Read the Modern Pastor’s Version

Joseph came to Pharaoh with the news that his father and brothers, along with their flocks and herds and all they possessed, had come out of Canaan and were now in the land of Goshen. He took five of his brothers and presented them to Pharaoh.

Pharaoh asked them about their occupation, and they replied, "Your servants are shepherds, just like our fathers." They told him that they had come to live in Egypt because there was no pasture for their flocks due to the severe famine in Canaan. "Please let your servants settle in the land of Goshen," they asked.

Pharaoh spoke to Joseph and said, "In the best regions of the land, make your father and brothers dwell in the land of Goshen. They can oversee my livestock there." So Joseph brought his father Jacob before Pharaoh, who was then blessed by Jacob.

Pharaoh asked Jacob about his age, and he replied, "I am one hundred thirty years old, and the days of my life have been few and evil. I haven't reached the span of my fathers' lives during their own pilgrim journeys." Jacob then blessed Pharaoh and left his presence.

Joseph settled his father and brothers in the best part of Egypt, just as Pharaoh had commanded, in the land of Rameses. Joseph provided bread to his family according to their needs, since there was no food anywhere else due to the extreme famine that affected both Egypt and Canaan.

As time went on, people from all over came to Joseph, begging for bread because they were out of money. They said, "Give us food; why should we die in front of you when our money has run out?" Joseph replied, "Sell me your livestock and I'll give you food."

The Egyptians brought their cattle to Joseph, who exchanged them for bread. He fed them for a whole year, until the next harvest season arrived. When that time came, they returned to Joseph and said, "We can't hide from you how our money has been spent; all we have left is our bodies and our land."

Joseph bought up all the land of Egypt on behalf of Pharaoh because everyone had sold their property due to the famine. The land became Pharaoh's, and he moved the people to new cities across the country.

However, Joseph didn't buy the priests' land because they were exempt from paying taxes to Pharaoh. They ate a share given by Pharaoh as part of their assigned portion.

Joseph told the people, "I've bought you and your land today for Pharaoh; here's seed to sow in the land." They agreed to give one-fifth of their harvests to Pharaoh and use four-fifths for themselves. The people thanked Joseph and pledged to serve Pharaoh, saying they owed him their lives.

Joseph established a law that would remain in effect to this day: every year, Egyptians would give one-fifth of their land to Pharaoh, except for the priests' land. And so Israel lived in Egypt, growing and prospering in Goshen with his possessions.

Jacob lived in Egypt for seventeen years before passing away at the age of one hundred forty-seven. As he neared death, he called Joseph to him and said, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, promise me that you'll bury me in our family's burial ground back home."

Joseph promised Jacob that he would do as requested, and Jacob blessed him before passing away.