Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does Genesis 47:13 mean when it says 'there was no bread in all the land'?
A: The verse describes the severity of the famine during Yosef's (Joseph's) time in Egypt. According to Rashi, 'there was no bread' means that all stored grain had been exhausted, and even the wealthy had run out of food. The famine was so intense that it affected both Egypt and Canaan equally, showing how widespread the hardship was.
Q: Why was the famine in Genesis 47:13 so severe?
A: The famine was part of Hashem's plan, as foretold in Pharaoh's dreams (Genesis 41). The Midrash explains that this famine was one of the ten great famines in history meant to shape Jewish destiny. Ramban (Nachmanides) adds that it was a test of faith and a way to bring Yaakov's (Jacob's) family down to Egypt, fulfilling the prophecy given to Avraham (Abraham) in Genesis 15:13.
Q: How did Yosef (Joseph) handle the famine described in Genesis 47:13?
A: Yosef, as viceroy of Egypt, had wisely stored grain during the seven years of plenty (Genesis 41:48-49). When the famine struck, he distributed food in exchange for money, livestock, and eventually land (Genesis 47:14-20). The Talmud (Chullin 60b) praises Yosef’s leadership in sustaining the people while maintaining order during the crisis.
Q: What lesson can we learn from the famine in Genesis 47:13?
A: This verse teaches the importance of preparation and trusting in Hashem's plan. Yosef’s foresight in storing grain shows the value of hishtadlut (human effort), while the famine itself reminds us that hardships are part of divine providence. The Sages also derive from this that we should always be grateful when we have sustenance, as scarcity can come suddenly.
Q: How does the famine in Genesis 47:13 connect to Jewish history?
A: This famine directly led to Yaakov and his family settling in Egypt, setting the stage for the eventual Exodus. The Torah emphasizes that both Egypt and Canaan suffered to show that this was a global event, not just a local hardship. As Rambam (Maimonides) explains in Moreh Nevuchim, such events shape the Jewish people’s journey and reliance on Hashem.
Context in the Torah Narrative
This verse (Bereshit 47:13) describes the severity of the famine during Yosef's governance in Mitzrayim. The famine had spread beyond Mitzrayim to affect Eretz Kena'an, where Yaakov and his family resided. The Torah emphasizes the extent of the hardship by stating there was no bread "in all the land," underscoring the desperation of the people.
Rashi's Commentary
Rashi explains the phrase "וַתֵּלַהּ" (languished) as deriving from the root ל.א.ה, meaning exhaustion or weariness. He interprets this as the land becoming "weary" from the famine, as if the earth itself was depleted of strength to produce crops. This anthropomorphism highlights the severity of the situation—even the land seemed to suffer.
Rambam's Perspective on Divine Providence
Rambam (Hilchot Ta'anit 1:1-3) discusses famines as a form of divine wake-up call for teshuvah. The severity of this famine, affecting both Mitzrayim and Kena'an, could be understood as a test or a means to bring about Yosef's rise to power and the eventual descent of Bnei Yisrael to Mitzrayim—fulfilling the prophecy given to Avraham in Bereshit 15:13.
Midrashic Insights
Ibn Ezra's Linguistic Analysis
Ibn Ezra notes the poetic structure of the verse, where "וַתֵּלַהּ" conveys a gradual decline—not just a sudden lack of food, but a prolonged suffering that weakened the people and the land over time. This aligns with the seven-year duration of the famine.
Halachic Implications
The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 575:1) cites famines as one of the circumstances requiring public fasting and prayer. The severity described here would certainly qualify as a situation demanding communal supplication, reflecting the Torah's broader lessons about reliance on Hashem during crises.