1 And Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.
2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.
3 And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.
4 And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying,
5 My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again.
6 And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.
7 And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
8 And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father’s house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.
9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.
10 And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which [is] beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.
11 And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This [is] a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim, which [is] beyond Jordan.
12 And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them:
13 For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.
14 And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.
15 And when Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.
16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,
17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we [be] thy servants.
19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for [am] I in the place of God?
20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; [but] God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as [it is] this day, to save much people alive.
21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
22 And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father’s house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.
23 And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third [generation]: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph’s knees.
24 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
25 And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.
26 So Joseph died, [being] an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
Summary of Genesis Chapter 50
Genesis Chapter 50 concludes the book of Genesis, detailing the aftermath of Jacob’s death and the final events in the life of Joseph. The chapter highlights themes of mourning, forgiveness, and reconciliation among the family of Jacob, setting the stage for the Israelites’ future in Egypt.
Key Events
- Mourning for Jacob:
Joseph orders the embalmment of his father, Jacob, which takes 40 days, a customary period for mourning in Egypt. The Egyptians mourn for Jacob for an additional 70 days.
- Jacob’s Burial:
Joseph requests permission from Pharaoh to take Jacob’s body to Canaan for burial. Pharaoh grants this request, and Joseph, along with a large entourage, travels to the land of Canaan to bury his father in the cave of Machpelah, as per Jacob’s wishes.
- Return to Egypt:
After the burial, Joseph and his brothers return to Egypt. The chapter emphasizes the deep respect and mourning shown by Joseph and his brothers during this process.
- Brothers’ Fear:
Following Jacob’s death, Joseph’s brothers fear that he may seek revenge for their past actions of selling him into slavery. They send a message to Joseph, claiming that Jacob instructed Joseph to forgive them.
- Joseph’s Response:
Joseph reassures his brothers, emphasizing that he holds no ill will against them. He acknowledges that their actions were part of God’s plan to save many lives during the famine. Joseph expresses his desire to support and care for his family.
- Joseph’s Life and Death:
The chapter concludes with a brief account of Joseph’s life, stating that he lived to be 110 years old. He sees the third generation of Ephraim’s children and makes the Israelites promise to carry his bones back to Canaan when they leave Egypt.
Themes and Analysis
- Mourning and Respect:
The extensive mourning for Jacob underscores the importance of family and respect for elders in the culture of the time. The rituals surrounding death highlight the significance of honoring one’s parents and ancestors.
- Forgiveness and Reconciliation:
Joseph’s response to his brothers illustrates the theme of forgiveness. Despite their betrayal, Joseph recognizes the larger plan of God and chooses to reconcile with his family, demonstrating the power of forgiveness in healing relationships.
- Divine Providence:
The chapter emphasizes the belief in God’s sovereignty. Joseph’s life story reflects how adverse circumstances can lead to greater good, reinforcing the idea that God is at work even in difficult situations.
- Legacy and Promise:
Joseph’s request to have his bones taken back to Canaan signifies the importance of legacy and the promise of the land to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It serves as a reminder of the covenant between God and the patriarchs.
Conclusion
Genesis Chapter 50 serves as a poignant conclusion to the narrative of Genesis, encapsulating key themes of family, forgiveness, and divine purpose. It sets the stage for the Israelites’ future in Egypt and the eventual exodus, linking the past with the promise of a future in the land God had promised to their ancestors.
