Genesis 50

Genesis 50 concludes the story of Joseph and his family, focusing on the death of Jacob (Israel) and the fulfillment of his last wishes. It covers the mourning period, the burial process, and Joseph’s interactions with his brothers after their father's death. Joseph reassures them of his forgiveness and trust in God's sovereignty. The chapter ends with the death of Joseph, marking the end of the patriarchal era and transitioning into the Israelites' eventual move towards the events of Exodus.

Genesis 50:1-3 (NKJV)
1 Then Joseph fell on his father’s face and wept over him, and kissed him.
2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel.
3 Forty days were required for him, for such are the days required for those who are embalmed; and the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.

Joseph deeply mourns the passing of his father Jacob, showing his great love and respect. His weeping highlights the emotional bond between them. Afterward, Joseph orders the Egyptian physicians to embalm Jacob, following the customs of Egypt. The process took forty days, which was typical for embalming in Egypt, symbolizing the significant honor given to Jacob. The Egyptians also mourned Jacob for seventy days, reflecting the high regard that even the Egyptians had for Joseph’s family, likely due to Joseph’s prominent status in the land.

Genesis 50:4-6 (NKJV)
4 Now when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the hearing of Pharaoh, saying,
5 ‘My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am dying; in my grave which I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there you shall bury me.” Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father, and I will come back.’”
6 And Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear.”

After the mourning period, Joseph respectfully seeks permission from Pharaoh to bury his father in Canaan, as Jacob had made him swear. Joseph honors his father’s final request, showing his commitment to his heritage and family’s burial traditions. Pharaoh grants Joseph permission without hesitation, affirming the favor Joseph held in the eyes of the Egyptian leadership. Pharaoh’s response is a testimony to Joseph's influence and loyalty, ensuring he could fulfill his duty to his father.

Genesis 50:7-9 (NKJV)
7 So 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 as well as all the house of Joseph, his brothers, and his father’s house. Only their little ones, 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 gathering.

The burial procession for Jacob was grand and dignified, with a large company including Egyptian officials, elders, and Joseph’s family traveling to Canaan. This demonstrates the respect the Egyptians had for Joseph, honoring his father in such a substantial way. The decision to leave the young children and animals behind in Goshen shows the practical side of ensuring their possessions were protected. The inclusion of chariots and horsemen further indicates the importance of this event, turning it into a national occasion rather than a simple family affair.

Genesis 50:10-11 (NKJV)
10 Then they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and they mourned there with a great and very solemn lamentation. He observed seven days of mourning for his father.
11 And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a deep mourning of the Egyptians.” Therefore its name was called Abel Mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan.

When they reached the threshing floor of Atad, they held a significant period of mourning for Jacob. The seven days of mourning follow ancient customs, further showing the depth of their grief. The Canaanites noticed this event, referring to it as an Egyptian mourning, which is significant because it shows how Jacob, though an Israelite, was highly regarded even by foreign nations. The location was named Abel Mizraim, meaning "mourning of Egypt," marking the influence of the Egyptians in this region due to Joseph’s connection to both Egypt and his father’s heritage.

Genesis 50:12-14 (NKJV)
12 So his sons did for him just as he had commanded them.
13 For his sons carried him to the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite as property for a burial place.
14 And after he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, he and his brothers and all who went up with him to bury his father.

Jacob's sons fulfill his last request by burying him in the cave of Machpelah, the burial site of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Rebekah. This act underscores the family’s commitment to their ancestral heritage and covenant with God. The cave of Machpelah holds significant meaning as a place of rest for the patriarchs. After completing their duty, Joseph and his brothers return to Egypt, showing that their lives and responsibilities were still tied to Egypt, where God had placed them for a time of preservation and preparation for future events.

Genesis 50:15-17 (NKJV)
15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.”
16 So they sent messengers to Joseph, saying, “Before your father died he commanded, saying,
17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.”’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.

After Jacob’s death, Joseph’s brothers feared that Joseph might seek revenge for the wrongs they had committed against him years earlier. Their guilt over selling him into slavery resurfaced, leading them to fabricate a message from their father asking Joseph for forgiveness. This reveals their ongoing insecurity about their relationship with Joseph. When Joseph heard their plea, he wept, showing his deep love for his brothers and perhaps sadness that they still doubted his forgiveness and grace after all they had been through together.

Genesis 50:18-21 (NKJV)
18 Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”
19 Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?
20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
21 Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Joseph’s brothers, overwhelmed with guilt and fear, bow before him, offering themselves as his servants. Joseph, however, reassures them by pointing out that vengeance belongs to God, not to him. He acknowledges their past intentions, but he emphasizes that God’s plan overruled their evil actions to bring about the greater good of saving many lives during the famine. Joseph’s words reveal his deep trust in God’s sovereignty and his compassionate heart toward his brothers, as he promises to continue providing for them and their families.

Genesis 50:22-23 (NKJV)
22 So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father’s household. And Joseph lived one hundred and ten years.
23 Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were also brought up on Joseph’s knees.

Joseph’s life in Egypt continues, and he lives to the age of 110, a full life by the standards of his time. He is blessed to witness his descendants through Ephraim to the third generation, which signifies a long and prosperous life filled with family joy. The mention of Machir’s children, his grandson from Manasseh, further highlights Joseph’s legacy. The phrase “brought up on Joseph’s knees” symbolizes his deep involvement and affection for his grandchildren, reflecting the rich blessings God gave him in his later years.

Genesis 50:24-26 (NKJV)
24 And Joseph said to his brethren, “I am dying; but God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land of which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”
25 Then Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.”
26 So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

As Joseph nears death, he reflects on the promise God made to his forefathers—Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—about the land of Canaan. He reassures his brothers that God will visit them and lead them out of Egypt back to the promised land. This prophetic statement points forward to the Exodus. Joseph’s request to have his bones carried out of Egypt is an act of faith in God's promise, connecting his death with the future redemption of Israel. After Joseph’s death, he is embalmed and placed in a coffin, marking the end of the patriarchal era while awaiting God's future fulfillment.