Genesis Chapter 47

Jacob Settles in Goshen

1Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen. 2And he took some of his brethren, even five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh. 3And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers. 4They said moreover unto Pharaoh, For to sojourn in the land are we come; for thy servants have no pasture for their flocks; for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan: now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants dwell in the land of Goshen. 5And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee: 6The land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.

7And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou? 9And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage. 10And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh. 11And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, 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. 12And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father's household, with bread, according to their families.

Joseph's Leadership in Famine

13And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine. 14And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh's house. 15And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth. 16And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail. 17And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year. 18When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands: 19Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate.

20And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh's. 21And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof. 22Only the land of the priests bought he not; for the priests had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their lands. 23Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land. 24And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones. 25And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh's servants. 26And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part; except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh's.

27And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly. 28And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years.

29And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt: 30But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said, I will do as thou hast said. 31And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head.

Jacob Settles in Goshen

1 Then 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.” 2 From among his brothers he took five men, and presented them to Pharaoh. 3 Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” They said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers.” 4 They 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.” 5 Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. 6 The 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.”

7 Joseph brought in Jacob, his father, and set him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. 8 Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How many are the days of the years of your life?” 9 Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred thirty years. Few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.” 10 Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from the presence of Pharaoh. 11 Joseph 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. 12 Joseph nourished his father, his brothers, and all of his father’s household, with bread, according to their families.

The Famine Continues

13 There 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. 14 Joseph 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. 15 When 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.” 16 Joseph said, “Give me your livestock; and I will give you food for your livestock, if your money is gone.” 17 They 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. 18 When 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. 19 Why 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.”

20 So 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. 21 As for the people, he moved them to the cities from one end of the border of Egypt even to the other end of it. 22 Only 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. 23 Then 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. 24 It 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.” 25 They said, “You have saved our lives! Let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.” 26 Joseph 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.

The Israelites Prosper in Goshen

27 Israel lived in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen; and they got themselves possessions therein, and were fruitful, and multiplied exceedingly. 28 Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were one hundred forty-seven years.

29 The time drew 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, 30 but when I sleep with my fathers, you shall carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying place.” He said, “I will do as you have said.” 31 He said, “Swear to me,” and he swore to him. Israel bowed himself on the bed’s head.

Jacob Settles in Goshen

1 So Joseph went and told Pharaoh: “My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all they own, have come from the land of Canaan and are now in Goshen.”

2 And he chose five of his brothers and presented them before Pharaoh.

3 “What is your occupation?” Pharaoh asked Joseph’s brothers.

“Your servants are shepherds,” they replied, “both we and our fathers.”

4 Then they said to Pharaoh, “We have come to live in the land for a time, because there is no pasture for the flocks of your servants, since the famine in the land of Canaan has been severe. So now, please allow your servants to settle in the land of Goshen.”

5 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Now that your father and brothers have come to you, 6 the land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and brothers in the best part of the land. They may dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know of any talented men among them, put them in charge of my own livestock.”

7 Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and presented him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

8 “How many years have you lived?” Pharaoh asked.

9 “My travels a have lasted 130 years,” Jacob replied. “My years have been few and hard, and they have not matched the years of the travels of my fathers.”

10 Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and departed from his presence.

11 So Joseph settled his father and brothers in the land of Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the district of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. 12 Joseph also provided his father and brothers and all his father’s household with food for their families.

The Famine Continues

13 There 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. 14 Joseph 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. 15 When 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.” 17 So 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.

18 When 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. 19 Why 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.”

20 So 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, 21 and Joseph reduced the people to servitude b from one end of Egypt to the other. 22 However, 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.

23 Then 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. 24 At 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.” 26 So 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.

The Israelites Prosper in Goshen

27 Now 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. 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years, and the length of his life was 147 years.

29 When 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, 30 but 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. c

Footnotes:

9 a Hebrew sojourns ; twice in this verse
21 b SP, LXX, Vulgate; Hebrew removed the people to the cities
31 c Hebrew; LXX Israel worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff ; see Hebrews 11:21.

Jacob Settles in Goshen

1And Joseph cometh, and declareth to Pharaoh, and saith, 'My father, and my brethren, and their flock, and their herd, and all they have, have come from the land of Canaan, and lo, they are in the land of Goshen.' 2And out of his brethren he hath taken five men, and setteth them before Pharaoh; 3and Pharaoh saith unto his brethren, 'What are your works?' and they say unto Pharaoh, 'Thy servants are feeders of a flock, both we and our fathers;' 4and they say unto Pharaoh, 'To sojourn in the land we have come, for there is no pasture for the flock which thy servants have, for grievous is the famine in the land of Canaan; and now, let thy servants, we pray thee, dwell in the land of Goshen.' 5And Pharaoh speaketh unto Joseph, saying, 'Thy father and thy brethren have come unto thee: 6the land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land cause thy father and thy brethren to dwell -- they dwell in the land of Goshen, and if thou hast known, and there are among them men of ability, then thou hast set them heads over the cattle I have.'

7And Joseph bringeth in Jacob his father, and causeth him to stand before Pharaoh; and Jacob blesseth Pharaoh. 8And Pharaoh saith unto Jacob, 'How many are the days of the years of thy life?' 9And Jacob saith unto Pharaoh, 'The days of the years of my sojournings are an hundred and thirty years; few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not reached the days of the years of the life of my fathers, in the days of their sojournings.' 10And Jacob blesseth Pharaoh, and goeth out from before Pharaoh. 11And Joseph settleth his father and his brethren, and giveth to them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh commanded; 12and Joseph nourisheth his father, and his brethren, and all the house of his father with bread, according to the mouth of the infants.

Joseph's Leadership in Famine

13And there is no bread in all the land, for the famine is very grievous, and the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan are feeble because of the famine; 14and Joseph gathereth all the silver that is found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn that they are buying, and Joseph bringeth the silver into the house of Pharaoh. 15And the silver is consumed out of the land of Egypt, and out of the land of Canaan, and all the Egyptians come in unto Joseph, saying, 'Give to us bread -- why do we die before thee, though the money hath ceased?' 16and Joseph saith, 'Give your cattle; and I give to you for your cattle, if the money hath ceased.' 17And they bring in their cattle unto Joseph, and Joseph giveth to them bread, for the horses, and for the cattle of the flock, and for the cattle of the herd, and for the asses; and he tendeth them with bread, for all their cattle, during that year. 18And that year is finished, and they come in unto him on the second year, and say to him, 'We do not hide from my lord, that since the money hath been finished, and possession of the cattle is unto my lord, there hath not been left before my lord save our bodies, and our ground; 19why do we die before thine eyes, both we and our ground? buy us and our ground for bread, and we and our ground are servants to Pharaoh; and give seed, and we live, and die not, and the ground is not desolate.'

20And Joseph buyeth all the ground of Egypt for Pharaoh, for the Egyptians have sold each his field, for the famine hath been severe upon them, and the land becometh Pharaoh's; 21as to the people he hath removed them to cities from the one end of the border of Egypt even unto its other end. 22Only the ground of the priests he hath not bought, for the priests have a portion from Pharaoh, and they have eaten their portion which Pharaoh hath given to them, therefore they have not sold their ground. 23And Joseph saith unto the people, 'Lo, I have bought you to-day and your ground for Pharaoh; lo, seed for you, and ye have sown the ground, 24and it hath come to pass in the increases, that ye have given a fifth to Pharaoh, and four of the parts are for yourselves, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for those who are in your houses, and for food for your infants.' 25And they say, 'Thou hast revived us; we find grace in the eyes of my lord, and have been servants to Pharaoh;' 26and Joseph setteth it for a statute unto this day, concerning the ground of Egypt, that Pharaoh hath a fifth; only the ground of the priests alone hath not become Pharaoh's.

27And Israel dwelleth in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen, and they have possession in it, and are fruitful, and multiply exceedingly; 28and Jacob liveth in the land of Egypt seventeen years, and the days of Jacob, the years of his life, are an hundred and forty and seven years.

29And the days of Israel are near to die, and he calleth for his son, for Joseph, and saith to him, 'If, I pray thee, I have found grace in thine eyes, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and thou hast done with me kindness and truth; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt, 30and I have lain with my fathers, and thou hast borne me out of Egypt, and buried me in their burying-place.' And he saith, 'I -- I do according to thy word;' 31and he saith, 'Swear to me;' and he sweareth to him, and Israel boweth himself on the head of the bed.

The F.O.G Commentary:

1What is the meaning of Genesis 47?

1.1Introduction to Genesis 47

1.2Context of Genesis 47

1.3Ancient Key Word Study

1.4Compare & Contrast

1.5Genesis 47 Unique Insights

1.6Genesis 47 Connections to Yeshua

1.7Genesis 47 Scriptural Echoes

1.8Genesis 47 Devotional

1.9Did You Know

What is the meaning of Genesis 47?

Introduction to Genesis 47

Genesis 47 represents a pivotal moment in the narrative of Israel’s sojourn to Egypt, marking the formal settlement of Jacob’s family under Joseph’s protection. This chapter beautifully illustrates divine providence working through human governance and family dynamics. We witness the fulfillment of God’s earlier prophecy to Abraham about his descendants becoming sojourners in a foreign land (Genesis 15:13), while simultaneously showcasing Joseph’s administrative wisdom and filial piety.

The chapter serves as a masterclass in how God’s people can maintain their distinct identity while functioning as a blessing to their host nation, a theme that would become increasingly significant throughout biblical history and remains relevant for believers today.

Context of Genesis 47

The immediate context follows the emotional reunion between Joseph and his family in Genesis 46, where God had reassured Jacob about going down to Egypt. This chapter falls within the final section of Genesis (chapters 37-50) that focuses on Joseph’s narrative and the preservation of Abraham’s lineage through which the Messiah would come.

Within the broader biblical narrative, Genesis 47 serves multiple purposes. First, it demonstrates how God used Egypt as an incubator for His nascent nation, allowing Israel to grow from a family of 70 to a nation of millions. Second, it provides a stark contrast to the later exodus narrative – the Israelites enter Egypt as honored guests under a favorable Pharaoh, making their later enslavement all the more dramatic. Finally, it serves as a profound example of how God’s people can maintain their distinctive calling while serving in secular authority.

The chapter also bridges the patriarchal narratives to the national story of Israel, showing how God’s promises to Abraham began their fulfillment through seemingly ordinary political and economic circumstances.

Ancient Key Word Study

Presented (וַיַּצֵּג, vayyatzeg) – This word in verse 7 carries ceremonial significance, suggesting a formal introduction rather than a casual meeting. It’s used in contexts of official presentation, emphasizing the dignity accorded to Jacob despite being an immigrant.
Blessed (וַיְבָרֶךְ, vayevarekh) – The patriarch’s blessing of Pharaoh in verse 7 uses the same word as God’s original blessing to Abraham, suggesting the fulfillment of the promise that Abraham’s descendants would be a blessing to the nations.
Sojourning (מְגוּרַי, meguray) – Jacob’s description of his life in verse 9 literally means “my sojournings,” emphasizing the temporary nature of earthly life and connecting to the broader theme of God’s people as pilgrims.
Sustained (וַיְכַלְכֵּל, vayekhalkeil) – Used in verse 12, this word implies more than mere feeding; it suggests comprehensive care and provision, reflecting Joseph’s thorough commitment to his family’s welfare.
Possession (אֲחֻזָּה, achuzzah) – This term in verse 11 is significant as it’s the same word used for Abraham’s first property purchase in Canaan, creating a parallel between these two significant settlements of God’s people.
Money Failed (וַיִּתֹּם, vayyitom) – The word in verse 15 literally means “to be complete” or “finished,” painting a picture of total economic collapse that sets the stage for Joseph’s revolutionary policies.
Servants (עֲבָדִים, avadim) – Used in verse 19, this term would later take on profound significance in Israel’s history, creating an ironic contrast with their future status in Egypt.
Fifth Part (חֲמִישִׁית, chamishit) – This fraction in verse 24 becomes a standard rate in ancient Near Eastern taxation, showing Joseph’s establishment of sustainable economic policy.
Found Grace (מָצָא חֵן, matza chen) – This phrase in verse 25 echoes throughout Scripture as a formula for divine favor, here showing how Joseph’s administration reflected God’s grace to Egypt.

Compare & Contrast

Verse 7’s use of “presented” (וַיַּצֵּג) rather than the more common “brought” (וַיָּבֵא) emphasizes the formal, ceremonial nature of Jacob’s introduction to Pharaoh. This choice highlights the dignity and respect accorded to Jacob, despite his status as an immigrant.
In verse 9, Jacob’s description of his years as “few and evil” uses the term מְעַט (me’at) for “few” rather than קָטֹן (qaton), suggesting qualitative rather than quantitative measurement, emphasizing the pilgrim nature of his life rather than mere chronological shortness.
The phrase “found grace” in verse 25 employs חֵן (chen) rather than רַחֲמִים (rachamim), indicating that the Egyptians recognized divine favor rather than mere human mercy in Joseph’s administration.
In verse 11, the use of אֲחֻזָּה (achuzzah) for “possession” rather than נַחֲלָה (nachalah) is significant, as it implies a temporary holding rather than a permanent inheritance, foreshadowing Israel’s eventual exodus.
The description of Joseph’s economic policy in verse 26 uses חֹק (choq) for “statute” rather than מִשְׁפָּט (mishpat), suggesting a civil rather than religious ordinance, maintaining appropriate separation between Egyptian civil law and Israel’s divine law.

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Genesis 47 Unique Insights

The Midrash Rabbah offers a fascinating insight into Jacob’s blessing of Pharaoh, suggesting that through Jacob’s presence, the Nile began to overflow its banks again, ending a famine that had plagued Egypt. This reflects the rabbinic understanding that the righteous bring blessing wherever they dwell, even in exile.

Early church father Origen saw in Joseph’s economic reforms a prefiguring of Christ’s kingdom, where all people voluntarily submit themselves to divine authority for their ultimate benefit. He particularly noted how Joseph’s provision of seed for planting (verse 23) paralleled the church’s role in distributing spiritual seed – the Word of God.

The chapter presents a unique economic model that balances central authority with individual dignity. Unlike other ancient Near Eastern systems where people became property of the state, Joseph’s reforms maintained personal freedom while establishing a sustainable taxation system. This created a framework that would influence Middle Eastern economics for centuries.

The detail about Israel dwelling in Goshen carries geographical significance often missed by casual readers. Goshen served as a buffer zone between Egypt proper and potential invaders from the east, suggesting that Pharaoh’s settlement of the Israelites there may have had strategic as well as agricultural motivations.

Genesis 47 Connections to Yeshua

Joseph’s role as provider and sustainer during the famine prefigures Yeshua’s role as the bread of life (John 6:35). Just as Joseph’s wisdom saved both Egyptians and foreigners, Yeshua’s sacrifice provides salvation for both Jews and Gentiles.

The theme of voluntary servitude in this chapter (verses 18-19) foreshadows the believer’s relationship with Messiah, where we willingly submit ourselves to His lordship in exchange for His provision and protection. This parallels Paul’s description of being “bondservants of Christ” (Ephesians 6:6).

The way Joseph used his position of authority to save and provide for his family points to how Yeshua, through His exaltation, became the source of salvation for His brethren according to the flesh (Israel) and ultimately for all who would believe in Him.

Genesis 47 Scriptural Echoes

This chapter’s themes of sojourning and blessing echo throughout Scripture. Abraham’s sojourn in Egypt (Genesis 12:10) provides a parallel to Jacob’s experience, while the concept of being blessed to be a blessing reflects God’s original promise to Abraham (Genesis 12:2-3).

The motif of God’s people living as foreigners yet rising to prominence appears repeatedly in Scripture, from Joseph to Daniel, pointing to the believer’s dual citizenship as referenced in Philippians 3:20.

The economic reforms instituted by Joseph find interesting parallels in the later Mosaic law, particularly in provisions for the poor and the concept of jubilee. Both systems sought to balance necessary taxation with human dignity and provision for the vulnerable.

Genesis 47 Devotional

This chapter challenges us to consider how we can maintain our distinct identity as believers while serving effectively in secular contexts. Joseph’s example shows that it’s possible to hold high office and implement major social reforms while remaining faithful to God’s calling.

Jacob’s reflection on his life as a pilgrimage invites us to examine our own perspective on earthly existence. Do we see ourselves as permanent residents here, or as sojourners waiting for our true home? This mindset affects how we interact with material possessions and worldly success.

The chapter also prompts us to consider how we use our positions of influence. Joseph used his authority to save lives and implement just policies. How are we using whatever influence God has given us to benefit others and glorify Him?

Did You Know

The Egyptian practice of storing grain in good years for use in lean years was well documented in ancient texts, showing the historical accuracy of Joseph’s administrative reforms.
The land of Goshen, where Israel settled, was known as some of Egypt’s most fertile grazing land, indicating Pharaoh’s genuine favor toward Joseph’s family.
Ancient Near Eastern documents confirm that the 20% tax rate established by Joseph was considered reasonable by ancient standards, with some cultures imposing much heavier burdens.
Jacob’s age of 130 years was actually younger than his fathers – Abraham lived to 175 and Isaac to 180 – lending poignancy to his description of his years as “few.”
The phrase “gathered to his people” used regarding Jacob’s death was a common Hebrew euphemism suggesting belief in an afterlife where one would rejoin deceased relatives.
Archaeological evidence suggests that Semitic peoples often held high positions in Egyptian government during the Middle Kingdom period, supporting the historical plausibility of Joseph’s rise to power.
The Egyptian practice of doctors being specialists in specific parts of the body (referenced in the embalming process) is confirmed by other historical sources.
The location of Goshen provided a degree of cultural isolation that helped preserve Israel’s distinct identity during their sojourn in Egypt.

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