Not by force or violence, for Joseph would never be the author of such unrighteous counsels; but by purchase at the common price, which was like to be very low in that case, and therefore might easily be compassed by that rich and mighty prince. Quest. Why the fifth part, and not half, seeing the years of famine were as many as the years of plenty? Answ. Because,
1. Men would and should live more sparingly in times of famine.
2. It was likely that very many men would lay up great quantities of corn in those years, partly because they could not spend it all, and partly in expectation of a scarcer and dearer time, when they might either use it themselves, or sell it to their advantage.
3. The fifth part of those years of great plenty might be more than the half, yea, equal to the whole crop of ordinary years.