Genesis 50

Jacob Is Buried

1Then Joseph fell on his father’s face, and wept over him and kissed him. 2Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3Now forty days were #50:3 Lit fulfilledrequired for #50:3 Or himit, for #50:3 Lit so are fulfilled the days of embalmingsuch is the period required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept for him seventy days.

4When the days of #50:4 Lit weepingmourning for him were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your sight, please speak #50:4 Lit In the ears ofto Pharaoh, saying, 5‘My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am about to die; in my grave which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.” Now then, please let me go up and bury my father; then I will return.’ ” 6Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear.”

7So Joseph went up to bury his father, and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household and all the elders of the land of Egypt, 8and all the household of Joseph and his brothers and his father’s household; they left only their little ones and their flocks and their herds in the land of Goshen. 9Chariots with teams of horses also went up with him; and it was a very great company. 10When they came to the #50:10 Heb Goren ha-Atadthreshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they mourned there with a very great and #50:10 Lit heavysorrowful lamentation; and he #50:10 Lit made a mourning for seven daysobserved seven days of mourning for his father. 11Now when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning at #50:11 Heb Goren ha-Atadthe threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a #50:11 Lit heavygrievous #50:11 Heb ebelmourning for the Egyptians.” Therefore it was named #50:11 I.e., the meadow (or mourning) of EgyptAbel-mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan.

Burial at Machpelah

12And so his sons did for him as he had commanded them; 13for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah opposite Mamre, which Abraham had bought along with the field as a #50:13 Lit possession of a burial placeburial site from Ephron the Hittite. 14And after he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brothers, and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.

15When Joseph’s brothers had seen that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong which we did to him!” 16So they sent instructions to Joseph, saying, “Your father commanded us before he died, saying, 17‘This is what you shall say to Joseph: “Please forgive, I beg you, the offense of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.” ’ And now, please forgive the offense of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18Then his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in God’s place? 20As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about #50:20 Lit as this daythis present result, to keep many people alive. 21So therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” So he comforted them and spoke #50:21 Lit to their heartkindly to them.

Death of Joseph

22Now Joseph stayed in Egypt, he and his father’s household, and Joseph lived 110 years. 23Joseph saw the third generation of Ephraim’s sons; also the sons of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph’s knees. 24Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will assuredly #50:24 Or visittake care of you and bring you up from this land to the land which He #50:24 Lit sworepromised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, “God will assuredly #50:25 Or visittake care of you, and you shall carry my bones up from here.” 26So Joseph died at the age of 110 years; and they embalmed him and placed him in a coffin in Egypt.

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Genesis 50

1Joseph started crying, then leaned over to hug and kiss his father.

2Joseph gave orders for Jacob's body to be embalmed, 3and it took the usual 40 days.

The Egyptians mourned 70 days for Jacob. 4When the time of mourning was over, Joseph said to the Egyptian leaders, “If you consider me your friend, please speak to the king#50.4 the king: See the note at 12.15. for me. 5#Gn 47.29-31. Just before my father died, he made me promise to bury him in his burial cave in Canaan. If the king will give me permission to go, I will come back here.”

6The king answered, “Go to Canaan and keep your promise to your father.”

7-9When Joseph left Goshen with his brothers, his relatives, and his father's relatives to bury Jacob, many of the king's highest officials and even his military chariots and cavalry went along. The Israelites left behind only their children, their cattle, and their sheep and goats.

10After crossing the Jordan River, Joseph stopped at Atad's threshing place, where they all mourned and wept seven days for Jacob. 11The Canaanites saw this and said, “The Egyptians are in great sorrow.” Then they named the place “Egypt in Sorrow.”#50.11 Egypt in Sorrow: Or “Abel-Mizraim.”

12So Jacob's sons did just as their father had instructed. 13#Ac 7.16. They took him to Mamre in Canaan and buried him in Machpelah Cave, the burial place Abraham had bought from Ephron the Hittite.

14After the funeral, Joseph, his brothers, and everyone else returned to Egypt.

Joseph's Promise to His Brothers

15After Jacob died, Joseph's brothers said to each other, “What if Joseph still hates us and wants to get even with us for all the cruel things we did to him?”

16So they sent this message to Joseph:

Before our father died, 17he told us, “You did some cruel and terrible things to Joseph, but you must ask him to forgive you.”

Now we ask you to please forgive the terrible things we did. After all, we serve the same God that your father worshiped.

When Joseph heard this, he started crying.

18Right then, Joseph's brothers came and bowed down to the ground in front of him and said, “We are your slaves.”

19But Joseph told them, “Don't be afraid! I have no right to change what God has decided. 20You tried to harm me, but God made it turn out for the best, so that he could save all these people, as he is now doing. 21Don't be afraid! I will take care of you and your children.” After Joseph said this, his brothers felt much better.

Joseph's Death

22Joseph lived in Egypt with his brothers until he died at the age of 110. 23Joseph lived long enough to see Ephraim's children and grandchildren. He also lived to see the children of Manasseh's son Machir, and he welcomed them into his family. 24Before Joseph died, he told his brothers, “I won't live much longer. But God will take care of you and lead you out of Egypt to the land he promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 25#Ex 13.19; Js 24.32; He 11.22. Now promise me that you will take my body with you when God leads you to that land.”

26So Joseph died in Egypt at the age of 110; his body was embalmed and put in a coffin.

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