Genesis 47:13-19

Genesis 47:13-19

[13] And there was no bread  in all the land;  for the famine  was very  sore,  so that the land  of Egypt  and all the land  of Canaan  fainted  by reason  of the famine.  [14] And Joseph  gathered up  all the money  that was found  in the land  of Egypt,  and in the land  of Canaan,  for the corn  which they bought:  and Joseph  brought  the money  into Pharaoh's  house.  [15] And when money  failed  in the land  of Egypt,  and in the land  of Canaan,  all the Egyptians  came  unto Joseph,  and said,  Give  us bread:  for why should we die  in thy presence? for the money  faileth.  [16] And Joseph  said,  Give  your cattle;  and I will give  you for your cattle,  if money  fail.  [17] And they brought  their cattle  unto Joseph:  gave  them bread  in exchange for horses,  and for the flocks,  and for the cattle  of the herds,  and for the asses:  and he fed  them with bread  for all their cattle  for that year.  [18] When that year  was ended,  they came  unto him the second  year,  and said  unto him, We will not hide  it from my lord,  how that our money  is spent;  my lord  also hath  our herds  of cattle;  there is not ought left  in the sight  of my lord,  but our bodies,  and our lands:  [19] Wherefore shall we die  before thine eyes,  both we and our land?  buy  us and our land  for bread,  and we and our land  will be servants  unto Pharaoh:  and give  us seed,  that we may live,  and not die,  that the land  be not desolate. 

What does Genesis 47:13-19 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

"Both Egyptian and Mesopotamian slavery differentiated generally between formerly free people who became debt slaves and foreigners (usually war captives) who were bought and sold as chattel. Mesopotamian laws and contracts indicate that creditors obtained the service of the debt slave until the debt was covered, but chattel slaves belonged to their owners without much chance of release. Although we cannot know from Genesis , there is reason to believe that the voluntary submission of the people assumes that the enslavement was not permanent (cp. the law established by Joseph, Genesis 47:26)." [1]
"The idea of slavery is not attractive to the modern mind, but in the ancient world it was the primary way of dealing with the poor and destitute. If people became slaves of Pharaoh, it was Pharaoh"s responsibility to feed them and care for them. It was the best way for them to survive the famine." [2]
This is the first mention of horses in the Bible, the primary beast of burden and military mechine at this time ( Genesis 47:17). Egypt was an important source of horses in Solomon"s day (cf. 1 Kings 10:28-29).