Genesis 47:22Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Except for the territory belonging to the priests, that alone is not available for purchase, for the priests were given the bread designated for them by Pharaoh without cost.

Joseph could have squandered the wealth of Egypt and the royal treasures, but he chose not to waste resources on others' behalf. Instead, he opted to sell the bread to those in need rather than hand it out freely; had he given it to a select few, the vast majority would have been left empty-handed. He favored a distribution method that ensured abundance for all, opening the storerooms so that everyone could purchase grain, thereby encouraging them to continue cultivating the land rather than relying on free handouts. He understood that those who depend on what belongs to someone else often neglect their own responsibilities.

Alongside the priests, the soldiers possessed the fields in a manner that did not confer true ownership, as evidenced by the annual change in their proprietors. The people engaged in farming by renting land from the king, the priests, and the soldiers, with only the land of the priests being exempt from purchase. Diodorus attests that one-third of the land in Egypt was allocated to the priests, another third to the king, and the remaining third to the soldiers. The income generated from these lands supported the expenses of sacred rituals and the sustenance of the priests, maintaining their esteemed status. They held significant advantages of honor and authority under the reign of the king. The rulers desired that divine service retain a consistent form and that its ministers remain unchanged, ensuring that those who advised and guided them in critical state matters were not lacking in any regard.