For the famine has covered the land these two years, and there will be five more years without plowing or harvesting.
Judah and his brethren were waiting for an answer, and could not but be amazed to discover, instead of the gravity of a judge, the natural affection of a father or brother. I. Joseph ordered all his attendants to withdraw, Gen 45:1. The private conversations of friends are the most free.
Commenting on Genesis 45:1-15
For these two years hath the famine been, in the land,.... In the land of Egypt and in the countries round about: and yet there are five years; still remaining, which he knew by the above dreams and the interpretation of them: in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest; that is, no tillage of land, neither ploughing nor sowing, and so no...
and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest--"Ear" is an old English word, meaning "to plough" (compare Sa1 8:12; Isa 30:24). This seems to confirm the view given (Gen 41:57) that the famine was caused by an extraordinary drought, which prevented the annual overflowing of the Nile; and of course made the land unfit to receive the seed of Egypt.