Genesis 50
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 40 days to complete this, for embalming takes that long, and the Egyptians mourned for him 70 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 # Lit please speak in the ears of 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 household, his brothers, and his father’s household. Only their children, their sheep, and their cattle 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. # = 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 a burial site from Ephron the Hittite. # 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. 18Then his 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 little ones.” # Gn 45:11; 47:12 And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. # Lit spoke to their hearts
Joseph’s Death
22Joseph and his father’s household 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 # Lit were born on the knees of # 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 promised 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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Genesis 50: HCSB
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Genesis 50
50
1Joseph threw himself on his father’s body. He wept over him and kissed him. 2Then Joseph talked to the doctors who served him. He told them to prepare the body of his father Israel to be buried. So the doctors prepared it. 3They took 40 days to do it. They needed that much time to prepare a body in the right way. The Egyptians mourned for Jacob 70 days.
4After the days of sadness had passed, Joseph went to Pharaoh’s officials. He said to them, “If you are pleased with me, speak to Pharaoh for me. Tell him, 5‘My father made me give my word to him. He said, “I’m about to die. Bury me in the tomb I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.” So let me go there and bury my father. Then I’ll come back.’ ”
6Pharaoh said, “Go there and bury your father. Do what he made you promise to do.”
7So Joseph went to Canaan to bury his father. All Pharaoh’s officials went with him. They were the important people of his court and all the leaders of Egypt. 8Joseph’s family also went. His brothers and all the rest of his father’s family went. Only their children and their flocks and herds were left in Goshen. 9Chariots and horsemen also went up with him. It was a very large group.
10They came to Atad, a place where grain was processed. It was near the Jordan River. There they sobbed loudly and bitterly. Joseph set apart seven days of sadness to honor his father’s memory. 11The Canaanites living in that area saw how sad all of them were. They said, “The Egyptians are having a very special service for the dead.” That’s why that place near the Jordan River is called Abel of the Egyptians.
12So Jacob’s sons did exactly as he had commanded them. 13They carried his body to the land of Canaan. They buried it in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre. Abraham had bought the cave as a place where he could bury his wife’s body. He had bought the cave and the field from Ephron, the Hittite. 14After Joseph buried his father, he went back to Egypt. His brothers and all the others who had gone to help him bury his father went back with him.
Joseph Calms His Brothers’ Fears
15Now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers were worried. They said, “Remember all the bad things we did to Joseph? What if he decides to hold those things against us? What if he pays us back for them?” 16So they sent a message to Joseph. They said, “Your father gave us directions before he died. 17He said, ‘Here’s what you must say to Joseph. Tell him, “I’m asking you to forgive your brothers. Forgive the terrible things they did to you. Forgive them for treating you so badly.” ’ Now then, please forgive our sins. We serve the God of your father.” When their message came to Joseph, he wept.
18Then his brothers came and threw themselves down in front of him. “We are your slaves,” they said.
19But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Do you think I’m God? 20You planned to harm me. But God planned it for good. He planned to do what is now being done. He wanted to save many lives. 21So then, don’t be afraid. I’ll provide for you and your children.” He calmed their fears. And he spoke in a kind way to them.
Joseph Dies
22Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father’s family. He lived 110 years. 23He lived long enough to see Ephraim’s children and grandchildren. When the children of Makir were born, they were placed on Joseph’s knees and counted as his own children. Makir was the son of Manasseh.
24Joseph said to his brothers, “I’m about to die. But God will surely come to help you. He’ll take you up out of this land. He’ll bring you to the land he promised to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” 25Joseph made the Israelites promise him. He said, “God will surely come to help you. Then you must carry my bones up from this place.”
26So Joseph died at the age of 110. They prepared his body to be buried. Then he was placed in a casket in Egypt.
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