Genesis 47:13-31
Stewardship in Famine
13There was no food, however, in all that region, because the famine was so severe; the lands of Egypt and Canaan had been exhausted by the famine.
14Joseph collected all the money to be found in the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan in exchange for the grain they were buying, and he brought it into Pharaoh’s palace.
15When the money from the lands of Egypt and Canaan was gone, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, “Give us food. Why should we die before your eyes? For our funds have run out!”
16“Then bring me your livestock,” said Joseph. “Since the money is gone, I will sell you food in exchange for your livestock.”
17So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and he gave them food in exchange for their horses, their flocks and herds, and their donkeys. Throughout that year he provided them with food in exchange for all their livestock.
18When that year was over, they came to him the second year and said, “We cannot hide from our lord that our money is gone and all our livestock belongs to you. There is nothing left for our lord except our bodies and our land.
19Why should we perish before your eyes—we and our land as well? Purchase us and our land in exchange for food. Then we, along with our land, will be slaves to Pharaoh. Give us seed that we may live and not die, and that the land may not become desolate.”
20So Joseph acquired for Pharaoh all the land in Egypt; the Egyptians, one and all, sold their fields because the famine was so severe upon them. The land became Pharaoh’s,
21and Joseph reduced the people to servitude from one end of Egypt to the other.
22However, he did not acquire the priests’ portion of the land, for it had been given to them by Pharaoh. They ate the rations that Pharaoh supplied; so they did not sell their land.
23Then Joseph said to the people, “Now that I have acquired you and your land for Pharaoh this day, here is seed for you to sow in the land.
24At harvest time, you are to give a fifth of it to Pharaoh, and four-fifths will be yours as seed for the field and food for yourselves and your households and children.”
25“You have saved our lives,” they said. “We have found favor in our lord’s eyes, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.”
26So Joseph established a law that a fifth of the produce belongs to Pharaoh, and it is in effect in the land of Egypt to this day. Only the priests’ land does not belong to Pharaoh.
27Now the Israelites settled in the land of Egypt, in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and became fruitful and increased greatly in number.
28And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years, and the length of his life was 147 years.
29When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise to show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt,
30but when I lie down with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me with them.” Joseph answered, “I will do as you have requested.”
31“Swear to me,” Jacob said. So Joseph swore to him, and Israel bowed in worship at the head of his bed.
Berean Standard Bible
The famine becomes very severe. There is no food in Egypt or Canaan, and the land is exhausted because of the famine. Joseph gathers all the money in Egypt and Canaan in exchange for grain and brings it into Pharaoh's house.
When the money is gone, the Egyptians come to Joseph and ask for bread. They offer their livestock, and Joseph gives them food in exchange for horses, flocks, herds, and donkeys. The next year they offer their land and themselves as servants because they have nothing left but their bodies and land. Joseph buys all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, except the land of the priests, and moves the people into the cities.
Joseph establishes a rule that one-fifth of the produce belongs to Pharaoh, while the people keep the rest for seed and food. The people tell Joseph that he has saved their lives and ask only that they find favor with Pharaoh. The passage describes a state system growing stronger during catastrophe. It should not be used as an uncomplicated model for taking every resource from desperate people. Food security and political power are intertwined, and the poor have little choice in the exchange.
Israel's family settles in Goshen, acquires property, and is fruitful and multiplies. Jacob lives seventeen years in Egypt, and his whole life is one hundred forty-seven years. When he knows he is near death, he asks Joseph to put his hand under his thigh and swear not to bury him in Egypt. He wants to be buried with his fathers. Joseph swears, and Israel bows in worship at the head of his bed.
Joseph's administration preserves life, but the chapter keeps the cost visible. Good stewardship must ask not only whether a system survives, but who bears the burden and whether the vulnerable have any real choice.
Questions
1 What did Joseph receive for grain?
AnswerHe received money, livestock, land, and eventually the people’s labor for Pharaoh.
2 What portion of the produce did Pharaoh receive?
AnswerPharaoh received one-fifth of the produce.
3 Where did Jacob’s family live?
AnswerThey lived in Goshen and became fruitful there.
4 Where did Jacob want to be buried?
AnswerHe wanted to be buried with his fathers in the land of Canaan.
What This Means for Us
Emergency systems can preserve life and still concentrate power. When managing resources, ask who has a choice, who pays the price, and how people can recover their freedom afterward. In your own household, share supplies fairly and avoid using another person's desperation to secure an advantage. Stewardship needs compassion as well as efficiency.
Prayer
God who sees the hungry, give leaders wisdom and restraint in a crisis. Help us build systems that preserve life without exploiting desperation. Teach our family to share fairly, keep the vulnerable visible, and remember that efficiency without compassion can become another form of harm. Amen.