Genesis 47:24-31

24 that ye may have fruits; ye shall give the fifth part to the king; I suffer to you the four residue parts into seed, and into meats, to you, and to your free children. (so that ye shall have increase; ye shall give the fifth part to the king; but I shall grant you the remaining four parts for seed, and for food, for you, and for your children.)

25 Which answered, Our health is in thine hand(s); only our God behold us, and we shall joyfully serve the king. (And they answered, Our salvation is in thy hands; only let our lord continue to care about us, and then we shall gratefully be the king's slaves.)

26 From that time till to this present day, in all the land of Egypt, the fifth part is paid to the kings, and it is made as into a law, without the land of priests, that was free from this condition. (And so from that time unto this present day, in all the land of Egypt, the fifth part of the harvest is paid to the king, for this was made a law, from all except the priests, whose land did not become Pharaoh's property.)

27 Therefore Israel dwelled in Egypt, that is, in the land of Goshen, and wielded it; and he was increased, and multiplied full much. (And so Jacob and his family lived in Egypt, that is, in the land of Goshen, and acquired land; and they increased, and were greatly multiplied.)

28 And he lived therein sixteen years (And he lived there seventeen years); and all the days of his life were made an hundred and seven and forty years.

29 And when he saw the day of his death [to] nigh, he called his son Joseph (to his bed), and said to him, If I have found grace in thy sight, put thine hand under mine hip, and (swear that) thou shalt do mercy and truth to me, that thou bury not me in Egypt (that thou shalt not bury me here in Egypt);

30 but I shall sleep with my fathers, and take thou away me from this land (but when I shall sleep with my fathers, thou shalt take me away from this land), and bury me in the sepulchre of my greater(s). To whom Joseph answered, I shall do that that thou commandest.

31 And Israel said, Therefore swear thou to me; and when Joseph swore, Israel turned to the head of the bed, and worshipped God. (And Jacob said, And so swear thou to me; and when Joseph swore, Jacob turned to the head of the bed, and worshipped God.)

Genesis 47:24-31 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 47

This chapter gives an account of the presentation of five of Joseph's brethren, and then of his father, to Pharaoh, and of what passed between them, Ge 47:1-10; of Joseph's settlement of them, according to the direction of Pharaoh, in the land of Rameses in Goshen, and of his provision for them there, Ge 47:11,12; of his getting into his hands, for Pharaoh, the money, cattle, and lands, of the Egyptians, excepting the lands belonging to the priests, for corn he had supplied them with, Ge 47:13-22; of his giving them seed to sow with, on condition of Pharaoh's having a fifth part of the produce, Ge 47:23-26, of the increase of Jacob's substance in Egypt, and that of his children; of the time of his living there, and his approaching death, when he called Joseph to him, and obliged him by an oath to bury him in the burying place of his fathers, Ge 47:27-31.