Attributed commentary excerpt
John Gill's Exposition on Genesis 47:17
A historical reference excerpt for this verse. Read it alongside the biblical text and other available sources.
Exposition of the Old and New Testament
John Gill (1697–1771) · 18th-century historical commentary
Source: BibleWord.ai's local reference edition of this named work.
And they brought their cattle unto Joseph, etc.] Which they might the more readily do, since there was scarce any grass to feed them with; and though some of them were creatures used for food, yet might be so lean and poor for want of grass, as not to be fit to eat; and besides, they could do better without flesh than without bread: and Joseph gave them bread [in exchange] for horses; with which Egypt abounded, to which many places of Scripture have respect, (<051716>Deuteronomy 17:16) (<111028>1 Kings 10:28 <220109>Song of Solomon 1:9 <233101> Isaiah 31:1,3); and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds; the sheep and the oxen; which shows that these creatures were bred and fed by them, and were, no doubt, slain, and used for food: and for the asses; which were used for carrying burdens: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle, for that year; which seems to be the sixth year of the famine: one would wonder what Joseph should do with all their cattle, where put them, and feed them, in such a time of drought; though it is probable the number was not exceeding large, since they only fetched one year’s provision of bread.
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