Reading for July 13th

 Read Genesis 47.1-31. In verse 11: The land of Rameses is another name for Goshen. Rameses was the name of the pharaoh in Egypt (Ex 1.11). In verse 13-26: The severity of the famine in Egypt forces the population gradually to give up their money, livestock, land, and freedom to the authority of Pharaoh. The program is managed by Joseph. Joseph's role in making slaves of the Egyptians (v.25) will be reverse in Ex 1.8-14. when a new pharaoh will enslave the Israelites. In verse 29: Jacob's instruction to Joseph to put your hand under my thigh, near the male reproductive organs, is a ritual of making an intimate and solemn oath or promise (24.2). In verse 30: Their burial place is a cave at Machpelah, which Abraham had purchased from the Hittites (23.1-20). Comments and Questions...