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Texts -- Genesis 47:8-31 (NET)

Context
47:8 Pharaoh said to Jacob , “How long have you lived ?” 47:9 Jacob said to Pharaoh , “All the years of my travels are 130 . All the years of my life have been few and painful ; the years of my travels are not as long as those of my ancestors .” 47:10 Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and went out from his presence . 47:11 So Joseph settled his father and his brothers . He gave them territory in the land of Egypt , in the best region of the land , the land of Rameses , just as Pharaoh had commanded . 47:12 Joseph also provided food for his father , his brothers , and all his father’s household , according to the number of their little children . 47:13 But there was no food in all the land because the famine was very severe ; the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan wasted away because of the famine . 47:14 Joseph collected all the money that could be found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan as payment for the grain they were buying . Then Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s palace . 47:15 When the money from the lands of Egypt and Canaan was used up , all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said , “Give us food ! Why should we die before your very eyes because our money has run out ?” 47:16 Then Joseph said , “If your money is gone , bring your livestock , and I will give you food in exchange for your livestock .” 47:17 So they brought their livestock to Joseph , and Joseph gave them food in exchange for their horses , the livestock of their flocks and herds , and their donkeys . He got them through that year by giving them food in exchange for livestock . 47:18 When that year was over , they came to him the next year and said to him, “We cannot hide from our lord that the money is used up and the livestock and the animals belong to our lord . Nothing remains before our lord except our bodies and our land . 47:19 Why should we die before your very eyes , both we and our land ? Buy us and our land in exchange for food , and we , with our land , will become Pharaoh’s slaves . Give us seed that we may live and not die . Then the land will not become desolate .” 47:20 So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh . Each of the Egyptians sold his field , for the famine was severe . So the land became Pharaoh’s . 47:21 Joseph made all the people slaves from one end of Egypt’s border to the other end of it. 47:22 But he did not purchase the land of the priests because the priests had an allotment from Pharaoh and they ate from their allotment that Pharaoh gave them. That is why they did not sell their land . 47:23 Joseph said to the people , “Since I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh , here is seed for you. Cultivate the land . 47:24 When you gather in the crop , give one-fifth of it to Pharaoh , and the rest will be yours for seed for the fields and for you to eat , including those in your households and your little children .” 47:25 They replied , “You have saved our lives ! You are showing us favor , and we will be Pharaoh’s slaves .” 47:26 So Joseph made it a statute , which is in effect to this day throughout the land of Egypt : One-fifth belongs to Pharaoh . Only the land of the priests did not become Pharaoh’s . 47:27 Israel settled in the land of Egypt , in the land of Goshen , and they owned land there. They were fruitful and increased rapidly in number . 47:28 Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years ; the years of Jacob’s life were 147 in all. 47:29 The time for Israel to die approached , so he called for his son Joseph and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight , put your hand under my thigh and show me kindness and faithfulness . Do not bury me in Egypt , 47:30 but when I rest with my fathers , carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.” Joseph said , “I will do as you say .” 47:31 Jacob said , “Swear to me that you will do so.” So Joseph gave him his word . Then Israel bowed down at the head of his bed .

Pericope

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Bible Dictionary

  • Usurpation

    [nave] USURPATION. Of Political Functions By Absalom, 2 Sam. 15:1-12. By Adonijah, 1 Kin. 1:5-9. By Baasha, 1 Kin. 15:27, 28. By Zimri, 1 Kin. 16:9, 10. By Jehu, 2 Kin. 9:11-37. By Athaliah, 2 Kin. 11:1-16. By Shallum, 2 Ki...

  • Statecraft

    [nave] STATECRAFT Wisdom in, Prov. 28:2. School in, Dan. 1:3-5. Skilled in. Instances of Joseph, Gen. 47:15-26; Samuel, 1 Sam. 11:12-15; Nathan, 1 Kin. 1:11-14; Jeroboam, 1 Kin. 12:26-33; Daniel, See: Daniel. See: Government; ...

  • Moses

    [ebd] drawn (or Egypt. mesu, "son;" hence Rameses, royal son). On the invitation of Pharaoh (Gen. 45:17-25), Jacob and his sons went down into Egypt. This immigration took place probably about 350 years before the birth of Moses. ...

  • Joseph

    [ebd] remover or increaser. (1.) The elder of the two sons of Jacob by Rachel (Gen. 30:23, 24), who, on the occasion of his birth, said, "God hath taken away [Heb. 'asaph] my reproach." "The Lord shall add [Heb. yoseph] to me anot...
    [smith] (increase). The elder of the two sons of Jacob by Rachel. He was born in Padan-aram (Mesopotamia), probably about B.C. 1746. He is first mentioned when a youth, seventeen years old. Joseph brought the evil report of his bret...
    [nave] JOSEPH 1. Son of Jacob, Gen. 30:24. Personal appearance of, Gen. 39:6. His father's favorite child, Gen. 33:2; 37:3, 4, 35; 48:22; 1 Chr. 5:2; John 4:5. His father's partiality for, excites the jealousy of his brethren, G...

  • JOSEPH (2)

    [isbe] JOSEPH (2) - jo'-zef (yoceph, "He will add"; Septuagint Ioseph). The narrative (Gen 30:23,14) indicates not so much a double etymology as the course of Rachel's thoughts. The use of 'acaph, "He takes away," suggested to her ...

  • JACOB (1)

    [isbe] JACOB (1) - ja'-kub: I. NAME 1. Form and Distribution 2. Etymology and Associations II. HIS PLACE IN THE PATRIARCHAL SUCCESSION 1. As the Son of Isaac and Rebekah 2. As the Brother of Esau 3. As the Father of the Twelve III....

  • Immortality

    [ebd] perpetuity of existence. The doctrine of immortality is taught in the Old Testament. It is plainly implied in the writings of Moses (Gen. 5:22, 24; 25:8; 37:35; 47:9; 49:29, comp. Heb. 11:13-16; Ex. 3:6, comp. Matt. 22:23). ...

  • Herdsman

    [ebd] In Egypt herdsmen were probably of the lowest caste. Some of Joseph's brethren were made rulers over Pharaoh's cattle (Gen. 47:6, 17). The Israelites were known in Egypt as "keepers of cattle;" and when they left it they too...

  • Grave

    [ebd] Among the ancient Hebrews graves were outside of cities in the open field (Luke 7:12; John 11:30). Kings (1 Kings 2:10) and prophets (1 Sam. 25:1) were generally buried within cities. Graves were generally grottoes or caves,...

  • Goshen

    [ebd] (1.) A district in Egypt where Jacob and his family settled, and in which they remained till the Exodus (Gen. 45:10; 46:28, 29, 31, etc.). It is called "the land of Goshen" (47:27), and also simply "Goshen" (46:28), and "the...
    [nave] GOSHEN 1. A district in Egypt especially adapted to herds and flocks. Israelites dwelt in, Gen. 45:10; 46:28; 47. Exempted from plagues, Ex. 8:22; 9:26. 2. A town and district of Judah, Josh. 10:41; 11:16; 15:51.

  • GOSHEN (1)

    [isbe] GOSHEN (1) - go'-shen (goshen; Gesem): 1. Meaning of Name: The region where the Hebrews dwelt in Egypt. If the Septuagint reading Gesem be correct, the word, which in its Hebrew form has no known meaning, may mean "cultivate...

  • GENESIS, 1-2

    [isbe] GENESIS, 1-2 - jen'-e-sis: I. GENERAL DATA 1. The Name 2. Survey of Contents 3. Connection with Succeeding Books II. COMPOSITION OF GENESIS IN GENERAL 1. Unity of the Biblical Text (1) The Toledhoth (2) Further Indication of...

  • Field

    [ebd] (Heb. sadeh), a cultivated field, but unenclosed. It is applied to any cultivated ground or pasture (Gen. 29:2; 31:4; 34:7), or tillage (Gen. 37:7; 47:24). It is also applied to woodland (Ps. 132:6) or mountain top (Judg. 9:...

  • Extortion

    [nave] EXTORTION. Psa. 109:11; Isa. 16:4; Ezek. 22:12; Mic. 3:2, 3; Matt. 23:25; Luke 18:11; 1 Cor. 5:10, 11; 1 Cor. 6:10 See: Usury. Instances of Jacob in demanding Esau's birthright for some stew, Gen. 25:31. Pharaoh in exact...

  • Dearth

    [ebd] a scarcity of provisions (1 Kings 17). There were frequent dearths in Palestine. In the days of Abram there was a "famine in the land" (Gen. 12:10), so also in the days of Jacob (47:4, 13). We read also of dearths in the tim...

  • City

    [ebd] The earliest mention of city-building is that of Enoch, which was built by Cain (Gen. 4:17). After the confusion of tongues, the descendants of Nimrod founded several cities (10:10-12). Next, we have a record of the cities o...

  • Bed

    [ebd] (Heb. mittah), for rest at night (Ex. 8:3; 1 Sam. 19:13, 15, 16, etc.); during sickness (Gen. 47:31; 48:2; 49:33, etc.); as a sofa for rest (1 Sam. 28:23; Amos 3:12). Another Hebrew word (er'es) so rendered denotes a canopie...

  • Age

    [ebd] used to denote the period of a man's life (Gen. 47:28), the maturity of life (John 9:21), the latter end of life (Job 11:17), a generation of the human race (Job 8:8), and an indefinite period (Eph. 2:7; 3:5, 21; Col. 1:26)....

  • AGRARIAN LAWS

    [isbe] AGRARIAN LAWS - a-gra'-ri-an loz: 1. The Sabbath Year 2. The Jubilee 3. Its Object 4. The Legal Rules 5. Ideas and Circumstances of the Legislation 6. Form of the Legislation 7. Its Operation and Extension 8. Other Laws Affe...

  • ACCORD; ACCORDING; ACCORDINGLY

    [isbe] ACCORD; ACCORDING; ACCORDINGLY - a-kord', a-kord'-ing-li: In Old Testament, peh, "mouth," "to fight with one accord" (Josh 9:2) lephi, "according to the mouth of," "according to their families" (Gen 47:12, "acc. to (the numb...

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Hymns

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  • [Gen 47:9] When I Have Finished My Pilgrimage Here

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • The events recorded in Genesis stretch historically from Creation to Joseph's death, a period of at least 2500 years. The first part of the book (ch. 1-11) is not as easy to date precisely as the second part (ch. 12-50). The ...
  • Genesis provides the historical basis for the rest of the Bible and the Pentateuch, particularly the Abrahamic Covenant. Chapters 1-11 give historical background essential to understanding that covenant, and chapters 12-50 re...
  • The structure of Genesis is very clear. The phrase "the generations of"(toledotin Hebrew, from yaladmeaning "to bear, to generate") occurs ten times (really eleven times since 36:9 repeats 36:1), and in each case it introduce...
  • The Lord destroyed the corrupt, violent human race and deluged its world, but He used righteous Noah to preserve life and establish a new world after the Flood."Noah's experience presents decisively the author's assertion tha...
  • "The Babel account (11:1-9) is not the end of early Genesis. If it were, the story would conclude on the sad note of human failure. But as with earlier events in Genesis 1-11, God's grace once again supersedes human sin, insu...
  • One of the significant changes in the emphasis that occurs at this point in Genesis is from cursing in the primeval record to blessing in the patriarchal narratives. The Abrahamic Covenant is most important in this respect. H...
  • A major theme of the Pentateuch is the partial fulfillment of the promises to the patriarchs. The promises in Genesis 12:1-3 and 7 are the fountainhead from which the rest of the Pentateuch flows.397Walter Kaiser labeled the ...
  • "These verses are of fundamental importance for the theology of Genesis, for they serve to bind together the primeval history and the later patriarchal history and look beyond it to the subsequent history of the nation."414"W...
  • The second crisis Abram faced arose because of a famine in Canaan. Abram chose to sojourn in the Nile Valley until it was past. In this incident Abram tried to pass Sarai off as his sister because he feared for his life. By d...
  • Abram asked God to strengthen his faith. In response Yahweh promised to give the patriarch innumerable descendants. This led Abram to request some further assurance that God would indeed do what He promised. God graciously ob...
  • Abraham's purchase of a burial site in the Promised Land demonstrated his intention to remain in Canaan rather than going back to his native homeland. Since he was a sojourner in Canaan his friends probably expected him to bu...
  • Abraham's servant returned to Paddan-aram charged with the duty of finding a suitable bride for Isaac. He faithfully and resolutely fulfilled his task relying on God's faithfulness to prosper his journey and God's providence ...
  • A new toledotbegins with 25:19. Its theme is "the acquisition of the blessing and its development and protection by the Lord."625Moses set up the whole Jacob narrative in a chiastic structure that emphasizes the fulfillment o...
  • The structure of chapters 46 and 47 is also chiastic.887AGod appears to Jacob (46:1-4)BJacob journeys to Egypt (46:5-27)CJoseph meets Jacob (46:28-34)DJoseph's brothers meet Pharaoh (47:1-6)C'Jacob meets Pharaoh (47:7-10)B'Jo...
  • The major purpose of this section is probably to show how God sustained and blessed Jacob's family in Egypt during the remaining five years of the famine (cf. vv. 12-13). It is also to demonstrate how He partially fulfilled H...
  • This section demonstrates the fulfillment of Jacob's blessing on Pharaoh (46:31-47:6 and 47:7-10). Joseph was able to save Egypt and its neighbors from a very severe famine and to alleviate the desperate plight of the Egyptia...
  • The events recorded in the last three chapters of Genesis deal with the last days of Jacob and Joseph. In these last chapters there are many other references to earlier episodes in the book."This constant harking back to earl...
  • Jacob blessed all 12 of his sons and foretold what would become of each of them and their descendants. He disqualified Reuben, Simeon, and Levi from leadership and gave that blessing to Judah. He granted the double portion to...
  • Jacob again expressed his faith in God's promises that Canaan would be the Israelites' homeland by requesting burial in the Cave of Machpelah near Hebron (cf. 47:29-32; 48:21-22). He died peacefully and was "gathered to his p...
  • Aalders, Gerhard Charles. Genesis. The Bible Student's Commentary series. 2 vols. Translated by William Heynen. Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1981.Aharoni, Yohanan, and Michael Avi-Yonah. The Macmillan Bible Atlas...
  • The structure of 4:1-6:7 indicates that this offering has a close relationship to the sin offering. This offering removed the guilt of certain sins that involved trespassing against God. Trespassing means going beyond the lim...
  • The Book of Samuel covers the period of Israel's history bracketed by Samuel's conception and the end of David's reign. David turned the kingdom over to Solomon in 971 B.C.3David reigned for 40 and one-half years (2 Sam. 2:11...
  • 105:7-11 God remembered His people (v. 7, cf. v. 42) so His people should remember Him (v. 5). God had been faithful to the Abrahamic Covenant (Gen. 12:1-3, 7; 15:18-21; 22:15-18; 28:13-15). He made this covenant with Abraham...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • Genesis 47:1-12
  • The brother's words to Pharaoh are another instance of that ignorant carrying out of the divine purposes which we have already had to notice. They evidently contemplate only a temporary stay in the country. They say that they...
  • Genesis 47:9These are two strangely different estimates of the same life to be taken by the same man. In the latter Jacob categorically contradicts everything that he had said in the former. Few and evil,' he said before Phar...
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