Summary of Genesis 47:13-27:
Egypt and Canaan spent all of their money to buy food. When they ran out of money, they asked Joseph what they should do. He said to bring their livestock in exchange for food. The people brought their horses, sheep, goats, cattle, and donkeys. This lasted for one year.
When the people ran out of livestock, all they had left was their land and themselves, so they sold their land and themselves as slaves to Pharaoh in exchange for food. The priests kept their land because they received a regular allotment of food from Pharaoh.
Jospeh gave the people seed so they could grow food, but since the land was Pharaoh’s now, they had to give one-fifth to Pharaoh as payment for use of the land. The Israelites settled in Egypt in Goshen. They acquired property and grew in prosperity and number.
BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 28, Day 2: Genesis 47:13-27
3) Sell food for money, sell food for livestock, sell food for servitude
4a) They obeyed and were grateful for Joseph saving their lives.
b) He saved people’s lives and the lives of his family. The Israelites settled in Egypt in Goshen. They acquired property and grew in prosperity and number.
5) They actually grew, prospered, and acquired land, while everyone else was selling everything they had to survive.
6a) Joseph had to make the tough decisions to save people’s lives and do what was right for Pharaoh.
b) To make the tough decisions to do what is right for the people.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 28, Day 2: Genesis 47:13-27
I had forgotten that this was how the Israelites became slaves; by selling themselves for food.
End Notes BSF Study Questions Genesis: Lesson 28, Day 2: Genesis 47:13-27
Joseph did his job faithfully.
Pharaoh grew very, very rich because of the famine. Effectively, he controlled most of the known supply of money. He now owned all of the land, which must now have been overflowing with all the livestock he just purchased. This often happens in times of crisis; the government becomes richer while the common man becomes poorer and struggles to survive.
One-fifth of the land is a 20% tax land. Not bad considering the amount of taxes people pay around the world.