Welcome to my Hebrew reading & language series.

Genesis 47:29-31

We are wrapping up another chapter today with the rest of the deal Joseph was making with the people of the lands around Mitsraim (Egypt). He lets them know that one fifth of all they grow will go to Pharaoh and the rest is theirs to eat, seed their lands and feed their families. The priests were the only ones that did not have to pay anything. They would never go hungry because the Pharaoh had always been providing for their daily sustenance.

Then the text goes a bit backwards as it tells us how old Jacob (Israel) was when he died, but we still have a lot of scenes that will be laid out about what he does for the rest of his life. It says he lived in the land for seventeen more years and then died.

Finally, we are witness to a heartfelt conversation between Joseph and Israel, where Jacob asks Joseph to make sure that his body is not buried in Egypt, but rather that he lay in the burial place of his fathers. He asks Joseph to swear that he would carry his bones out of Egypt when he leaves there. and Joseph does so.

I did not read far ahead but I think we have another whole chapter to read relating to the actions of Jacob...

Today's reading

English

So Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt, and it stands to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth; the land of the priests alone did not become Pharaoh's.

Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen. And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly. And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were 147 years.

And when the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, "If now I have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal kindly and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt, but let me lie with my fathers. Carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying place." He answered, "I will do as you have said." And he said, "Swear to me"; and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself upon the head of his bed.

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Hebrew

The story continues next week as Jacob's age...

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