And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part; except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh’s.
So Joseph made it a law in Egypt that continues to this day: Pharaoh gets one-fifth of all the harvest from the land. The only exception was the priests' land, which didn't become Pharaoh's property.
This verse explains how Joseph established a permanent tax system in Egypt where the king received 20% of all crops, except from religious leaders' land.
📚 Historical Context
During a severe famine in ancient Egypt, Joseph, who had risen to a position of great authority under Pharaoh after interpreting his dreams, managed the nation's food supplies by buying up land and resources from the starving people. This led to Pharaoh owning most of the land, with Joseph instituting a permanent tax where one-fifth of the produce went to the ruler, ensuring long-term stability. However, the priests' land was exempted, reflecting the cultural respect for religious institutions in Egyptian society, which helped maintain social order.
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