Genesis 47

Pharaoh Welcomes Jacob’s Family

1 Joseph went to Pharaoh and said, ‘My pops and brothers are here from Canaan. They brought their flocks, herds, and everything they own, and they are chilling in Goshen.’

2 Then Joseph picked five of his brothers and brought them to meet Pharaoh.

3 Pharaoh asked them, ‘What do you all do for a living?’ They said, ‘We are shepherds, just like our pops.’

4 ‘We came here because the famine hit hard, and there is no grass for our flocks in Canaan. Please let us stay in Goshen.’

5 Pharaoh told Joseph, ‘Your dad and brothers can live wherever they want. The land of Egypt is wide open, let them stay in Goshen.’

6 ‘And if any of them are good at taking care of animals, put them in charge of my livestock too.’

Jacob Blesses Pharaoh

7 Joseph brought Jacob to meet Pharaoh, and Jacob gave Pharaoh a blessing.

8 Pharaoh asked, ‘How old are you?’

9 Jacob said, ‘I am 130 years old, and it has been a rough life, not as long as my ancestors, though.’

10 Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh again and left.

Joseph Provides for His Family

11 Joseph hooked his dad and brothers up with the best land in Egypt, right in Rameses, just like Pharaoh said.

12 He made sure his whole fam had food, including all their kids.

The Famine Gets Worse

13 The famine was so bad that there was no food anywhere. Egypt and Canaan were starving.

14 Joseph collected all the money from people buying grain and brought it to Pharaoh’s house.

15 When the money ran out, the Egyptians came to Joseph and said, ‘We are broke, but we need food! Do not let us die out here.’

16 Joseph said, ‘If you do not have money, trade me your livestock for food.’

17 They brought their horses, sheep, cattle, and donkeys, and Joseph gave them food in exchange for their animals.

18 The next year, they came back and said, ‘We have got no money or animals left. All we have got is our land and ourselves.’

19 ‘Buy us and our land, and we will work for Pharaoh. Just give us food and seed to plant, so we do not starve.’

20 Joseph bought all the land in Egypt for Pharaoh. Everyone sold their fields because the famine was that bad.

21 He moved the people into cities across the country.

22 The only land Joseph did not buy was the priests’ land, because Pharaoh gave them food regularly.

Joseph’s New System

23 Joseph said to the people, ‘Look, I have bought you and your land for Pharaoh. Here is some seed, plant your crops.’

24 ‘But when you harvest, give Pharaoh one-fifth of your crops. The rest is yours for food and seed.’

25 They said, ‘You saved our lives! We are cool with being Pharaoh’s slaves.’

26 Joseph made it official: Pharaoh gets one-fifth of all crops in Egypt. The only land exempt was the priests’ land.

Jacob’s Final Years

27 Jacob’s family settled in Goshen, grew rich, and multiplied like crazy.

28 Jacob lived in Egypt for 17 years, and he lived to be 147 years old.

29 When Jacob knew his time was up, he called for Joseph and said, ‘Do me a solid, do not bury me here in Egypt.’

30 ‘When I die, take me back to Canaan and bury me in my family’s tomb.’ Joseph said, ‘You got it, Dad.’

31 Jacob said, ‘Promise me.’ Joseph promised, and Jacob bowed in worship at the head of his bed.