goshen H1657 let them dwell: H3427 and if thou knowest H3045 H3426 any men H582 of activity H2428 among them, then make them H7760 rulers H8269 over my cattle. H4735

7 And Joseph H3130 brought in H935 Jacob H3290 his father, H1 and set him H5975 before H6440 Pharaoh: H6547 and Jacob H3290 blessed H1288 Pharaoh. H6547

8 And Pharaoh H6547 said H559 unto Jacob, H3290 How H4100 old H2416 H3117 H8141 art thou?

9 And Jacob H3290 said H559 unto Pharaoh, H6547 The days H3117 of the years H8141 of my pilgrimage H4033 are an hundred H3967 and thirty H7970 years: H8141 few H4592 and evil H7451 have the days H3117 of the years H8141 of my life H2416 been, and have not attained H5381 unto the days H3117 of the years H8141 of the life H2416 of my fathers H1 in the days H3117 of their pilgrimage. H4033

10 And Jacob H3290 blessed H1288 Pharaoh, H6547 and went out H3318 from before H6440 Pharaoh. H6547

11 And Joseph H3130 placed H3427 his father H1 and his brethren, H251 and gave H5414 them a possession H272 in the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 in the best H4315 of the land, H776 in the land H776 of Rameses, H7486 as Pharaoh H6547 had commanded. H6680

12 And Joseph H3130 nourished H3557 his father, H1 and his brethren, H251 and all his father's H1 household, H1004 with bread, H3899 according H6310 to their families. H2945

13 And there was no bread H3899 in all the land; H776 for the famine H7458 was very H3966 sore, H3515 so that the land H776 of Egypt H4714 and all the land H776 of Canaan H3667 fainted H3856 by reason H6440 of the famine. H7458

14 And Joseph H3130 gathered up H3950 all the money H3701 that was found H4672 in the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 and in the land H776 of Canaan, H3667 for the corn H7668 which they bought: H7666 and Joseph H3130 brought H935 the money H3701 into Pharaoh's H6547 house. H1004

15 And when money H3701 failed H8552 in the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 and in the land H776 of Canaan, H3667 all the Egyptians H4714 came H935 unto Joseph, H3130 and said, H559 Give H3051 us bread: H3899 for why should we die H4191 in thy presence? for the money H3701 faileth. H656

16 And Joseph H3130 said, H559 Give H3051 your cattle; H4735 and I will give H5414 you for your cattle, H4735 if money H3701 fail. H656

17 And they brought H935 their cattle H4735 unto Joseph: H3130 and Joseph H3130 gave H5414 them bread H3899 in exchange for horses, H5483 and for the flocks, H6629 and for the cattle H4735 of the herds, H1241 and for the asses: H2543 and he fed H5095 them with bread H3899 for all their cattle H4735 for that year. H8141

18 When that year H8141 was ended, H8552 they came H935 unto him the second H8145 year, H8141 and said H559 unto him, We will not hide H3582 it from my lord, H113 how that our money H3701 is spent; H8552 my lord H113 also hath H413 our herds H4735 of cattle; H929 there is not ought left H7604 in the sight H6440 of my lord, H113 but our bodies, H1472 and our lands: H127

19 Wherefore shall we die H4191 before thine eyes, H5869 both we and our land? H127 buy H7069 us and our land H127 for bread, H3899 and we and our land H127 will be servants H5650 unto Pharaoh: H6547 and give H5414 us seed, H2233 that we may live, H2421 and not die, H4191 that the land H127 be not desolate. H3456

20 And Joseph H3130 bought H7069 all the land H127 of Egypt H4714 for Pharaoh; H6547 for the Egyptians H4714 sold H4376 every man H376 his field, H7704 because the famine H7458 prevailed H2388 over them: so the land H776 became Pharaoh's. H6547

21 And as for the people, H5971 he removed H5674 them to cities H5892 from one end H7097 of the borders H1366 of Egypt H4714 even to the other end H7097 thereof.

22 Only the land H127 of the priests H3548 bought he H7069 not; for the priests H3548 had a portion H2706 assigned them of Pharaoh, H6547 and did eat H398 their portion H2706 which Pharaoh H6547 gave H5414 them: wherefore they sold H4376 not their lands. H127

23 Then Joseph H3130 said H559 unto the people, H5971 Behold, I have bought H7069 H853 you this day H3117 and your land H127 for Pharaoh: H6547 lo, H1887 here is seed H2233 for you, and ye shall sow H2232 the land. H127

24 And it shall come to pass in the increase, H8393 that ye shall give H5414 the fifth H2549 part unto Pharaoh, H6547 and four H702 parts H3027 shall be your own, for seed H2233 of the field, H7704 and for your food, H400 and for them of your households, H1004 and for food H398 for your little ones. H2945

25 And they said, H559 Thou hast saved our lives: H2421 let us find H4672 grace H2580 in the sight H5869 of my lord, H113 and we will be Pharaoh's H6547 servants. H5650

26 And Joseph H3130 made H7760 it a law H2706 over the land H127 of Egypt H4714 unto this day, H3117 that Pharaoh H6547 should have the fifth H2569 part; except H7535 the land H127 of the priests H3548 only, which became not Pharaoh's. H6547

27 And Israel H3478 dwelt H3427 in the land H776 of Egypt, H4714 in the country H776 of Goshen; H1657 and they had possessions H270 therein, and grew, H6509 and multiplied H7235 exceedingly. H3966

28 And Jacob H3290 lived H2421 in the land H776 of Egypt H4714 seventeen H6240 H7651 years: H8141 so the whole age H2416 H3117 of Jacob H3290 was an hundred H3967 forty H705 H8141 and seven H7651 years. H8141

29 And the time H3117 drew nigh H7126 that Israel H3478 must die: H4191 and he called H7121 his son H1121 Joseph, H3130 and said H559 unto him, If now I have found H4672 grace H2580 in thy sight, H5869 put, H7760 I pray thee, thy hand H3027 under my thigh, H3409 and deal H6213 kindly H2617 and truly H571 with me; bury H6912 me not, I pray thee, in Egypt: H4714

30 But I will lie H7901 with my fathers, H1 and thou shalt carry H5375 me out of Egypt, H4714 and bury H6912 me in their buryingplace. H6900 And he said, H559 I will do H6213 as thou hast said. H1697

31 And he said, H559 Swear H7650 unto me. And he sware H7650 unto him. And Israel H3478 bowed H7812 himself upon the bed's H4296 head. H7218

Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Genesis 47

Commentary on Genesis 47 Matthew Henry Commentary


Chapter 47

In this chapter we have instances,

  • I. Of Joseph's kindness and affection to his relations, presenting his brethren first and then his father to Pharaoh (v. 1-10), settling them in Goshen, and providing for them there (v. 11, 12), and paying his respects to his father when he sent for him (v. 27-31).
  • II. Of Joseph's justice between prince and people in a very critical affair, selling Pharaoh's corn to his subjects with reasonable profits to Pharaoh, and yet without any wrong to them (v. 13, etc.). Thus he approved himself wise and good, both in his private and in his public capacity.

Gen 47:1-12

Here is,

  • I. The respect which Joseph, as a subject, showed to his prince. Though he was his favourite, and prime-minister of state, and had had particular orders from him to send for his father down to Egypt, yet he would not suffer him to settle till he had given notice of it to Pharaoh, v. 1. Christ, our Joseph, disposes of his followers in his kingdom as it is prepared of his Father, saying, It is not mine to give, Mt. 20:23.
  • II. The respect which Joseph, as a brother, showed to his brethren, notwithstanding all the unkindness he had formerly received from them.
    • 1. Though he was a great man, and they were comparatively mean and despicable, especially in Egypt, yet he owned them. Let those that are rich and great in the world learn hence not to overlook nor despise their poor relations. Every branch of the tree is not a top branch; but, because it is a lower branch, is it therefore not of the tree? Our Lord Jesus, like Joseph here, is not ashamed to call us brethren.
    • 2. They being strangers and no courtiers, he introduced some of them to Pharaoh, to kiss his hand, as we say, intending thereby to put an honour upon them among the Egyptians. Thus Christ presents his brethren in the court of heaven, and improves his interest for them, though in themselves unworthy and an abomination to the Egyptians. Being presented to Pharaoh, according to the instructions which Joseph had given them, they tell him,
      • (1.) What was their business-that they were shepherds, v. 3. Pharaoh asked them (and Joseph knew it would be one of his first questions, ch. 46:33), What is your occupation? He takes it for granted they had something to do, else Egypt should be no place for them, no harbour for idle vagrants. If they would not work, they should not eat of his bread in this time of scarcity. Note, All that have a place in the world should have an employment in it according to their capacity, some occupation or other, mental or manual. Those that need not work for their bread must yet have something to do, to keep them from idleness. Again, Magistrates should enquire into the occupation of their subjects, as those that have the care of the public welfare; for idle people are as drones in the hive, unprofitable burdens of the commonwealth.
      • (2.) What was their business in Egypt-to sojourn in the land (v. 4), not to settle there for ever, only to sojourn there for a time, while the famine so prevailed in Canaan, which lay high, that it was not habitable for shepherds, the grass being burnt up much more than in Egypt, which lay low, and where the corn chiefly failed, while there was tolerably good pasture.
    • 3. He obtained for them a grant of a settlement in the land of Goshen, v. 5, 6. This was an instance of Pharaoh's gratitude to Joseph; because he had been such a blessing to him and his kingdom, he would be kind to his relations, purely for his sake. He offered them preferment as shepherds over his cattle, provided they were men of activity; for it is the man who is diligent in his business that shall stand before kings. And, whatever our profession or employment is, we should aim to be excellent in it, and to prove ourselves ingenious and industrious.
  • III. The respect Joseph, as a son, showed to his father.
    • 1. He presented him to Pharaoh, v. 7. And here,
      • (1.) Pharaoh asks Jacob a common question: How old art thou? v. 8. A question usually put to old men, for it is natural to us to admire old age and to reverence it (Lev. 19:32), as it is very unnatural and unbecoming to despise it, Isa. 3:5. Jacob's countenance, no doubt, showed him to be very old, for he had been a man of labour and sorrow; in Egypt people were not so long-lived as in Canaan, and therefore Pharaoh looks upon Jacob with wonder; he was as a show in his court. When we are reflecting upon ourselves, this should come into the account, "How old are we?'
      • (2.) Jacob gives Pharaoh an uncommon answer, v. 9. He speaks as becomes a patriarch, with an air of seriousness, for the instruction of Pharaoh. Though our speech be not always of grace, yet it must thus be always with grace. Observe here,
        • [1.] He calls his life a pilgrimage, looking upon himself as a stranger in this world, and a traveller towards another world: this earth his inn, not his home. To this the apostle refers (Heb. 11:13), They confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims. He not only reckoned himself a pilgrim now that he was in Egypt, a strange country in which he never was before; but his life, even in the land of his nativity, was a pilgrimage, and those who so reckon it can the better bear the inconvenience of banishment from their native soil; they are but pilgrims still, and so they were always.
        • [2.] He reckons his life by days; for, even so, it is soon reckoned, and we are not sure of the continuance of it for a day to an end, but may be turned out of this tabernacle at less than an hour's warning. Let us therefore number our days (Ps. 90:12), and measure them, Ps. 39:4.
        • [3.] The character he gives of them is,
          • First, That they were few. Though he had now lived 130 years, they seemed to him but a few days, in comparison with the days of eternity, the eternal God, and the eternal state, in which a thousand years (longer than ever any man lived) are but as one day.
          • Secondly, That they were evil. This is true concerning man in general, he is of few days, and full of trouble (Job 14:1); and, since his days are evil, it is well they are few. Jacob's life, particularly, had been made up of evil days; and the pleasantest days of his life were yet before him.
          • Thirdly, That they were short of the days of his fathers, not so many, not so pleasant, as their days. Old age came sooner upon him than it had done upon some of his ancestors. As the young man should not be proud of his strength or beauty, so the old man should not be proud of his age, and the crown of his hoary hairs, though others justly reverence it; for those who are accounted very old attain not to the years of the patriarchs. The hoary head is a crown of glory only when it is found in the way of righteousness.
      • (3.) Jacob both addresses himself to Pharaoh and takes leave of him with a blessing (v. 7): Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and again, v. 10, which was not only an act of civility (he paid him respect and returned him thanks for his kindness), but an act of piety-he prayed for him, as one having the authority of a prophet and a patriarch. Though in worldly wealth Pharaoh was the greater, yet, in interest with God, Jacob was the greater; he was God's anointed, Ps. 105:15. And a patriarch's blessing was not a thing to be despised, no, not by a potent prince. Darius valued the prayers of the church for himself and for his sons, Ezra 6:10. Pharaoh kindly received Jacob, and, whether in the name of a prophet or no, thus he had a prophet's reward, which sufficiently recompensed him, not only for his courteous converse with him, but for all the other kindnesses he showed to him and his.
    • 2. He provided well for him and his, placed him in Goshen (v. 11), nourished him and all his with food convenient for them, v. 12. This bespeaks, not only Joseph a good man, who took this tender care of his poor relations, but God a good God, who raised him up for this purpose, and put him into a capacity of doing it, as Esther came to the kingdom for such a time as this. What God here did for Jacob he has, in effect, promised to do for all his, that serve him and trust in him. Ps. 37:19, In the days of famine they shall be satisfied.

Gen 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; but his employment would not permit it. When he had seen his father, and seen him well settled, he applied himself as closely as ever to the execution of his office. Note, Even natural affection must give way to necessary business. Parents and children must be content to be absent one from another, when it is necessary, on either side, for the service of God or their generation. In Joseph's transactions with the Egyptians observe,

  • I. The great extremity that Egypt, and the parts adjacent, were reduced to by the famine. There was no bread, and they fainted (v. 13), they were ready to die, v. 15, 19.
    • 1. See here what a dependence we have upon God's providence. If its usual favours are suspended but for a while, we die, we perish, we all perish. All our wealth would not keep us from starving if the rain of heaven were but withheld for two or three years. See how much we lie at God's mercy, and let us keep ourselves always in his love.
    • 2. See how much we smart by our own improvidence. If all the Egyptians had done for themselves in the seven years of plenty as Joseph did for Pharaoh, they had not been now in these straits; but they regarded not the warning they had of the years of famine, concluding that to-morrow shall be as this day, next year as this, and much more abundant. Note, Because man knows not his time (his time of gathering when he has it) therefore his misery is great upon him when the spending time comes, Eccl. 8:6, 7.
    • 3. See how early God put a difference between the Egyptians and the Israelites, as afterwards in the plagues, Ex. 8:22; 9:4, 26; 10:23. Jacob and his family, though strangers, were plentifully fed on free cost, while the Egyptians were dying for want. See Isa. 65:13, My servants shall eat, but you shall be hungry. Happy art thou, O Israel. Whoever wants, God's children shall not, Ps. 34:10.
  • II. The price they had come up to, for their supply, in this exigency.
    • 1. They parted with all their money which they had hoarded up, v. 14. Silver and gold would not feed them, they must have corn. All the money of the kingdom was by this means brought into the exchequer.
    • 2. When the money failed, they parted with all their cattle, those for labour, as the horses and asses, and those for food, as the flocks and the herds, v. 17. By this it should seem that we may better live upon bread without flesh than upon flesh without bread. We may suppose they parted the more easily with their cattle because they had little or no grass for them; and now Pharaoh saw in reality what he had before seen in vision, nothing but lean kine.
    • 3. When they had sold their stocks off their land, it was easy to persuade themselves (rather than starve) to sell their land too; for what good would that do them, when they had neither corn to sow it nor cattle to eat of it? They therefore sold that next, for a further supply of corn.
    • 4. When their land was sold, so that they had nothing to live on, they must of course sell themselves, that they might live purely upon their labour, and hold their lands by the base tenure of villenage, at the courtesy of the crown. Note, Skin for skin, and all that a man hath, even liberty and property (those darling twins), will he give for his life; for life is sweet. There are few (though perhaps there are some) who would even dare to die rather than live in slavery, and dependence on an arbitrary power. And perhaps there are those who, in that case, could die by the sword, in a heat, who yet could not deliberately die by famine, which is much worse, Lam. 4:9. Now it was a great mercy to the Egyptians that, in this distress, they could have corn at any rate; if they had all died for hunger, their lands perhaps would have escheated to the crown of course, for want of heirs; they therefore resolved to make the best of bad.
  • III. The method which Joseph took to accommodate the matter between prince and people, so that the prince might have his just advantage, and yet the people not be quite ruined.
    • 1. For their lands, he needed not come to any bargain with them while the years of famine lasted; but when these were over (for God will not contend for ever, nor will he be always wroth) he came to an agreement, which it seems both sides were pleased with, that the people should occupy and enjoy the lands, as he thought fit to assign them, and should have seed to sow them with out of the king's stores, for their own proper use and behoof, yielding and paying only a fifth part of the yearly profits as a chief rent to the crown. This became a standing law, v. 26. And it was a very good bargain to have food for their lands, when otherwise they and theirs must have starved, and then to have their lands again upon such easy terms. Note, Those ministers of state are worthy of double honour, both for wisdom and integrity, that keep the balance even between prince and people, so that liberty and property may not intrench upon prerogative, nor the prerogative bear hard upon liberty and property: in the multitude of such counsellors there is safety. If afterwards the Egyptians thought it hard to pay so great a duty to the king out of their lands, they must remember, not only how just, but how kind, the first imposing of it was. They might thankfully pay a fifth where all was due. It is observable how faithful Joseph was to him that appointed him. He did not put the money into his own pocket, nor entail the lands upon his own family; but converted both entirely to Pharaoh's use; and therefore we do not find that his posterity went out of Egypt any richer than the rest of their poor brethren. Those in public trusts, if they raise great estates, must take heed that it be not at the expense of a good conscience, which is much more valuable.
    • 2. For their persons, he removed them to cities, v. 21. He transplanted them, to show Pharaoh's sovereign power over them, and that they might, in time, forget their titles to their lands, and be the more easily reconciled to their new condition of servitude. The Jewish writers say, "He removed them thus from their former habitations because they reproached his brethren as strangers, to silence which reproach they were all made, in effect, strangers.' See what changes a little time may make with a people, and how soon God can empty those from vessel to vessel who had settled upon their lees. How hard soever this seems to have been upon them, they themselves were at this time sensible of it as a very great kindness, and were thankful they were not worse used: Thou hast saved our lives, v. 25. Note, There is good reason that the Saviour of our lives should be the Master of our lives. "Thou hast saved us; do what thou wilt with us.'
  • IV. The reservation he made in favour of the priests. They were maintained on free cost, so that they needed not to sell their lands, v. 22. All people will thus walk in the name of their God; they will be kind to those that attend the public service of their God, and that minister to them in holy things; and we should, in like manner, honour our God, by esteeming his ministers highly in love for their work's sake.

Gen 47:27-31

Observe,

  • 1. The comfort Jacob lived in (v. 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, ch. 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 bear care or fatigue, he had least occasion for it, being well provided for by his son without his own forecast. Thus God considers the frame of his people.
  • 2. The care Jacob died in. At last the time drew nigh that Israel must die, v. 29. Israel, a prince with God, that had power over the angel and prevailed, yet must yield to death. There is no remedy, he must die: it is appointed for all men, therefore for him; and there is no discharge in that war. Joseph supplied him with bread, that he might not die by famine; but this did not secure him from dying by age or sickness. He died by degrees; his candle was not blown out, but gradually burnt down to the socket, so that he saw, at some distance, the time drawing nigh. Note, It is an improvable advantage to see the approach of death before we feel its arrests, that we may be quickened to do what our hand finds to do with all our might: however, it is not far from any of us. Now Jacob's care, as he saw the day approaching, was about his burial, not the pomp of it (he was no way solicitous about that), but the place of it.
    • (1.) He would be buried in Canaan. This he resolved on, not from mere humour, because Canaan was the land of his nativity, but in faith, because it was the land of promise (which he desired thus, as it were, to keep possession of, till the time should come when his posterity should be masters of it), and because it was a type of heaven, that better country which he that said these things declared plainly that he was in expectation of, Heb. 11:14. He aimed at a good land, which would be his rest and bliss on the other side death.
    • (2.) He would have Joseph sworn to bring him thither to be buried (v. 29, 31), that Joseph, being under such a solemn obligation to do it, might have that to answer to the objections which otherwise might have been made against it, and for the greater satisfaction of Jacob now in his dying minutes. Nothing will better help to make a death-bed easy than the certain prospect of a rest in Canaan after death.
    • (3.) When this was done Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head, yielding himself, as it were, to the stroke of death ("Now let it come, and it shall be welcome'), or worshipping God, as it is explained, Heb. 11:21, giving God thanks for all his favours, and particularly for this, that Joseph was ready, not only to put his hand upon his eyes to close them, but under his thigh to give him the satisfaction he desired concerning his burial. Thus those that go down to the dust should, with humble thankfulness, bow before God, the God of their mercies, Ps. 22:29.