Short answer: Genesis 47 records Jacob's audience with Pharaoh, the settlement of Israel in Goshen, Joseph's wise administration during the famine, and Jacob's final request to be buried in Canaan. The chapter shows God's faithfulness in providing for His people while demonstrating Joseph's exceptional governance.
Introduction
Genesis 47 covers the long years of the famine and the settlement of Israel in Egypt. Jacob blesses Pharaoh, demonstrating that the patriarch is greater than the king. Joseph's administration of the famine transforms Egypt's economy. As Jacob nears death, he extracts a solemn oath from Joseph to bury him in the Promised Land, showing his faith in God's covenant promises.
Jacob Blesses Pharaoh (47:1-12)
Joseph brings five of his brothers before Pharaoh, who asks their occupation. They answer they are shepherds and request to live in Goshen. Pharaoh grants them the best of Egypt. Joseph then brings his father Jacob before Pharaoh. Jacob blesses Pharaoh. When Pharaoh asks his age, Jacob replies he is 130 years old, with fewer and more difficult years than his fathers. Jacob blesses Pharaoh again before departing.
Then Joseph went in and told Pharaoh, and said, “My father and my brothers, with their flocks, their herds, and all that they own, have come out of the land of Canaan; and behold, they are in the land of Goshen.” From among his brothers he took five men, and presented them to Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to his brothers, “What is your occupation?” They said to Pharaoh, “Your servants are shepherds, both we, and our fathers.” They also said to Pharaoh, “We have come to live as foreigners in the land, for there is no pasture for your servants’ flocks. For the famine is severe in the land of Canaan. Now therefore, please let your servants dwell in the land of Goshen.” Pharaoh spoke to Joseph, saying, “Your father and your brothers have come to you. The land of Egypt is before you. Make your father and your brothers dwell in the best of the land. Let them dwell in the land of Goshen. If you know any able men among them, then put them in charge of my livestock.” Joseph brought in Jacob, his father, and set him before Pharaoh; and Jacob blessed Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How old are you?” Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are one hundred thirty years. The days of the years of my life have been few and evil. They have not attained to the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.” Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from the presence of Pharaoh. Joseph placed 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. Joseph provided his father, his brothers, and all of his father’s household with bread, according to the sizes of their families.
Genesis 47:1-12 (World English Bible)
Joseph's Famine Administration (47:13-26)
As the famine continues, the Egyptians spend all their money buying grain. When money runs out, they trade their livestock. The next year, they offer their land and themselves as servants. Joseph buys all Egypt for Pharaoh and moves the people to the cities. He establishes a tax of one-fifth for Pharaoh, which remains a statute. Only the priests' land is exempt.
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 fainted by reason of the famine. 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. When the money was all spent 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 our money fails.” Joseph said, “Give me your livestock; and I will give you food for your livestock, if your money is gone.” They brought their livestock to Joseph, and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for the horses, and for the flocks, and for the herds, and for the donkeys: and he fed them with bread in exchange for all their livestock for that year. When that year was ended, they came to him the second year, and said to him, “We will not hide from my lord how our money is all spent, and the herds of livestock are my lord’s. 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 to Pharaoh. Give us seed, that we may live, and not die, and that the land won’t be desolate.” So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh, for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine was severe on them, and the land became Pharaoh’s. As for the people, he moved them to the cities from one end of the border of Egypt even to the other end of it. Only he didn’t buy the land of the priests, for the priests had a portion from Pharaoh, and ate their portion which Pharaoh gave them. That is why they didn’t sell their land. Then Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have bought you and your land today for Pharaoh. Behold, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. It will happen at the harvests, that you shal
Genesis 47:13-26 (World English Bible)
Israel Settles in Goshen (47:27-31)
Israel dwells in Goshen, acquires possessions, and is fruitful and multiplies. Jacob lives in Egypt seventeen years, reaching 147 years old. As his death approaches, he calls Joseph and makes him swear an oath: 'Don't bury me in Egypt, but when I sleep with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying place.' Joseph swears, and Israel bows in worship at the head of his bed.
Israel lived in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen; and they got themselves possessions therein, and were fruitful, and multiplied exceedingly. Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were one hundred forty-seven years. The time came near that Israel must die, and he called his son Joseph, and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please don’t bury me in Egypt, but when I sleep with my fathers, you shall carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying place.” Joseph said, “I will do as you have said.” Israel said, “Swear to me,” and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself on the bed’s head.
Genesis 47:27-31 (World English Bible)
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Jacob bless Pharaoh?
Jacob's blessing of Pharaoh is significant because the lesser is blessed by the greater (Hebrews 7:7). Despite being a foreigner and a shepherd, Jacob as the covenant patriarch pronounces blessing on the most powerful ruler on earth. It demonstrates that God's covenant people carry a blessing for the nations.
Was Joseph's famine policy ethical?
Joseph's policy of exchanging food for money, livestock, and land centralized Egypt's economy under Pharaoh's control. The policy was practical and saved countless lives during the famine, but it also resulted in the people becoming servants to Pharaoh. The narrative presents it neutrally as wise administration that preserved life.
Why did Jacob insist on being buried in Canaan?
Jacob's insistence on burial in Canaan demonstrated his faith in God's covenant promise to give the land to his descendants. Even after seventeen years of comfort in Egypt, Jacob's heart remained fixed on the Promised Land. His burial request is an act of faith, echoed later by Joseph's similar command (Genesis 50:25).
Biblical Fidelity Check
This article faithfully presents the biblical account of Israel's settlement in Egypt and Joseph's administration as recorded in Genesis 47. The narrative of Jacob before Pharaoh, the famine policies, and Jacob's burial request are drawn directly from the World English Bible translation.
Related Bible Studies
- Genesis 45 — Joseph Reveals Himself
- Genesis 46 — Jacob Moves to Egypt
- Genesis 48 — Ephraim and Manasseh
- Genesis 50 — Joseph's Final Years
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