²⁰ Then Joseph ^(A)bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for every man of the Egyptians sold his field, because the famine was severe upon them. So the land became Pharaoh’s. ²¹ And as for the people, he ^[a]moved them into the cities, from one end of the borders of Egypt to the other end. ^22 (B)Only the land of the ^(C)priests he did not buy; for the priests had rations allotted to them by Pharaoh, and they ate their rations which Pharaoh gave them; therefore they did not sell their lands.

²³ Then Joseph said to the people, “Indeed I have bought you and your land this day for Pharaoh. Look, here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. ²⁴ And it shall come to pass in the harvest that you shall give one-fifth to Pharaoh. Four-fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and for your food, for those of your households and as food for your little ones.”

²⁵ So they said, “You have saved ^(D)our lives; let us find favor in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants.” ²⁶ And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt to this day, that Pharaoh should have one-fifth, ^(E)except for the land of the priests only, which did not become Pharaoh’s.

Joseph’s Vow to Jacob

²⁷ So Israel ^(F)dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions there and ^(G)grew and multiplied exceedingly. ²⁸ And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the length of Jacob’s life was one hundred and forty-seven years. ²⁹ When the time ^(H)drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “Now if I have found favor in your sight, please ^(I)put your hand under my thigh, and ^(J)deal kindly and truly with me. ^(K)Please do not bury me in Egypt, ³⁰ but ^(L)let me lie with my fathers; you shall carry me out of Egypt and ^(M)bury me in their burial place.”

And he said, “I will do as you have said.”

³¹ Then he said, “Swear to me.” And he swore to him. So ^(N)Israel bowed himself on the head of the bed.