“The earth produced, during the seven years of plenty, in abundance” (Genesis 41:47). “The earth produced, during the seven years of plenty, in abundance [likmatzim]” – Rabbi Yoḥanan said: From the reaping [kotzetz] kometz]> to the mill,8The produce could go directly from reaping to the mill, without the common intermediary processes such as threshing and winnowing. for savings [dekamtzeta] and not for savings.9Many commentaries argue that this phrase should not appear in the statement of Rabbi Yoḥanan.
The Rabbis say: For savings and not for savings.10There was enough to eat, and to store away for future use. Alternatively, the produce filled the storehouses and there was even more. “He gathered all the food of the seven years that were in the land of Egypt, and placed food in the cities; he placed the food of the fields that were around the city in it” (Genesis 41:48). “Joseph amassed grain like the sand of the sea, very much, until one stopped counting, as it was without number” (Genesis 41:49).
“He gathered all the food…he placed the food of the fields that were around the city in it” – he placed what was in the outskirts of Tiberias into Tiberias, and what was on the outskirts of Tzippori into Tzippori,11These cities are located in the land of Israel and not in Egypt; they are cited merely as examples. because each and every land preserves its own produce.12The produce will be better preserved when stored near the place where it was grown.
Rabbi Neḥemya said: He placed dust and ashes in them, materials that preserve produce. The Rabbis say: If all the residents of Tiberias were to gather and eat everything that is within the boundaries of Tiberias, and all the residents of Tzippori to eat what is within the boundaries of Tzippori, each of them would get not even a handful. That is what is said: Blessing is located in the storehouses – “Joseph amassed grain like the sand of the sea, very much…” (Genesis 41:49).13When the grain was stored away it increased.
This is how it was possible for the grain grown around each city to suffice for the residents of that city, without resorting to using grain grown in outlying areas further from the city.