בראשית, פרק מ״ז, פסוק י״ז

As the economic crisis in Egypt deepens and all currency is exhausted, the desperate population is forced to trade their most valuable assets—their livestock—for basic survival. Joseph accepts their animals and provides them with bread in return. The specific manner in which these animals are traded reveals much about their value and the Egyptian economy. Horses are exchanged first, reflecting their status as the most elite and important animals, a breed for which Egypt is famous. Because of their high, varying worth and their necessity to the kingdom, each horse is evaluated and sold individually [העמק דבר, רש״ר הירש]. By contrast, the flocks and herds are traded as entire groups, evaluated collectively without an exact count. These flocks are particularly valuable to the government, which requires their wool for army uniforms. Donkeys, however, are sold based on a precise count with a fixed price for each animal [העמק דבר]. This division of property might also reflect the diverse populations living in the region; the native Egyptians likely trade the horses and donkeys, while the residents of Goshen supply the flocks [שד״ל].

A notable detail in this massive exchange is the complete absence of pigs, despite the fact that Egyptian pigs are known to be of excellent quality. This omission serves as a subtle indication of the religious prohibition against engaging in commerce with impure animals [פרדס יוסף].

Joseph's handling of the crisis goes beyond a simple transaction. On a basic level, he acts as a leader and provider, sustaining the people and fulfilling their needs in exchange for their livestock [רש״י, שד״ל, רלב״ג, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. Yet, his leadership provides more than mere survival; he grants them a sense of relief, comfort, and calm through the steady supply of food [הכתב והקבלה]. Another perspective suggests that Joseph manages the food distribution with deliberate slowness. Rather than allowing the people to eat until they are full, he distributes the food gradually in small portions. This approach stems from the medical understanding that eating heavily and suddenly after a prolonged period of starvation can lead to severe illness or even death. By strictly controlling their intake, Joseph actively protects their health [ספורנו].

This exchange of livestock for sustenance takes place during the year the money finally runs out. The exact timing of this phase in the crisis is debated. Some commentators suggest that this occurs during the second year of the famine [ביאור שטיינזלץ], while an alternative view places these events much later, during the sixth year of the starvation period [ספורנו].