Genesis 47:1-31
This chapter covers the next step in Jacob’s travel to Egypt, as he is now introduced to Pharaoh by his son Joseph. He also presented five of his brothers to Pharaoh at the same time. This became Jacob’s last journey, as he settled down in the land of Goshen for the next 17 years until his death. Chapters 48 and 49 describe the last few days and weeks of Jacob’s life.
Scripture continues, “Then Joseph went and told Pharaoh, and said, ‘My father and my brothers, their flocks and their herds and all that they possess, have come from the land of Canaan; and indeed they are in the land of Goshen.’ And he took five men from among his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh. Then Pharaoh said to his brothers, ‘What is your occupation?’ And they said to Pharaoh, ‘Your servants are shepherds, both we and also our fathers.’ And they said to Pharaoh, ‘We have come to dwell in the land, because your servants have no pasture for their flocks, for the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now therefore, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.’ Then Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, ‘Your father and your brothers have come to you. The land of Egypt is before you. Have your father and brothers dwell in the best of the land; let them dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know any competent men among them, then make them chief herdsmen over my livestock.’ Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and set him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Jacob, ‘How old are you?’ And Jacob said to Pharaoh, ‘The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years; few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.’ So Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh. And Joseph situated his father and his brothers, 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. Then Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father’s household with bread, according to the number in their families” (Gen. 47:1-12).
The best of the land. Vs. 1-6
It is important to first recognize what God orchestrated once Jacob and his family got to Egypt. Notice that the text mentions twice that they were to receive, “the best of the land,” in Goshen (Gen. 47:6; 11). Whenever Scripture mentions something twice in a particular passage, that means it’s something God wants you to see. By taking the Children of Israel to Egypt, God wasn’t just giving the Children of Israel a way to not starve in the famine; He planned on giving them the best that He had to offer. This is an important point to note, because many times believers think that God only wants to give them the bare minimum, and not His best. Do you believe that the Lord wants to give you His best, or just enough to keep you alive? I’m not talking here about materially, but spiritually. Why? Because people who might be materially poor, can be rich in their faith. The Apostle James declared that God has made the poor, “rich in faith” (James 2:4). Is being rich in faith God’s best? Yes, absolutely. Jesus also said in Luke 12:32, “Do not fear little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” Experiencing all of the blessings and benefits of His kingdom will always be the best that you can have in this life. Note that it is His, “good pleasure,” to give you His best. Everything that Jesus did and taught proves that He wanted to give all those who believe, His best! If you say to yourself, “But I’m a prodigal, does God still want to give me His best?” Remember the story that Jesus taught concerning the prodigal son? What happened when the prodigal son decided to repent of his sin and return to his father? It declares, “And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry” (Luke 15:20-24). What an example of God’s love for His lost son, and His desire to bless the returning prodigal. What did He do? He first ran to him and fell on his neck with tears. Then He brought out the “best” robe, and made a feast for His returning child. Be assured, your heavenly Father is waiting for you to simply come to Him, and He will give you the best that He has planned for you. Will you believe Him for the best?
Getting God’s best does not mean it will be easy.
It is important to remember that to get God’s best, Jacob and his family had to go through a terrible famine, and travel 230 miles driving all their herds and flocks. That would not have been easy. This whole process of getting God’s best for them was not as easy as jumping in a car and driving 4 or 5 hours down to Egypt. Even though it was not easy, Jacob and his family did clearly have God’s guidance and leading. So, Jacob had the confidence that this journey was God’s plan for him, and his family. So, when God guides and directs you, there may be many difficulties in the path you are on, but you must still be confident that this is God’s plan. The question is, when difficult times come in life, will you falter in the midst of those days and pull back from Him, and think, Why is it so hard right now? or worse, you decide to rebel and disobey God’s clear instruction? Jacob could have refused God’s command to go down to Egypt. But, would he then have received God’s best? I don’t think so! It would have been even harder for him and his whole family. In addition, this would have been disobedience and unfaithfulness on Jacob’s part, and rebellion against God’s plan. Scripture is clear that the disobedient are foolish and deceived (Titus 3:3). So, don’t go down that path of rebellion when times get hard. Solomon said, “A faithful man will abound with blessings” (Prov. 28:20). Therefore, trust Him for His best, and be faithful to Him in the hard times.
Joseph presents his father to Pharaoh.
“Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and set him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Jacob, ‘How old are you?’ And Jacob said to Pharaoh, ‘The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years; few and evil have been the days of the years of my life, and they have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.’ So Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh. And Joseph situated his father and his brothers, 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. Then Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all his father's household with bread, according to the number in their families” (Gen. 47:7-12).
This passage presents an incredible moment in Jacob’s life as he stood before Pharaoh himself. Interestingly, Scripture notes twice that Jacob blessed Pharaoh. This is significant because Hebrews 7:7 states, “Now beyond all contradiction, the lesser is blessed by the better.” This is powerful, because Pharaoh believed that he was the human embodiment of the sun god Ra, yet he accepted this blessing from Jacob. Accepting this blessing alone, was a remarkable thing to occur.
Jacob’s blessing of Pharaoh was obviously because of his gratitude for his generosity during the famine. God was using Egypt to bless the seed of Abraham, and the nation would in turn be blessed because of their kindness to the Jewish people. All Egypt was being blessed, because Pharoah had listened to Joseph, and promoted him over all the nation. Never forget the clear promise given originally to Abraham in Genesis 12:3 where God declared, “I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you. And in you, all the families of the earth shall be blessed.” This principle remains true today. Unfortunately, much of the modern church disregards this promise, because of reformed and replacement theology, which declares that God’s promises to Israel are no longer valid. However, Scripture is clear, God’s Word is eternal, and His promises will be fulfilled. Every nation on the earth should also give heed to this declaration of who God will bless. The last president of the United States did not support Israel and sent millions of dollars to terrorist organizations, and he was voted out of office.
Jacob’s statement to Pharaoh.
Jacob also makes another very interesting statement in verse 9, when he declares, “My pilgrimage has been 130 years; few and evil have been the days of my life.” Was this a confession of pessimism, or of reality? I believe it is a statement of reality. Why do I say this? Life in a fallen world is very difficult at times, because we have to deal with the evil in this world. Job states, “Man who is born of a woman is of few days and full of trouble” (Job 14:1). Is that not a statement of reality? Psalm 88:3 echoes this same idea when the psalmist writes, “For my soul is full of troubles, and my life draws near to the grave.” Every person faces hardship and suffering in this life, regardless of how much or little faith they have. But does that mean we should be pessimistic? No. It means we need to prepare ourselves with the right mindset. We must trust God to carry us through these difficult times, and not think it strange when the fiery trial comes to try our faith (1 Peter 4:12). If we do think it is strange when trials come our way, then we will stumble in our faith and blame God.
Jesus never promised a trouble-free life, in fact, He promised just the opposite. He said to His disciples on that last night, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). This is the reality that Jesus said we were to expect. We are to expect tribulation in this world, but we should also expect His abundant peace in our souls in the midst of it. On that last night before His crucifixion, He promised not only His peace, but the presence of the Holy Spirit to come and live inside us (John 14:17). He assured us that He would not leave us alone, but send the Comforter to us (John 14:18). He promised us that He would strengthen us if we would simply abide in Him (John 15:1-5). So don’t despair in this fallen world, because God’s promises stand firm to all who will come to believe and abide in Him. Instead of despairing, we must cry out for the presence and power of His Spirit, receive His peace, and trust in His plan.
Joseph deals with the famine. Vs. 13-26
“Now there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very severe, so that the land of Egypt and the land of Canaan languished because of the famine. 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. So when the money failed in the land of Egypt and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, ‘Give us bread, for why should we die in your presence? For the money has failed.’ Then Joseph said, ‘Give your livestock, and I will give you bread for your livestock, if the money is gone.’ So they brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, the flocks, the cattle of the herds, and for the donkeys. Thus he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock that year. When that year had ended, they came to him the next year and said to him, ‘We will not hide from my lord that our money is gone; my lord also has our herds of livestock. There is nothing left in the sight of my lord but our bodies and our lands. Why should we die before your eyes, both we and our land? Buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants of Pharaoh; give us seed, that we may live and not die, that the land may not be desolate.’ Then Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. So the land became Pharaoh’s. And as for the people, he moved them into the cities, from one end of the borders of Egypt to the other end. Only the land of the priests he did not buy; for the priests had rations allotted to them by Pharaoh, and they ate their rations which Pharaoh gave them; therefore they did not sell their lands. Then Joseph said to the people, ‘Indeed I have bought you and your land this day for Pharaoh. Look, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. And it shall come to pass in the harvest that you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh. Four-fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and for your food, for those of your households and as food for your little ones.’ So they said, ‘You have saved our lives; let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.’ And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt to this day, that Pharaoh should have one-fifth, except for the land of the priests only, which did not become Pharaoh’s” (Gen. 47:13-26).
The famine continued and it was severe in its scope across the land of Egypt. The people came to seek food to sustain their lives, and Joseph was ready to help them because of his wise storage of food in the prior plentiful years. When the people of Egypt had no more money to buy grain, the people sold their livestock, because they couldn’t feed them anyway. When they had no more livestock, they sold their lands to Pharaoh, because their lands were worthless to them if they had no food. Note that the text reveals that the people didn’t cry out and protest against these arrangements and say, “This is unfair.” Instead, the people responded, “You have saved our lives; let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.” Joseph then established a law over Egypt that Pharaoh would receive one-fifth or (20%) of all produce, with the exception for the land of the priests, which remained outside of his control. Now some read these passages and think, Joseph wasn’t fair. He made them pay for their food. That’s not right!” But let’s be real, you pay for your food, don’t you? It’s absurd to claim that this was unfair to the people. Joseph was hired to manage Egypt on Pharaoh’s behalf, and to help and care for the people. If the people themselves didn’t think it was a bad deal, how can we who read this today think it was a bad deal? In fact, the Egyptian people literally said, “You saved our lives” (Gen. 47:25). Then others argue, “But Joseph gave them seed, and still required them to give 20% back to Pharaoh!” But this 20% return was payment for the seed he gave them in advance of a harvest. This planting and harvesting were to enable them to provide for themselves at the end of the famine.
For those who think a 20% tax was unfair, let me ask you a question. What percentage of your income do you pay in taxes every year? I guarantee you that it is a lot more than 20%. I wish I only paid 20%! Most economists estimate that when you factor in income tax, sales tax, property tax, gasoline tax, and countless other taxes, the average person pays between 40% and 50% of their income in taxes.
And that’s not even the highest tax burden globally.
- Austrians pay 50% income tax right off the top, plus another 20% in value-added tax.
- Denmark has a 56% income tax, plus an 8% Social Security tax.
- Finland pays 57% income tax, plus an additional 10–24% tax on goods, depending on the item.
- The Ivory Coast has the highest tax rate of 60%.
- Then there are corporate taxes that are passed down to the consumer in higher prices.
So, compared to that, 20% sounds like a great deal!
What Joseph did during this famine demonstrated wise stewardship. He saved the people, preserved Egypt’s stability, and protected Pharaoh’s interests. That is what a wise steward should do! Think about it this way: if you were hired by a company, but ended up costing your employer money, how long do you think you’d keep your job? I would think not very long! If you ruin equipment, neglect your responsibilities, or fail to turn a profit for your employer, you should be fired! In the private sector, a business owner would quickly replace you with someone who could do the job, and make the company profitable.
The bottom line is this. Pharaoh would not have been pleased if he ended up poorer than before Joseph took over his stewardship. Joseph’s actions ensured that Pharaoh remained prosperous, while at the same time saving countless lives. That was just good business.
Joseph vows to Jacob. Vs. 27-34
“So Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions there and grew and multiplied exceedingly. And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the length of Jacob’s life was one hundred and forty-seven years. When the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, ‘Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt, but let me lie with my fathers; you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.’ And he said, ‘I will do as you have said.’ Then he said, ‘Swear to me.’ And he swore to him. So Israel bowed himself on the head of the bed” (Gen. 47:27-31).
Jacob’s family grew and multiplied.
Scripture tells us, “So Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions there and grew and multiplied exceedingly” Gen. 47:27). Dr. Henry Morris calculated that the initial group of five people (Jacob and his four wives, Leah, Rachel, Bilhah and Zilpah), grew into a clan of about 100 within 50 years. This includes the 70 mentioned in Genesis 46:27, plus the wives of Jacob’s sons and their children. This represents an annual growth rate of just over 6%. At this rate, by the time of the Exodus, which came 430 years later, the descendants of Jacob would have numbered in the millions. Remember in previous studies we have looked at this fact. Exodus records that 603,550 men came out of Egypt, which did not include the women and children. Therefore, when the Bible declared in our text that Jacob and his family grew and multiplied exceedingly, this is very accurate!
The passage of time.
From the end of Genesis 46 to this point in Genesis 47, seventeen years have passed. Jacob now recognized that the end of his life was nearing, so he asked Joseph to make a vow and a pledge to him. Jacob says to Joseph, “Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please do not bury me in Egypt, but let me lie with my fathers; you shall carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burial place.’ "Do not bury me in Egypt." Joseph agrees to his father’s request. But I believe this request revealed something very important. It revealed the heart of a sojourner. Jacob longed for home, because he knew that Egypt was not his home. He longed for the land of promise. He also believed in God’s promise, when the Lord said to him, “I will take you down into Egypt, and I will bring you back up again” (Gen. 46:4). This faith in God’s Word moved him to make Joseph swear to fulfill this request. Interestingly, when Joseph neared his own death, he made a similar request (Heb. 11:22). Joseph too, had the heart of a sojourner. At this moment, Jacob’s bowing at the head of his bed was an act of worship, and the expression of faith in God’s promise. At this moment we are given an open window into Jacob’s heart.
What is a pilgrim?
In verse 9, when Jacob told Pharaoh how old he was, he used this word pilgrimage to describe his life to that point. He declared, “The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years.” What does this word pilgrimage mean? The Hebrew word means someone who is a sojourner or someone living in a temporary place in this world. The psalmist encouraged all of us that there was a blessing for all those who had such a heart to view their live as a pilgrimage. He wrote, “Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage” (Ps. 84:5). Do you have the heart of a pilgrim?
Do you see your life in this world, as your home, or just a temporary place to abide until you see your eternal home in heaven? I hope it’s the latter. The longer I live, the more I long for my home which is in heaven. I now understand what Jesus meant when He said, “If you do not hate your life in this world, you cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26). When a Christian is too attached to this world, and only focused on what they can achieve or gain in the here and now, it reveals that their goal has been misplaced. Our true goal is to go home to heaven, to be where we will fully experience the fulfillment of all of God’s promises. Notice how Paul expressed this very desire. He wrote in Philippians 1:21, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Do you truly believe that to die is gain? Is your greatest gain to be found in the presence of God? Paul continued in Philippians 1:22-23, “But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit for my labor; yet what shall I choose? I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.” And it will be far better than anything you could experience here in this world. Paul struggled with this tension, wanting to go home, yet knowing that his time here on earth also had an eternal purpose. Until we go home, our mission is to be as fruitful as possible in service to our King, while at the same time looking in faith for our eternal home. Is that your perspective? I hope so, because it should be for you and every believer in Christ.
The importance of kindness and truth.
As Jacob realized that his death was near, he told Joseph, “Now if I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me” (Genesis 47:29). This statement highlights, at the end of someone’s life, the importance of being kind and gracious to them. You should be kind even if you haven’t been on the best of terms with that person, remembering that one day you too will be on your death bed. Do you want kindness from your family and friends at this moment in your life? I believe you would! This is one of the reasons why Jesus taught in Luke 6:35, “Love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Highest. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil.” God showed kindness to you when you were not on the best of terms with Him. In fact, you were unthankful and evil in your behavior toward Him, but He saved you while you were in that state. Because we have received His grace, kindness and forgiveness, we are also called to extend the same love to others. Paul encouraged us all to, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you” (Eph. 4:32).
If we have truly experienced God’s grace, then we must be gracious to others, especially when a person is at the point of death. Don’t hold resentment toward others, and never wish evil on anyone. Speak kindly to them, because kindness is a fruit of the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:22). If you lack kindness, you are not walking in the Spirit, it’s that simple.
The meaning of "hand under the thigh"
What did it mean when Jacob asked Joseph to place his hand under his thigh? This gesture was a way to swear an oath in ancient times. We see the same custom used in Genesis 24:2, when Abraham’s servant swears an oath to him as he was about to go find a wife for Isaac. The historian Herodotus explained in his writings that this practice was a sign of submission and acknowledgment of their authority to require this oath. Even today, in many parts of Asia, similar gestures are used to show respect and submission. In some cultures, such as in India today, when a person seeks a blessing from a visiting pastor, the person will take the hand of a respected pastor or elder and place it on their forehead. Some even kneel as a sign of humility before the person they are seeking prayer from. Experiencing this firsthand is very humbling. This act in Jacob’s story signified Joseph’s solemn commitment to fulfill his father’s request.
The value of a person’s word
Jacob also asked Joseph, “Swear to me” (Gen. 47:31). This request also highlights the importance of a person’s word. In today’s world, promises are often taken lightly, and broken just as lightly. Many make commitments without the intent to follow through on their promises. But in God’s eyes, our word is everything. Jesus said in Matthew 5:37, “Let your ‘yes’ be ‘yes,’ and your ‘no,’ ‘no.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one.” Therefore, when you commit to do something, honor your word and do it! If you say, “Yes, I will be there,” then be there as you have promised. If you can’t be there, then tell the person honestly and directly. Why is this issue so important? Because if you word is not good, people won’t trust you. In addition, people will consider you a liar, and this is a terrible witness for Christ. Paul wrote in Ephesians 4:25 that each of us must, “Put away lying, let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor, for we are members of one another.” If you struggle with lying, ask God to transform your heart. Remember, your word is a reflection of your character. It matters!
Jacob leans on the top of his bed.
When you read in Genesis 47:31, “So Israel bowed himself on the head of the bed,” many think that Jacob died at this point. But this is not correct. Jacob goes on in chapter 48 to speak with Joseph concerning his two sons, and to address all of his children in chapter 49. Jacob dies in Genesis 49:33. Then in the final chapter Scripture details what occurs after Jacob’s death.