Thematic Bible: Monopoly of

Cursed are those who are joining house to house, and putting field to field, till there is no more living-space for any but themselves in all 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

Joseph bought all the land in Egypt for the king. Every Egyptian was forced to sell his land, because the famine was so severe. All the land became the king's property. He [Joseph] removed the people into the cities from one end of the borders of Egypt to the other. The only land he did not buy was the land that belonged to the priests. The king gave the priests an allowance to live on. So they did not have to sell their lands. read more.
Joseph said to the people: I have now bought you and your lands for the king. Here is seed for you to sow in your fields. You must give one-fifth to the king at the time of harvest. You can use the rest for seed and for food for yourselves and your families. They answered: You have saved our lives. You have been good to us. We will be the king's slaves. Joseph made it a law for the land of Egypt that one-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.

Woe to those who devise iniquity and work evil upon their beds! When the morning comes they do it because they are able to (it is in the power of their hands). They covet fields and seize them. They covet houses and confiscate them! They oppress a man and his house, even a man and his heritage.