Genesis 47 tells the account of Joseph, who has risen to a position of great authority in Egypt under Pharaoh. Famine had struck the land, and Joseph manages the distribution of food, saving not only the Egyptians but also his own family, who come seeking sustenance. When Joseph brings his father Jacob before Pharaoh, the elderly patriarch blesses the ruler, and they discuss their age and the hardships they have faced. Pharaoh grants Joseph’s family the best of the land, settling them in the land of Goshen.
As the famine continues, Joseph exchanges grain for livestock, land, and eventually the people’s servitude to Pharaoh. He provides them with seed, instructs them on agriculture, and establishes a policy where a fifth of the produce must be given to Pharaoh. The Israelites settle in Egypt, becoming prosperous and multiplying.
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