Genesis 47:11-26
Rameses <07486> [Rameses.]
provided <03557> [nourished.]
father ....... father's <01> [his father.]
according ....... little children <06310 02945> [according to their families. or, as a little child is nourished. Heb. according to the little ones.]
land ......... land ...... land <0776> [A.M. 2300. B.C. 1704. so that.]
wasted away <03856> [fainted.]
money ............................. money <03701> [the money.]
Joseph .............................. Joseph brought <0935 03130> [Joseph brought.]
Give ... food <03051 03899> [A.M. 2301. B.C. 1703. Give us bread.]
bring ... livestock ............ livestock <03051 04735> [Give your cattle.]
This was the wisest measure that could be adopted, both for the preservation of the people and the cattle. As the people had not grain for their own sustenance, consequently they could have none for their cattle: hence they were in the most imminent danger of starving; and the people also were in equal danger; as they must have divided a portion of that bought for themselves with the cattle, which, for the sake of tillage, etc., they wished of course to preserve till the seven years' famine should end.
horses <05483> [for horses.]
food .................. got ... through ....... food <05095 03899> [fed them. Heb. led them.]
[A.M. 2302. B.C. 1702.]
land Buy ..... land .......... land .................. land <07069 0127> [buy us.]
Give <05414> [and give.]
[A.M. 2303. B.C. 1701.]
people <05971> [And as.]
It is highly probable, that Joseph was influenced by no political motive in removing the people to the cities, but merely by motives of prudence and humanity; for, as the corn was laid up in the cities, it would be more eligible to bring then from distant towns and villages to places where they might be more conveniently supplied with food.
<05892> [to cities.]
priests .... priests <03548> [of the priests. or, princes.]
priests .... priests <03548> [for the priests.]
bought <07069> [bought.]
seed <02233> [here is seed.]
one-fifth ..... Pharaoh <02549 06547> [the fifth part.]
lives <02421> [Thou hast.]
showing <04672> [let us.]
So ... made it ... statute <07760 02706> [made it a law.]
From this history, and from Diodorus Siculus (lib. i.), we learn that the land of Egypt was divided into three parts: one belonged to the Priests, (ver. 22, 26;) a second was the king's, (which appears to have been the land of Rameses, or Goshen, ver. 11;) the remainder was the subjects'. Now Joseph, having purchased the land of the people (ver. 19, 20), restored it, on the condition of their paying a fifth part of the produce to the king, beyond which he appears to have made no demand.
Only <07535> [except.]
priests <03548> [priests. or, princes.]
