I learned something very strange today --

After reading a recent article by Henry Makow, I looked into it myself...

Joseph, the son of Jacob (Israel) seems to have brought Egypt to a state of socialism, even Communism! Distributists would be rolling over in their graves over what Joseph apparently did. To wit:

(Genesis, Ch. 47)
13 For in the whole world there was want of bread, and a famine had oppressed the land: more especially of Egypt and Chanaan. 14 Out of which he gathered up all the money for the corn which they bought, and brought it into the king's treasure. 15 And when the buyers wanted money, all Egypt came to Joseph, saying: Give us bread: why should we die in thy presence, having now no money.

16 And he answered them: Bring me your cattle, and for them I will give you food, if you have no money. 17 And when they had brought them, he gave them food in exchange for their horses, and sheep, and oxen, and asses and he maintained them that year for the exchange of their cattle. 18 And they came the second year, and said to him: We will not hide from our lord, how that our money is spent, and our cattle also are gone: neither art thou ignorant that we have nothing now left but our bodies and our lands. 19 Why therefore shall we die before thy eyes? we will be thine, both we and our lands: buy us to be the king's servants, and give us seed, lest for want of tillers the land be turned into a wilderness. 20 So Joseph bought all the land of Egypt, every man selling his possessions, because of the greatness of the famine. And he brought it into Pharao's hands:

21 And all its people from one end of the borders of Egypt, even to the other end thereof, 22 Except the land of the priests, which had been given them by the king: to whom also a certain allowance of food was given out of the public stores, and therefore they were not forced to sell their possessions. 23 Then Joseph said to the people: Behold as you see, both you and your lands belong to Pharao: take seed and sow the fields, 24 That you may have corn. The fifth part you shall give to the king: the other four you shall have for seed, and for food for your families and children. 25 And they answered: Our life is in thy hand: only let my lord look favourably upon us, and we will gladly serve the king.

26 From that time unto this day, in the whole land of Egypt, the fifth part is paid to the king, and it is become as a law, except the land of the priests, which was free from this covenant.

So it appears Joseph caused "deflation" in the money supply by keeping the money out of circulation, and centralized control of industry (i.e., farm animals -- which were the basis of wealth and output in an agricultural society) in the hands of the Egyptian king.

Obviously it was God's will, because a less "powerful centralized monarchy" would not have been able to oppress the Israelites, and we wouldn't have the lessons of Exodus, etc. So I supposed it is a mystery of God's providence.

Note also how clever Joseph was, in a worldly/financial sense as well as being holy and wise. He had "Jacob's blessing" which is a material blessing. It might explain why Jєωs have always been good with finance and things material. I'm sure that Joseph, if he were on earth today, would understand fractional reserve banking, fiat currency, credit default swaps, derivatives, etc. even if his brain was tired.

I just found it very fascinating.

Matthew