And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands.
The famine was so sore in all lands - i:e., the lands contiguous to Egypt-Canaan, Syria, and Arabia. As to Canaan and Syria, see the note at Genesis 42:4 and in proof that the seven years' famine was "sore" in Arabia also, see direct allusions made in Himyarite inscriptions, supposed to be of the age of Joseph (Foster's 'Historical Geography of Arabia;' Carey's 'Job.' p. 448).
Remarks: In the still immature state of Egyptian chronology, the most eminent Egyptologers are divided as to the Pharaoh who was the patron of Joseph. Wilkinson, Bunsen, etc., ascribe that honour to Osirtasen or Sesertesen I. of the twelfth dynasty. Others, who deem it incredible that a Hebrew slave would have been so highly promoted by any native princes, who, like the Chinese, were strongly prejudiced against all foreigners, conclude that the reigning Pharaoh was of the race of Hyk-Shos or Shepherd kings, who, successfully invaded Lower Egypt, and long held sovereign authority in the Delta. But they differ as to the royal person who patronized Joseph. Poole considers him to have been Assa or Assis, the fifth king of the fifteenth dynasty of Shepherds. Lepsius fixes on Sethos or Sethosis I., of the nineteenth dynasty; Osburn ('Mon. Hist.'), on Aphophis, of the seventeenth dynasty. With this opinion we are disposed to coincide, as the reign of Aphophis meets all the conditions of this history more fully than any other period.