Genesis 47:1-31
47:1 Joseph returns to Pharaoh to solidify his family's residence in Egypt. He explains that his father and brothers and their flocks and herds and possessions are all now in the land of Goshen.
47:2-3 Joseph brings five of his brothers to Pharaoh to have them profess their occupation. With deference to Pharaoh as master of the land of Egypt, they tell him that they are shepherds.
47:4 They also explain the reasoning for their arrival in Egypt: the famine has become too severe in Canaan. In order for the family to survive, they needed to relocate. They ask for his permission. Joseph and his family follow polite social custom even though God has already given them this land. They are not haughty or entitled. They are grateful to God and to Pharaoh for his hospitality.
47:5-6 Pharaoh gives the family excellent and fertile land to dwell in. He asks Joseph to appoint a wise and competent man from his family to oversee Pharaoh's livestock.
47:7-8 Pharaoh meets Joseph and asks his age.
47:2-3 Joseph brings five of his brothers to Pharaoh to have them profess their occupation. With deference to Pharaoh as master of the land of Egypt, they tell him that they are shepherds.
47:4 They also explain the reasoning for their arrival in Egypt: the famine has become too severe in Canaan. In order for the family to survive, they needed to relocate. They ask for his permission. Joseph and his family follow polite social custom even though God has already given them this land. They are not haughty or entitled. They are grateful to God and to Pharaoh for his hospitality.
47:5-6 Pharaoh gives the family excellent and fertile land to dwell in. He asks Joseph to appoint a wise and competent man from his family to oversee Pharaoh's livestock.
47:7-8 Pharaoh meets Joseph and asks his age.
47:9 Jacob answers that he is one hundred and thirty years old. Jacob converses humbly with Pharaoh: instead of arrogantly presenting himself as the great man and prophet that he is, Jacob claims to be less of a man than his father, Isaac.
47:10 Jacob thanks and prays for Pharaoh at the culmination of their conversation.
47:11-12 All formalities dealt with, Joseph situates his family; he ensures their comfort in Egypt. He gives them land and food and space to work and house all their families.
47:13 The famine continued to intensify in Egypt and Canaan as God had cautioned Jacob. God prepared Joseph to deal with the chaos and crisis of the situation.
47:14-15 At first, people are paying for the grain (food) being supplied by Egypt but eventually their money runs out. People begin to plead for food from the officials of Egypt. They have no money; they're desperate and seemingly without means to feed their families.
47:16-17 Joseph wisely arranges for people to pay in livestock for food. In exchange for food, people gave horses, flocks, cattle, and donkeys.
47:18-19 Eventually, people run out of livestock. People's desperation returns; they plead for Egypt to give them food so that they will not die. They offer to sell their land for food.
47:20-22 So Joseph increases the territory of Egypt by purchasing land in exchange for seeds. Having sold their land, Joseph arranges for the people to gather in cities. The only land that remains not under Pharaoh's control is the priests land; Pharaoh allotted them food and therefore they did not need to sell their land.
47:23-24 Joseph gave seed to the people who sold their land. He arranges for the people to pay Pharaoh by giving 1/5 of their harvest to him. This is a brilliant plan because it keeps the nation alive and thriving and enables people to take care of their families.
47:25-26 Joseph's plan (divined by God) encourages and inspires the people. Joseph warned them of the famine beforehand, prepared them for the famine and then worked tirelessly to get them through the famine. Through God, Joseph created a system that worked and saved thousands from desolation.
47:27-28 Jacob's family settled in Goshen and began to thrive again. Time has passed: for seventeen years Jacob and his family lived and worked in Egypt at this point. Jacob reaches the age of one hundred forty seven.
47:29-31 Jacob felt that his time on Earth was coming to a close. Jacob asks Joseph to promise him that he will not allow him to be buried in Egypt. Jacob wants to be buried with his father and grandfathers. Joseph promises to follow his father's wishes.
47:29-31 Jacob felt that his time on Earth was coming to a close. Jacob asks Joseph to promise him that he will not allow him to be buried in Egypt. Jacob wants to be buried with his father and grandfathers. Joseph promises to follow his father's wishes.
