Joseph and End of 7 Year Drought

A great social revolution is forced upon Egypt by the stern necessity of famine, which had by now reduced the entire nation to a state of utter misery. The animals that thus became Pharaoh's property were probably left in the care of their owners. These terms, therefore, were not so severe as it would appear. A famishing people could expect no profit from starving cattle and dying herds.

Now they were to receive fodder for their animals, and probably enjoy a partial profit on them, by analogy to what happened to their land and its produce the next year (see vs. 23, 24). Realizing that their lot as Pharaoh's serfs would be preferable to that of free but starving citizens, they considered this solution advantageous to themselves as well as to the king. A full stomach was a far happier prospect than starvation.

Joseph distributed, or organized, the population of the land according to the cities in which grain was stored, placing them either in the cities or in their immediate vicinity. The priests formed a most influential and powerful segment of Egyptian society. No Pharaoh ever succeeded in permanently breaking their power, and very few dared to arouse their hatred or even lose their good will. More than half of all the wealth of Egypt was in the hands of the priests. They were tax—exempt throughout Egypt's ancient history.

The levy of 20 per cent collected during the 7 plentiful years, as an exceptional measure, had not seemed an excessive burden because of the tremendous amount of produce. Henceforth it was to be perpetuated as the regular tax rate, inasmuch as all lands had become the property of the crown. This new regulation was not considered harsh or unjust. It is an adequate refutation of the oft—repeated charge that Joseph despoiled the Egyptians of their liberties and reduced a free people to slavery. Slave—owners are usually not content with a tax of 20 per cent on the gross income of their estates.

Except for the tax, royal ownership of the lands was more nominal than real. At all events, the tax was not considered exorbitant by the people themselves. They were grateful to be able to remain alive and to retain the use of their animals, houses, and lands, even though it be under the nominal lordship of Pharaoh.