When all the land of AEgypt was famished— The people of AEgypt soon consumed their substance; avarice, most probably, inciting them, at first, to export much of their corn to other nations; or, certainly, as Joseph exacted only a fifth part, they had enough left to have maintained them much longer than the famine lasted, had they managed prudently. However, in their necessity they apply to Pharaoh, who commands them to repair to Joseph, in terms which seem to imply arbitrary power; and indeed Josephus informs us, in his book against Appian, that the AEgyptians do not appear to have enjoyed their liberty, in any passages, for one single day; no, not under their own princes. All nations in the first formation of governments were subject, it is thought, to the arbitrary rule of princes. So says Justin, lib. I. cap. 1. Principio rerum populus nullis legibus tenebatur, arbitria principum pro legibus erant. "In the beginning of things the people were held together by no laws; the will of princes was instead of laws," Plato, in his book of laws, gives the same account of the earliest ages. The testimony which this same Justin gives, lib. 36: cap. 2. though delivered by a heathen, and in a great degree not true, is yet so corroborative of the Scripture account, that it deserves attention: "Joseph," says he, "the youngest of his brethren, had a superiority of genius, which made them fear him, and fell him to foreign merchants, who carried him to AEgypt, where he practised the magic art with such success, as rendered him very dear to the king. He had a great sagacity in the explanation of prophecies and dreams; nor was there any thing so abstruse, either in divine or human knowledge, that he did not readily attain. He foretold a great dearth several years before it happened, and prevented a famine's falling upon AEgypt, by advising the king to publish a decree, requiring the people to make provision for divers years. His knowledge, in short, was so great, that the AEgyptians listened to the prophecies coming from his mouth, as if they had proceeded not from man, but from GOD himself."
REFLECTIONS.—Joseph's provident care is now sensibly felt. The countries around, under the scourge of famine as well as AEgypt, come to buy corn, and are referred to Joseph, whose management, no doubt, in the sale, was as just and equitable as his prudence in providing had been singular. Note; It is highly our duty in times of dearth to open our store-houses; and neither by a fictitious famine, nor an unreasonable price, to grind the faces of the poor.