Famine Grows Worse in the Land

For more detail, search Genesis 46 and 47.

Joseph told the Pharaoh about the arrival of his father and brothers with all their belongings including their livestock (Genesis 47:1).

Joseph brought some of his brothers before the Pharaoh. As Joseph had said, the Pharaoh asked them what their occupation is (Genesis 46:33; 47:3). They replied, "Thy servants are shepherds, both we and also our fathers" (Genesis 47:3).

Pharaoh let Joseph's family dwell in the land of Goshen which was the best of the land (Genesis 47:6). The Pharaoh also told Joseph that if he knew of "...any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over [his] cattle" (Genesis 47:6).

"And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh" (Genesis 47:7).

"And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou" (Genesis 47:8)?

"And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage" (Genesis 47:9).

"And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh" (Genesis 47:10).

"And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded" (Genesis 47:11).

"And Joseph nourished his father and his brethren, and all his father's household, with bread, according to their families" (Genesis 47:12).

Famine had stricken Egypt and Canaan leaving no food in these lands (Genesis 47:13). Money lost its value (Genesis 47:15); therefore, Joseph had the people to trade their livestock for food (Genesis 47:17).

Over time, the people spent all their money and traded all their livestock for food. The only thing the people had left were themselves and their land (Genesis 47:18). In order to live, they resorted to selling themselves as servants and their land to the Pharaoh (Genesis 47:19).

"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).

"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).

"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).

"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 47:26).

"And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly" (Genesis 47:27).

"And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years" (Genesis 47:28).

"And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt" (Genesis 47:29):

"But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said, I will do as thou hast said" (Genesis 47:30).

"And he said, Swear unto me, And he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed's head" (Genesis 47:31).