Genesis 41:47-57

When Joseph Ruled In Egypt

Joseph immediately caused storehouses to be built in the cities. A twenty percent tax was collected from the abundant harvest. The grain collected was so bountiful, they ceased to number the amount. During that time, Joseph's first son was born. He named him Manasseh, which means, "causing to forget." God had helped Joseph forget the years of painful service and the hurt inflicted on him by his brothers. A second son was named Ephraim, meaning, "double fruitfulness." Joseph said God had caused him to be fruitful in the land of his affliction.

At the end of seven years of plenty, the famine came just as God, through Joseph, had said it would. The famine encompassed all the surrounding lands as well, but only Egypt had bread. This was because Egypt was the only nation with grain. Pharaoh directed the complaining people to go to Joseph. Joseph then began to sell them the grain they had been storing up. When other people in other lands heard it, they naturally came to Egypt to buy from Joseph (Genesis 41:47-57).