Genesis 47 – Verses from Genesis 47 from the book of Genesis in the Bible.

1 Joseph went to tell Pharaoh the news: “My father and my brothers have arrived from Canaan with their sheep and their oxen and everything that belongs to them, and they are now in Goshen.”

Adverts

2 Then he chose five of his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh.

3 Pharaoh asked them: “What do you work at? ” They answered him: “Your servants are shepherds, like our ancestors.”

4 They said to him: “We have come to live here for a while, because the famine is severe in Canaan, and the flocks of your servants have no pasture. Now please allow your servants to settle in Goshen.”

5 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Your father and your brothers have come to you,

Adverts

6 and the land of Egypt is at his disposal; make your father and your brothers dwell in the best part of the land. Let them live in Goshen. And if you see that some of them are competent, put them in charge of my flock.”

7 Then Joseph took his father Jacob to Pharaoh and introduced him to him. Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh,

8 and he asked him: “How old are you? “

9 Jacob answered Pharaoh: “The years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty. They were few and difficult and do not reach the years of my ancestors’ pilgrimage.”

10 Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and left.

11 Joseph settled his father and his brothers and gave them property in the best part of the land of Egypt, in the region of Ramesses, according to Pharaoh's order.

12 He also provided support for his father, his brothers and his entire family, according to the number of children each had.

13 There was no food in the entire region, as the famine was severe; Both Egypt and Canaan were fainting because of famine.

14 Joseph collected all the silver that was circulating in Egypt and Canaan, given as payment for the wheat that the people bought, and took it to Pharaoh's palace.

15 When all the silver in Egypt and Canaan was exhausted, all the Egyptians went to beg Joseph: “Give us food! Don’t let us die just because we run out of silver.”

16 And Joseph said to them, “Bring your flocks then, and I will give you wheat in exchange, since your silver is gone.”

17 And they brought their flocks to Joseph, and he gave them wheat in exchange for horses, sheep, oxen, and asses. During that whole year he supported them in exchange for all their livestock.

18 The year passed, and the following year they returned to Joseph, saying: “We cannot hide from you, my lord, that since our silver is gone and our flocks belong to you, there is nothing left for us to offer except our own bodies and our lands.

19 Do not let us die and our lands perish before your eyes! Buy us, along with the lands, in exchange for wheat, and we, with our lands, will be slaves to Pharaoh. Give us seeds so that we survive and do not die of hunger, so that the land does not become desolate.”

20 So Joseph bought all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh. All Egyptians had to sell their fields, as famine forced them to do so. The land became the property of Pharaoh.

21 As for the people, Joseph reduced them to servitude, from one end of Egypt to the other.

22 Only the priests' lands were not purchased, because, by law, they received regular support from the pharaoh, and lived on that. That's why they didn't have to sell their land.

23 Then Joseph said to the people, “Listen! Today I bought you and your lands for Pharaoh; here are the seeds for you to cultivate the land.

24 But you will give the fifth part of your harvest to Pharaoh. The other four-fifths will remain for you as seed for the fields and as food for you, your children and those who live in your homes.”

25 They said, “My lord, you saved our lives. Since you have favored us, we will be slaves to Pharaoh.”

26 Thus, regarding land, Joseph established the following decree in Egypt, which remains to this day: One fifth of the production belongs to Pharaoh. Only the priests' lands did not become the property of the pharaoh.

27 The Israelites settled in Egypt, in the region of Goshen. There they acquired properties, were prolific and multiplied greatly.

28 Jacob lived seventeen years in Egypt, and the years of his life amounted to one hundred and forty-seven.

29 As the time of his death approached, Israel called his son Joseph and said to him: “If you want to please me, put your hand under my thigh and promise that you will be kind and faithful to me: Do not bury me in Egypt.

30 When I rest with my parents, take me from Egypt and bury me with them.” Joseph replied: “I will do as you ask me.”

31 But Jacob insisted: “Swear to me.” And Joseph swore to him, and Israel bowed down by his staff.