Why did priests not sell their land according to Genesis 47:22? Key Verse Genesis 47:22: “However, he did not acquire the land of the priests, because they received an allotment from Pharaoh and ate from Pharaoh’s allotment, which Pharaoh had given them. Therefore they did not sell their land.” What Was Happening in Genesis 47 • Famine gripped Egypt; Joseph, acting under Pharaoh’s authority, bought nearly all private farmland for the crown (Genesis 47:13–21). • The priests alone kept their holdings. Their lands were exempt from sale and taxation. Reasons the Priests Kept Their Land • Royal Provision – Pharaoh had “given them an allotment” of both food and land. – Because their sustenance was already secured, they had no need to trade property for grain. • Religious Obligation – Priests were expected to maintain continual temple service; losing land would have diverted them into common labor. – Protecting their livelihood ensured uninterrupted religious rites, which Egyptians believed preserved national well-being. • Established Privilege – Ancient records outside Scripture confirm that Egypt’s priesthood enjoyed special economic status, often immune to state confiscation. • Precedent of Divine Order – Joseph’s wisdom (Genesis 41:38–40) preserved an existing structure that God later paralleled for Israel: • Levitical priests received tithes instead of territorial inheritance (Deuteronomy 18:1–2). • Ministers of the sanctuary lived from offerings brought to God (1 Corinthians 9:13). – The pattern underscores a biblical principle: those devoted to sacred service are supported apart from ordinary means. Biblical Echoes and Reinforcement • Numbers 18:20–21: “You shall have no inheritance in the land… I am your inheritance.” • Nehemiah 13:10–12 — Restoring priestly portions revived temple worship. • 1 Timothy 5:18 — “The laborer is worthy of his wages.” Key Takeaways Today • God establishes practical provision for those who serve Him full-time. • Respecting that provision—whether for pastors, missionaries, or church workers—reflects the same wisdom Joseph exercised. • The narrative illustrates God’s care: even in crisis, He differentiates and sustains those entrusted with spiritual leadership. |
    |