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Genesis 47:22 - Priests' land divinely protected?

Genesis 47:22 - בראשית 47:22

Hebrew Text

רַק אַדְמַת הַכֹּהֲנִים לֹא קָנָה כִּי חֹק לַכֹּהֲנִים מֵאֵת פַּרְעֹה וְאָכְלוּ אֶת־חֻקָּם אֲשֶׁר נָתַן לָהֶם פַּרְעֹה עַל־כֵּן לֹא מָכְרוּ אֶת־אַדְמָתָם׃

English Translation

Only the land of the priests he bought not; for the priests had a portion assigned them by Par῾o, and did eat their portion which Par῾o gave them: therefore they sold not their lands.

Transliteration

Rak admat hakohanim lo kanah ki chok lakohanim me'et Par'o ve'achlu et-chukam asher natan lahem Par'o al-ken lo machru et-admatam.

Hebrew Leining Text

רַ֛ק אַדְמַ֥ת הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים לֹ֣א קָנָ֑ה כִּי֩ חֹ֨ק לַכֹּהֲנִ֜ים מֵאֵ֣ת פַּרְעֹ֗ה וְאָֽכְל֤וּ אֶת־חֻקָּם֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֤ן לָהֶם֙ פַּרְעֹ֔ה עַל־כֵּ֕ן לֹ֥א מָכְר֖וּ אֶת־אַדְמָתָֽם׃
רַ֛ק אַדְמַ֥ת הַכֹּהֲנִ֖ים לֹ֣א קָנָ֑ה כִּי֩ חֹ֨ק לַכֹּהֲנִ֜ים מֵאֵ֣ת פַּרְעֹ֗ה וְאָֽכְל֤וּ אֶת־חֻקָּם֙ אֲשֶׁ֨ר נָתַ֤ן לָהֶם֙ פַּרְעֹ֔ה עַל־כֵּ֕ן לֹ֥א מָכְר֖וּ אֶת־אַדְמָתָֽם׃

🎵 Listen to leining

Parasha Commentary

Context of the Verse

This verse appears in Bereshit (Genesis) 47:22, describing Yosef's economic policies during the years of famine in Egypt. While Yosef acquired all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh in exchange for food, the verse specifies that the land of the priests remained untouched.

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki) comments that the priests (Kohanim) did not sell their land because they already received a fixed portion (chok) from Pharaoh. Since they were sustained by Pharaoh's provisions, they had no need to sell their land for food. Rashi emphasizes that this exemption was unique to the Egyptian priests, not a universal principle for all priests.

Rambam's Perspective

Rambam (Maimonides) in Hilchot Shemitah v'Yovel (13:12) discusses the laws of land ownership for Kohanim and Levi'im in Israel. While this verse describes Egyptian practice, Rambam contrasts it with Torah law, where Kohanim and Levi'im receive portions (terumah and ma'aser) but still retain their ancestral lands.

Midrashic Insights

  • Bereshit Rabbah (90:6) notes that Pharaoh honored the Egyptian priests due to their role in interpreting dreams (including his own), paralleling Yosef's rise through dream interpretation.
  • The exemption of the priests' land highlights Divine Providence—even in exile, Hashem ensures distinctions between sacred and secular roles.

Halachic Implications

The Kli Yakar (Rabbi Shlomo Ephraim Luntschitz) observes that this verse underscores the importance of sustaining spiritual leaders. Though discussing Egyptian priests, it implicitly teaches that those dedicated to Divine service should not be burdened with material struggles, a principle later codified for Kohanim and Torah scholars in Jewish law.

Symbolic Interpretation

The Or HaChaim (Rabbi Chaim ibn Attar) suggests that the priests' retained land symbolizes the eternal portion of the Jewish people—the Torah. Just as the priests' land was inalienable, the bond between Klal Yisrael and Torah cannot be severed, even in exile.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is not quoted in the Talmud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why didn't Pharaoh buy the land of the priests in Genesis 47:22?
A: According to Rashi, the priests had a fixed portion (חוק) from Pharaoh, meaning they received their sustenance directly from him and didn't need to sell their land like the rest of the Egyptians. This was likely because the priests served a vital role in Egyptian society and were supported by the monarchy.
Q: What does this verse teach us about the role of the priests in Egypt?
A: The verse shows that the Egyptian priests had a special status, as Pharaoh provided for their needs. The Rambam (Hilchot Shemittah 13:12) later explains that this concept of supporting those who serve spiritual roles (like Kohanim and Levi'im) carries over to Jewish law as well.
Q: How is this verse relevant to Jewish tradition about Kohanim?
A: While this verse discusses Egyptian priests, Jewish tradition (as explained in Midrash Tanchuma) sees a parallel to the Torah's laws where the Kohanim and Levi'im don't receive a portion of land in Israel, but are instead sustained by the people through tithes and offerings for their service in the Temple.
Q: What lesson can we learn from the priests not selling their land?
A: The Sforno teaches that this shows the importance of ensuring that those dedicated to spiritual service have their material needs provided for, allowing them to focus entirely on their sacred duties without the distraction of financial worries.