Thematic Bible: Monopoly of

"How terrible it will be for you who join house to house, who add field to field, until there is no more room, and you have settled yourselves alone in the middle of the land!" Verse ConceptsCoveting, prohibition ofExploitationsInjustice, Nature And Source OfLand, As A Divine ResponsibilityLove, Abuse OfStrength, HumanWorldly AmbitionSocial SelfishnessIsolated PersonsNo RoomTaking PossessionWoe To The Wickedspace

So Joseph purchased all of the Egyptian territory for Pharaoh. Every Egyptian sold his field, because the famine's effect was so severe. That's how Pharaoh came to own the land. Then Joseph transported the people to cities from one end of Egypt to the other. However, he did not purchase land belonging to the priests, because the priests held an allotment, previously provided to them by Pharaoh, from which they lived. That's why they did not sell their land. read more.
After this, Joseph addressed the people. "Pay attention," he said. "I've bought you and your land for Pharaoh today, in exchange for seed for you. Now go sow the land. When harvest season arrives, you are to provide a fifth of the harvest to Pharaoh. The remaining four fifths are to be for your use, for seed, and to feed you, your households, and your little ones." "You've saved our lives," they replied. "If it pleases you, your Excellency, we'll be Pharaoh's slaves." So Joseph crafted a statute concerning Egypt that remains valid to this day that Pharaoh should own a fifth of the produce, excluding the land belonging to the priests, which remained outside of Pharaoh's control.

"Woe to those who are crafting iniquity, planning evil well into the night! When morning's light comes, they carry out their plans because they have the power to do so. They covet fields and seize them; they covet houses, and grab them, too. They harass the valiant man, along with his household, an individual and his estate.