And when they had brought them, he gave them food in exchange for their horses, and sheep, and oxen, and asses: and he maintained them that year for the exchange of their cattle.
וַיָּבִ֣יאוּ אֶת־מִקְנֵיהֶם֮ אֶל־יוֹסֵף֒ וַיִּתֵּ֣ן לָהֶם֩ יוֹסֵ֨ף לֶ֜חֶם בַּסּוּסִ֗ים וּבְמִקְנֵ֥ה הַצֹּ֛אן וּבְמִקְנֵ֥ה הַבָּקָ֖ר וּבַחֲמֹרִ֑ים וַיְנַהֲלֵ֤ם בַּלֶּ֙חֶם֙ בְּכָל־מִקְנֵהֶ֔ם בַּשָּׁנָ֖ה הַהִֽוא׃
2 Church Fathers comment on this verse
They brought their livestock to Joseph, and in exchange, Joseph provided them with bread for their horses, as well as for their flocks of sheep and goats, their herds of cattle, and their donkeys. Throughout that year, he sustained them with bread for all their animals.
Joseph had the potential to distribute all of Egypt's wealth and deplete the royal reserves, yet he chose not to waste resources at the expense of others. Instead of giving away bread to the needy, which might have benefited only a few while leaving the majority empty-handed, he opted to sell it. His intention was to ensure that everyone could access grain, allowing the land to remain cultivated. He understood that relying on others’ provisions leads to neglecting one’s own responsibilities. Therefore, he gathered all the money and resources, and ultimately allocated rights to the land to Pharaoh, not to strip everyone of their property but to enhance the common good. He instituted a tax so that people could retain their land peacefully.
Those from whom he acquired land viewed his actions as not a loss of their rights but a means of salvation. They declared, “You have saved our lives; we have found favor in the sight of our lord” (Gen. 47:25). They did not lose their rightful possessions; rather, they regained confidence about their future. This great leader did not pursue fleeting acclaim through excessive generosity; instead, he established a lasting principle of prudence, encouraging the people to support themselves through taxes. In times of scarcity, they were advised not to look for external assistance but to rely on their resources. It is wiser to share a portion of one’s yield than to risk losing everything. Joseph mandated that a fifth of the harvest be given, demonstrating both foresight and compassion in taxation policy. Consequently, Egypt did not suffer from famine again.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS