Genesis 47:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, in exchange for the grain that they bought. And Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house.

NIV: Joseph collected all the money that was to be found in Egypt and Canaan in payment for the grain they were buying, and he brought it to Pharaoh's palace.

NASB: And Joseph collected all the money that was found in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan in payment for the grain which they bought, and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house.

CSB: Joseph collected all the silver to be found in the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan in exchange for the grain they were purchasing, and he brought the silver to Pharaoh's palace.

NLT: By selling grain to the people, Joseph eventually collected all the money in Egypt and Canaan, and he put the money in Pharaoh’s treasury.

KJV: And 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.

NKJV: And 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.

To this point, Joseph's plan to save Egypt on Pharaoh's behalf seemed humanitarian and altruistic. Pharaoh empowered Joseph to demand surplus crops from the people during the seven years of plenty before the famine. In doing so, he stored away enough grain to help every Egyptian survive the seven years that followed. There is no question that this stockpile of food is what saved countless lives (Genesis 45:5). And yet, we now see that Joseph's plan is not merely charity. It's also part of a consistent pattern of Joseph doing what is best for his employer (Genesis 39:5; 22–23). The strategy he employs in this famine certainly preserves lives, but it also drastically increases the wealth and power of Egypt's monarch.

Though the grain was taken as a tax (Genesis 41:34), it is not redistributed without cost. Instead, it is sold back to the people (Genesis 41:56–57), including those from other lands. The Egyptian government did not distribute stored grain for free. As the famine continued, one family after another spent every last bit of money they had to obtain food from the storehouses of Egypt. The effect of this was a massive shift in Egypt's wealth. In his role, Joseph effectively collected all the money of the people of Egypt and the people of Canaan.

The text is clear that Joseph was not corrupt; he dutifully brought all the money to Pharaoh. This famine would end up making the Pharaoh the wealthiest and most powerful man in the region for years to come.

Genesis 47:13–26 describes how Joseph's plan for the famine made Egypt's king even more powerful and wealthy. In essence, Joseph sells grain taxed from the people back to them. When the people run out of money to pay for food from the storehouses, Joseph trades for their livestock, land, and even their freedom. Pharaoh comes to own nearly everything and everyone in Egypt, resulting in a standing 20 percent income tax on the people.

Genesis 47 begins with Pharaoh interviewing Joseph's brothers and father before granting their request to settle in the region of Goshen in Egypt. Just as Joseph had hoped, his family is secure. The rest of the people of Egypt and Canaan are not. Most run out of money and can no longer buy food from Joseph. On Pharaoh's behalf, Joseph trades food for their livestock and then their land and even their freedom. Nearly all people will be required to pay to Pharaoh 20 percent of their harvest each year from this time forward. After several years, Jacob asks Joseph to swear that he will bury Jacob's body with his fathers in Canaan.

After describing the family's journey from Canaan and their arrival in Egypt in chapter 46, this passage opens on a formal conversation between Pharaoh and Joseph's family. He officially grants their request to settle in Egypt. As the famine continues, citizens of Egypt and Canaan turn over their money, land, and livestock to Joseph in exchange for food. The final three chapters of Genesis explain Jacob's dying blessings, and the passing of both Jacob and Joseph.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.