Day 100 – Genesis 47:20-26
A Fifth Part Unto Pharaoh
Scripture Reading – Genesis 47:20-26
And 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.
Genesis 47:20 KJV
And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof.
Genesis 47:21 KJV
Only 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.
Genesis 47:22 KJV
Then 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.
Genesis 47:23 KJV
And 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.
Genesis 47:24 KJV
And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.
Genesis 47:25 KJV
And 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.
Genesis 47:26 KJV
Scripture Review
Joseph buys the land for Pharaoh, moves the people, provides seed, and establishes that a fifth of the harvest belongs to Pharaoh while four parts remain for seed, food, households, and children. The priests’ land is excepted because Pharaoh supplied their portion. The people answer that Joseph has saved their lives and ask to find grace in his sight.
The passage holds authority, dependence, taxation, survival, and gratitude together. It deserves more thought than a political slogan. Joseph’s plan leaves seed to restart production and food for households while establishing Pharaoh’s claim. Whatever questions I bring about the system, the narrative emphasizes preservation during an extraordinary famine and the people’s acknowledgment that they are alive.
Pharaoh meant to consolidate land and receive a continuing portion, while the people meant to survive and regain seed with which to work the soil.
God meant to sustain life through the crisis and preserve Egypt as the temporary shelter in which Israel would grow.
What this asks of me
I need wisdom that looks past immediate relief to what people require for the next planting. Help that consumes all the seed may solve today and destroy tomorrow. I should also handle political applications humbly, refusing to force a complex ancient event into a simple modern argument the passage was not written to settle.
Consider
- Does the help I offer preserve both present life and the ability to work toward tomorrow?
- Have I turned a complex passage into a slogan that ignores its setting?