Genesis 47:26

WEB

Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth. Only the land of the priests alone did not become Pharaoh's.

KJV

And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part, except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh’s.

Commentary

And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day,.... With the consent of Pharaoh, his nobles, and all the people of the land, who r eadily came into it; and so it became, a fundamental law of their constitution, and which continued to the times of Moses, the writer of this history: that Pharaoh should have the fifth part; that is, of the increase the whole land of Egypt produced: except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh's; it not being bought by him; so Diodorus Siculus (m), as he assigns the first part of the land to the priests, so he says they were free from all taxes and tribute, and next to the king were possessed of honour and authority. (m) Ut supra. (Bibliothec. l. 1. p. 47.)