UNROLL
The flat green pastures of Goshen in the morning, a quiet canal, date palms, sheep and goats grazing and a few black tents far off.

The Book of

Genesis 47

An old shepherd stands before the king of Egypt, and it is the shepherd who gives the blessing.

31 verses≈ 7 min3 peopleBSB

Images are artistic interpretations.

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In this chapter

Where we are

  1. 1–11BeginningsCreation, fall, flood, Babel
  2. 12–24AbrahamThe call and the promise
  3. 25–36Isaac and JacobThe promise passed on
  4. 37–50JosephGod meant it for goodChapter 47

Jacob Settles in Goshen

So Joseph went and told Pharaoh: “My father and my brothers, with their flocks and herds and all they own, have come from the land of Canaan and are now in Goshen.”

And he chose five of his brothers and presented them before Pharaoh.

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Pharaoh

“What is your occupation?” Pharaoh asked Joseph’s brothers.

Joseph's brothers

“Your servants are shepherds,” they replied, “both we and our fathers.”

Then they said to Pharaoh, “We have come to live in the land for a time, because there is no pasture for the flocks of your servants, since the famine in the land of Canaan has been severe. So now, please allow your servants to settle in the land of Goshen.”

Pharaoh

Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Now that your father and brothers have come to you, the land of Egypt is before you; settle your father and brothers in the best part of the land. They may dwell in the land of Goshen. And if you know of any talented men among them, put them in charge of my own livestock.”

Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and presented him before Pharaoh, and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.

Pharaoh

“How many years have you lived?” Pharaoh asked.

Jacob

“My travels have lasted 130 years,” Jacob replied. “My years have been few and hard, and they have not matched the years of the travels of my fathers.”

My years have been few and hard

Genesis 47:9

Then Jacob blessed Pharaoh and departed from his presence.

So Joseph settled his father and brothers in the land of Egypt and gave them property in the best part of the land, the district of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded. Joseph also provided his father and brothers and all his father’s household with food for their families.

Reflect

Few and hard

Asked his age by the king of Egypt, Jacob doesn’t boast. He calls his life “travels,” and says, “My years have been few and hard.” Yet the same old man stands before Pharaoh and blesses him. Looking back over your own years so far, where have they been hard? And where can you see that God kept you, and even made you a blessing? Write it down.

The Famine Continues

So Joseph acquired for Pharaoh all the land in Egypt; the Egyptians, one and all, sold their fields because the famine was so severe upon them. The land became Pharaoh’s, and Joseph reduced the people to servitude from one end of Egypt to the other. However, he did not acquire the priests’ portion of the land, for it had been given to them by Pharaoh. They ate the rations that Pharaoh supplied; so they did not sell their land.

Joseph

Then Joseph said to the people, “Now that I have acquired you and your land for Pharaoh this day, here is seed for you to sow in the land. At harvest time, you are to give a fifth of it to Pharaoh, and four-fifths will be yours as seed for the field and food for yourselves and your households and children.”

The Egyptians

“You have saved our lives,” they said. “We have found favor in our lord’s eyes, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.”

So Joseph established a law that a fifth of the produce belongs to Pharaoh, and it is in effect in the land of Egypt to this day. Only the priests’ land does not belong to Pharaoh.

Pray

Give us seed

First their money ran out, then their herds. At last the Egyptians had nothing left but “our bodies and our land,” and they asked for one thing: “Give us seed that we may live and not die.” Bring God your own needs as plainly as that. Thank Him for every harvest you have been given, and pray for people who are hungry today, that they would be fed and find mercy.

The Israelites Prosper in Goshen

Now the Israelites settled in the land of Egypt, in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and became fruitful and increased greatly in number.

Genesis 47:27

And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years, and the length of his life was 147 years.

An old man propped on a low Egyptian bed under a wool blanket grips the arm of a younger man in white linen kneeling beside him; a clay lamp burns and a staff leans by the bedhead.

When the time drew near for Israel to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If I have found favor in your eyes, put your hand under my thigh and promise to show me kindness and faithfulness. Do not bury me in Egypt, but when I lie down with my fathers, carry me out of Egypt and bury me with them.” Joseph answered, “I will do as you have requested.”

“Swear to me,” Jacob said. So Joseph swore to him, and Israel bowed in worship at the head of his bed.

0:29

Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain

Question

Quick question

Jacob lived seventeen years in Egypt, and the best land was his family’s. But when he knew he was dying, he made Joseph swear an oath.

What did Jacob make Joseph promise?

You’ve experienced

Genesis 47

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A verse to carry with you

Now the Israelites settled in the land of Egypt, in the region of Goshen. They acquired property there and became fruitful and increased greatly in number.

Genesis 47:27

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