Hechos 7:11

11 Entonces vino hambre sobre todo Egipto y Canaán, y con ella gran aflicción; y nuestros padres no hallaban alimentos.

Hechos 7:11 Meaning and Commentary

Acts 7:11

Now there came a dearth over all the land of Egypt, and
Canaan
This dearth, or famine, is said to be in all lands, ( Genesis 41:54 ) though only Egypt and Canaan are mentioned here, because the history is concerned with no other. The Jewish writers ^F16 speak of three lands particularly, which were affected with it, Phenicia, Arabia, and Palestine; and this famine in the land of Israel, they say ^F17, which lasted seven years, was on account of the selling of Joseph into Egypt, as before observed. The Heathen writers make mention of this famine, particularly Justin ^F18, who speaking of Joseph says, that he foresaw many years before the barrenness of the fields; and all Egypt would have perished with famine, had not the king, through his advice, ordered by an edict, that corn should be laid up for many years: this was the fifth of the ten famines, the Jews say have been, or shall be in the world ^F19:

and great affliction;
meaning the famine, which was very severe, and lasted a long time, even seven years: want of eating is called (ywnye) , "affliction", by the Jews ^F20; by which they mean fasting, which is a voluntary want of eating, or abstinence from it; and if that is an affliction, then much more want of food, or abstinence through necessity; compare ( 1 Timothy 5:10 ) .

And our fathers found not sustenance;
Jacob and his family could not get sufficient provision for them in the land of Canaan, where they then were, but were obliged to go to Egypt for it.

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FOOTNOTES:

F16 Bereshit Rabba, sect. 90. fol. 78. 1.
F17 Pirke Eliezer, c. 38.
F18 Ex Trogo, l. 36. c. 2.
F19 Targum in Ruth i. 1.
F20 Moses Kotsensis Mitzvot Tora pr. Affirm. 32.

Hechos 7:11 In-Context

9 Y los patriarcas tuvieron envidia de José y lo vendieron para Egipto. Pero Dios estaba con él,

10 y lo rescató de todas sus aflicciones, y le dio gracia y sabiduría delante de Faraón, rey de Egipto, y éste lo puso por gobernador sobre Egipto y sobre toda su casa.

11 Entonces vino hambre sobre todo Egipto y Canaán, y con ella gran aflicción; y nuestros padres no hallaban alimentos.

12 Pero cuando Jacob supo que había grano en Egipto, envió a nuestros padres allá la primera vez.

13 En la segunda visita, José se dio a conocer a sus hermanos, y conoció Faraón el linaje de José.