Genesis 47

2 men. Rather, “he took from among his brethren five men” (R.V.).

6 men of activity. Or, as in Exod. xviii. 25, “able men.”

9 pilgrimage. What Pharaoh calls “life” Jacob designates a “pilgrimage”; not only in reference to his wanderings in Canaan and Mesopotamia, and now to Egypt; but because he had learned to regard himself as a stranger and pilgrim on earth. See Heb. xi. 13; xiii. 14; 1 Pet. ii. 11. —Fear and evil. Oriental depreciation such as would still be used in the East.

11. Rameses. Or, “Raamses” (Exod. i. 11). This was a city, perhaps with a district of the same name, in the land of Goshen. From this place, at the exodus, the people reached the Red Sea in two days; Exod. xii. 36; Numb. xxxiii. 6.

18 second. Rather, “the next year”; for it was probably the last of the seven; whence the request for “seed,” ver. 19. The Egyptians trusted the prediction of Joseph that the famine was now about to cease, and were therefore anxious to sow their fields again.

19 servants. The monarchy became consolidated by the purchase of the land, which was to be rented of the crown (see vers. 24, 26); by the provision made for a regular revenue, derived from a moderate taxation, and by the formation of cities as centres both of authority and of wealth. Servants in ver. 25, may be understood as tenants, somewhat in the feudal sense.

22 priests. The caste of nobles. As the learned and ruling class was maintained in part by allowances of food and wine from the royal stores, they were not under the necessity of disposing of their lands. See Herod., bk. ii. c. 37.

26 the fifth part. Joseph thus provided a revenue sufficient for all state purposes, yet not oppressive to the people. Joseph’s rate of twenty per cent. is a moderate rental when compared with taxes at times levied on the fellahs of Egypt.

29 in Egypt. This would remind Joseph, and all his family, that Canaan, not Egypt, was to be their country.

31 bed’s head. The Greek translators, differing only in a vowel point, render the word “staff.” The idea, however, is the same; as the spear of the warrior and the staff of the chief were set at the bed’s head. The patriarch turned himself in a posture of devotion. See Heb. xi. 21.