Genesis 50

Lamentation for Jacob

1Joseph fell upon his father’s face, wept over him and kissed him.

2Then Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father, so the physicians embalmed Israel.

3They took 40 days for him, because that is how long embalming takes, and Egypt wept 70 days.

4When the days of formal weeping passed, Joseph spoke to Pharaoh’s house saying, “If I’ve found favor in your eyes, please say in Pharaoh’s ears,

5“My father made me take an oath saying, ‘Behold, I am about to die. In my tomb—which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan—there you must bury me.’ So now, please allow me to go up and bury my father, and then return.”

6Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father just as he made you swear on oath.”

7So Joseph went up to bury his father. Also all of Pharaoh’s servants, the elders of his household and all the elders of the land of Egypt went up with him,

8along with all of Joseph’s house, his brothers, and his father’s household. Only their children and their flocks and cattle were left in the land of Goshen.

9Chariots and horsemen also went up with him—it was a very impressive company.

10When they came to the threshing floor of the bramble on the other side of the Jordan, they mourned there—a very great and solemn lamentation. He observed seven days of mourning for his father.

11When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning ritual at the threshing floor of the prickly bush, they said, “A solemn mourning ritual this is for the Egyptians.” That is why it is named Abel-Mizraim, which is on the other side of the Jordan.

12So Jacob’s sons did for him just as he commanded them.

13His sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, the field that Abraham bought as a property for burial from Ephron the Hittite, next to Mamre.

14After burying his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brothers and all those who went up with him to bury his father.

Joseph Comforts His Brothers

15When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father had died, they said, “Maybe Joseph will be hostile towards us and pay us back in full for all the evil we showed him.

16So they charged Joseph saying, “Before his death, your father gave a command, saying,

17“Thus you must say to Joseph: ‘Please forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers and their sin because they treated you wrongly.’ Therefore, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Then Joseph wept when they spoke to him,

18and his brothers also came and fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your slaves!”

19But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. For am I in the place of God?

20Yes, you yourselves planned evil against me. God planned it for good, in order to bring about what it is this day—to preserve the lives of many people.

21So now, don’t be afraid. I myself will provide food for you and your little ones.” So he reassured them, speaking kindly to them.

22Joseph remained 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, Manasseh’s son, were born upon Joseph’s knees.

24Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I’m about to die. But God will surely take notice of you and will bring you up from this land to the land that He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”

25Then Joseph made Israel’s sons swear an oath saying, “When God takes notice of you, you will bring my bones up from here.”

26So Joseph died at 110 years old, and they embalmed him and he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.

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Genesis 50

Jacob’s Burial

1Then Joseph, leaning over his father’s face, wept and kissed him. 2He commanded his servants who were physicians to embalm his father. So they embalmed Israel. 3They took forty days to complete this, for embalming takes that long, and the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.#Gn 50:10; Nm 20:29; Dt 34:8

4When the days of mourning were over, Joseph said to Pharaoh’s household, “If I have found favor with you, please tell Pharaoh that 5my father made me take an oath,#Gn 47:29–31 saying, ‘I am about to die. You must bury me there in the tomb that I made for myself in the land of Canaan.’#2Ch 16:14; Is 22:16; Mt 27:60 Now let me go and bury my father. Then I will return.”

6So Pharaoh said, “Go and bury your father in keeping with your oath.”

7Then Joseph went to bury his father, and all Pharaoh’s servants, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt went with him, 8along with all Joseph’s family, his brothers, and his father’s family. Only their dependents, their flocks, and their herds were left in the land of Goshen. 9Horses and chariots went up with him; it was a very impressive procession. 10When they reached the threshing floor of Atad, which is across the Jordan, they lamented and wept loudly, and Joseph mourned seven days for his father. 11When the Canaanite inhabitants of the land saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a solemn mourning on the part of the Egyptians.” Therefore the place is named Abel-mizraim.#50:11 = Mourning of Egypt It is across the Jordan.

12So Jacob’s sons did for him what he had commanded them. 13They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave at Machpelah in the field near Mamre, which Abraham had purchased as burial property from Ephron the Hethite.#Gn 23:16–20 14After Joseph buried his father, he returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone with him to bury his father.

Joseph’s Kindness

15When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said to one another, “If Joseph is holding a grudge against us, he will certainly repay us for all the suffering we caused him.”#Gn 37:28; 42:21–22

16So they sent this message to Joseph, “Before he died your father gave a command: 17‘Say this to Joseph: Please forgive your brothers’ transgression and their sin — the suffering they caused you.’ Therefore, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept#Gn 43:30; 46:29; 50:1 when their message came to him. 18His brothers also came to him, bowed down before him, and said, “We are your slaves!”

19But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?#Gn 3:5 20You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result — the survival of many people.#Gn 45:7; Rm 8:28 21Therefore don’t be afraid. I will take care of you and your children.”#Gn 45:11; 47:12 And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.#50:21 Lit spoke to their hearts

Joseph’s Death

22Joseph and his father’s family remained in Egypt. Joseph lived 110 years. 23He saw Ephraim’s sons to the third generation;#Jb 42:16; Ps 128:6 the sons of Manasseh’s son Machir were recognized by#50:23 Lit were born on the knees of#50:23 Referring to a ritual of adoption or of legitimation; Gn 30:3 Joseph.#Gn 30:3

24Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die,#Gn 48:21; Ex 3:16–17; Heb 11:22 but God will certainly come to your aid and bring you up from this land to the land he swore to give to Abraham,#Gn 13:15–17; 15:7–8 Isaac,#Gn 26:3 and Jacob.”#Gn 28:13; 35:12 25So Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath: “When God comes to your aid, you are to carry my bones up from here.”#Ex 13:19

26Joseph died at the age of 110. They embalmed him and placed him in a coffin in Egypt.

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