the fifth part 47:26 the fifth part. In effect, the people
became Pharaoh’s “servants” merely in the sense that Joseph
established a “flat tax” of twenty percent of their income that
would go to the government. Otherwise, they still had full
control over their individual property. The government provided
seed for their use, and presumably all the standard government
services. Furthermore, these governmental regulations as
established by Joseph had literally “saved their lives” (Genesis
47:25). Their enforced savings during the seven years of
prosperity had not only enabled them to survive the seven years
of famine but also to help other nations as well. “Saving for a
rainy day” has always been good policy, for individuals and for
nations.