Genesis 47:18-19 - Exposition

When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year (not the second from the commencement of the dearth, but the second from the consumption of their money), and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that— literally, for if (so we should speak openly), hence equivalent to an intensified but — our money (literally, the silver ) is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle ;—literally, our herds of cattle also (sc. have come) to my lord— there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands: wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may (literally, and we shall ) live, and not die, that the land be not desolate (literally, and the land shall not be desolate ).