19. Don't let us die. Do something! Don't let our fields be deserted. Buy us and our land in exchange for food. We will be the king's slaves, and he will own our land. Give us corn to keep us alive and seed to sow in our fields.”
20. Joseph bought all the land in Egypt for the king. Every Egyptian was forced to sell his land, because the famine was so severe; and all the land became the king's property.
21. Joseph made slaves of the people from one end of Egypt to the other.
22. The only land he did not buy was the land that belonged to the priests. They did not have to sell their lands, because the king gave them an allowance to live on.
23. Joseph said to the people, “You see, I have now bought you and your lands for the king. Here is seed for you to sow in your fields.
24. At the time of harvest you must give a fifth to the king. You can use the rest for seed and for food for yourselves and your families.”
25. They answered, “You have saved our lives; you have been good to us, sir, and we will be the king's slaves.”
26. So Joseph made it a law for the land of Egypt that a fifth of the harvest should belong to the king. This law still remains in force today. Only the lands of the priests did not become the king's property.
27. The Israelites lived in Egypt in the region of Goshen, where they became rich and had many children.
28. Jacob lived in Egypt for seventeen years, until he was 147 years old.
29. When the time drew near for him to die, he called for his son Joseph and said to him, “Place your hand between my thighs and make a solemn vow that you will not bury me in Egypt.