Insight:
The dearth in the land was so severe that the Egyptians sell their livestock, land and even themselves to Joseph on behalf of Pharoh. Joseph then leases the land back to the people so they can grow crops, 20% of the fruit of the harvest is to be given to Pharoh.
In chapter 48, Joseph takes his two son’s Manasseh and Ephraim to see his dying father, Jacob. Jacob adopts the sons as his own because he doesn’t want to see these two boys go the way of Egypt, but to be a part of God’s inheritance. Ephraim the youngest is blessed over Manasseh the eldest, just like their grandfather was blessed over his older twin brother Esau.
