Genesis 47:23-31 ▼

23 After this, Joseph addressed the people. |Pay attention,| he said. |I've bought you and your land for Pharaoh today, in exchange for seed for you. Now go sow the land.

24 When harvest season arrives, you are to provide a fifth of the harvest to Pharaoh. The remaining four fifths are to be for your use, for seed, and to feed you, your households, and your little ones.|

25 |You've saved our lives,| they replied. |If it pleases you, your Excellency, we'll be Pharaoh's slaves.|

26 So Joseph crafted a statute concerning Egypt that remains valid to this day that Pharaoh should own a fifth of the produce, excluding the land belonging to the priests, which remained outside of Pharaoh's control.

27 Israel remained in Egypt's Goshen territory, acquired land there, became prosperous, and his descendants grew very numerous.

28 He lived for seventeen more years in Egypt, until he was 147 years old.

29 As the time approached for Israel to die, he called for his son Joseph and addressed him. |Please,| he asked, |if you're happy with me, make a solemn promise that you'll treat me fairly and kindly by not burying me in Egypt.

30 Instead, when I've died, as my ancestors have, you are to carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their tomb.| |I'll do what you've asked,| Joseph replied.

31 |Promise me,| Israel insisted. So Joseph promised. Then Israel collapsed on his bed.