Genesis 47
Genesis 47 describes how Jacob and his family settle in Egypt and how Joseph’s wisdom sustains Egypt and the surrounding regions during the famine. The chapter first shows Jacob’s family meeting Pharaoh and settling in Goshen, then moves to Joseph’s administration during the severe famine, and finally records Jacob’s final request to Joseph.
1verseThen Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, and said, “My father and my brothers, with their flocks, their herds, and all that they own, have come out of the land of Canaan; and behold, they are in the land of Goshen.”
2verseFrom among his brothers he took five men, and presented them to Pharaoh.
3versePharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” They said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers.”
4verseThey also said to Pharaoh, “We have come to live as foreigners in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants’ flocks. For the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now therefore, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.”
5versePharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, “Your father and your brothers have come to you.
6verseThe land of Egypt is before you. Make your father and your brothers dwell in the best of the land. Let them dwell in the land of Goshen. If you know any able men among them, then put them in charge of my livestock.”
7verseJoseph brought in Jacob, his father, and set him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.
8versePharaoh said to Jacob, “How old are you?”
9verseJacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are one hundred thirty years. The days of the years of my life have been few and evil. They have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.”
10verseJacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from the presence of Pharaoh.
11verseJoseph placed his father and his brothers, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.
12verseJoseph provided his father, his brothers, and all of his father’s household with bread, according to the sizes of their families.
13verseThere was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine.
14verseJoseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the grain which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house.
15verseWhen the money was all spent in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph, and said, “Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For our money fails.”
16verseJoseph said, “Give me your livestock; and I will give you food for your livestock, if your money is gone.”
17verseThey brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, and for the flocks, and for the herds, and for the donkeys: and he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock for that year.
18verseWhen that year was ended, they came to him the second year, and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord how our money is all spent, and the herds of livestock are my lord’s. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands.
19verseWhy should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants to Pharaoh. Give us seed, that we may live, and not die, and that the land won’t be desolate.”
20verseSo Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine was severe on them, and the land became Pharaoh’s.
21verseAs for the people, he moved them to the cities from one end of the border of Egypt even to the other end of it.
22verseOnly he didn’t buy the land of the priests, for the priests had a portion from Pharaoh, and ate their portion which Pharaoh gave them. That is why they didn’t sell their land.
23verseThen Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh. Behold, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land.
24verseIt will happen at the harvests, that you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four parts will be your own, for seed of the field, for your food, for them of your households, and for food for your little ones.”
25verseThey said, “You have saved our lives! Let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.”
26verseJoseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth. Only the land of the priests alone didn’t become Pharaoh’s.
27verseIsrael lived in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen; and they got themselves possessions therein, and were fruitful, and multiplied exceedingly.
28verseJacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were one hundred forty-seven years.
29verseThe time came near that Israel must die, and he called his son Joseph, and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please don’t bury me in Egypt,
30versebut when I sleep with my fathers, you shall carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying place.” Joseph said, “I will do as you have said.”
31verseIsrael said, “Swear to me,” and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself on the bed’s head.
Jacob and His Family Settling in Front of Pharaoh
Joseph introduces his family to Pharaoh. Pharaoh asks Jacob’s age, and Jacob confesses plainly about his life. Pharaoh grants Jacob favor, allowing him to live in the best land, the land of Goshen. This is an important turning point in preserving the family line that God promised to Abraham and Isaac.
Famine and Joseph’s Wisdom
When an enormous famine arrives, Joseph saves the lives of the Egyptian people and those in surrounding regions by managing the grain exactly as he had planned in advance. At first, the people buy grain with money; then they give up livestock; and finally they give Pharaoh not only their land but even their own bodies. Joseph transfers the people’s land to Pharaoh, but he makes an exception for the priests’ land.
Jacob’s Final Word
After many years pass, Jacob, facing his death, asks Joseph to have him buried in his homeland, the land of Canaan. This shows the fulfillment of God’s covenant—namely, that the identity and hope of the people of Israel are found in Canaan.
Reflection Points
- What meaning do Jacob’s life confession and the blessing on Pharaoh have?
- You can pay attention to how God’s people are protected and live through times of suffering.
- Joseph’s wisdom in managing a crisis and helping others offers great insight for communities today.
Personal Application
- Even in my own life, unexpected changes in circumstances and crises can come. Each time, I reflect on whether I am seeking God’s guidance and responding wisely.
- At the moment when life comes to an end, like Jacob’s, I think about what kind of faith and hope I can leave behind.
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