SEV Biblia, Chapter 47:23
Y José dijo al pueblo: He aquí os he comprado hoy y a vuestra tierra para el Faraón; ved aquí simiente, y sembraréis la tierra.
Clarke's Bible Commentary - Genesis 47:23
Verse 23. I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh] It fully appears that the kingdom of Egypt was previously to the time of Joseph a very limited monarchy. The king had his estates; the priests had their lands; and the common people their patrimony independently of both. The land of Rameses or Goshen appears to have been the king's land, ver. 11. The priests had their lands, which they did not sell to Joseph, ver. 22, 26; and that the people had lands independent of the crown, is evident from the purchases Joseph made, ver. 19, 20; and we may conclude from those purchases that Pharaoh had no power to levy taxes upon his subjects to increase his own revenue until he had bought the original right which each individual had in his possessions. And when Joseph bought this for the king he raised the crown an ample revenue, though he restored the lands, by obliging each to pay one fifth of the product to the king, ver. 24. And it is worthy of remark that the people of Egypt well understood the distinction between subjects and servants; for when they came to sell their land, they offered to sell themselves also, and said: Buy us and our land, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh, ver. 19. Diodourus Siculus, lib. i., gives the same account of the ancient constitution of Egypt. ""The land,"" says he, ""was divided into three parts: 1. One belonged to the PRIESTS, with which they provided all sacrifices, and maintained all the ministers of religion. 2. A second part was the KING'S, to support his court and family, and to supply expenses for wars if they should happen. Hence there were no taxes, the king having so ample an estate. 3. The remainder of the land belonged to the SUBJECTS, who appear (from the account of Diodourus) to have been all soldiers, a kind of standing militia, liable, at the king's expense, to serve in all wars for the preservation of the state."" This was a constitution something like the British; the government appears to have been mixed, and the monarchy properly limited, till Joseph, by buying the land of the people, made the king in some sort despotic. But it does net appear that any improper use was made of this, as in much later times we find it still a comparatively limited monarchy.
Matthew Henry Commentary
Verses 13-26 - Care being taken of Jacob and his family, which mercy was especiall designed by Providence in Joseph's advancement, an account is given of the saving the kingdom of Egypt from ruin. There was no bread, and the people were ready to die. See how we depend upon God's providence. All our wealth would not keep us from starving, if rain were withheld for two or three years. See how much we are at God's mercy, and let us kee ourselves always in his love. Also see how much we smart by our ow want of care. If all the Egyptians had laid up corn for themselves in the seven years of plenty, they had not been in these straits; but the regarded not the warning. Silver and gold would not feed them: the must have corn. All that a man hath will he give for his life. We cannot judge this matter by modern rules. It is plain that the Egyptians regarded Joseph as a public benefactor. The whole i consistent with Joseph's character, acting between Pharaoh and his subjects, in the fear of God. The Egyptians confessed concernin Joseph, Thou hast saved our lives. What multitudes will gratefully say to Jesus, at the last day, Thou hast saved our souls from the mos tremendous destruction, and in the season of uttermost distress! The Egyptians parted with all their property, and even their liberty, for the saving of their lives: can it then be too much for us to count all but loss, and part with all, at His command, and for His sake, who wil both save our souls, and give us an hundredfold, even here, in thi present world? Surely if saved by Christ, we shall be willing to becom his servants.
Original Hebrew
ויאמר 559 יוסף 3130 אל 413 העם 5971 הן 2005 קניתי 7069 אתכם 853 היום 3117 ואת 853 אדמתכם 127 לפרעה 6547 הא 1887 לכם זרע 2233 וזרעתם 2232 את 853 האדמה׃ 127
