previous next

Genesis 50

The Burials of Jacob and Joseph

1 Then Joseph hugged his father’s face.t He wept over him and kissed him.2 Joseph instructed the physicians in his servicet to embalm his father, so the physicians embalmed Israel.

3 They took forty days, for that is the full time needed for embalming.t The Egyptians mournedt for him seventy days.s
4 When the days of mourningt had passed, Joseph said to Pharaoh’s royal court,t “If I have found favor in your sight, please say to Pharaoh,t5 ‘My father made me swear an oath. He said,t “I am about to die. Bury met in my tomb that I dug for myself there in the land of Canaan.” Now let me go and bury my father; then I will return.’”

6 So Pharaoh said, “Go and bury your father, just as he made you swear to do.”t
7 So Joseph went up to bury his father; all Pharaoh’s officials went with him – the senior courtierst of his household, all the senior officials of the land of Egypt,8 all Joseph’s household, his brothers, and his father’s household. But they left their little children and their flocks and herds in the land of Goshen.

9 Chariots and horsemen also went up with him, so it was a very large entourage.t
10 When they came to the threshing floor of Atads on the other side of the Jordan, they mourned there with very great and bitter sorrow.t There Joseph observed a seven day period of mourning for his father.

11 When the Canaanites who lived in the land saw them mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a very sad occasiont for the Egyptians.” That is why its name was calledt Abel Mizraim,s which is beyond the Jordan.
12 So the sons of Jacob did for him just as he had instructed them.13 His sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, near Mamre. This is the field Abraham purchased as a burial plot from Ephron the Hittite.

14 After he buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, along with his brothers and all who had accompanied him to bury his father.
15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge and wants to repayt us in fullt for all the harmt we did to him?”16 So they sent wordt to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave these instructions before he died:17 ‘Tell Joseph this: Please forgive the sin of your brothers and the wrong they did when they treated you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sin of the servants of the God of your father.” When this message was reported to him, Joseph wept.t18 Then his brothers also came and threw themselves down before him; they said, “Here we are; we are your slaves.”19 But Joseph answered them, “Don’t be afraid. Amt I in the place of God?20 As for you, you meant to harm me,t but God intended it for a good purpose, so he could preserve the lives of many people, as you can see this day.t

21 So now, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your little children.” Then he consoled them and spoke kindlyt to them.
22 Joseph lived in Egypt, along with his father’s family.t Joseph lived 110 years.

23 Joseph saw the descendants of Ephraim to the third generation.t He also saw the children of Makir the son of Manasseh; they were given special inheritance rights by Joseph.t
24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to yout and lead you up from this land to the land he swore on oath to givet to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”25 Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath. He said, “God will surely come to you. Then you must carry my bones up from this place.”

26 So Joseph died at the age of 110.t After they embalmed him, his bodyt was placed in a coffin in Egypt.

GENESIS 50

1 Joseph started crying, then leaned over to hug and kiss his father.
2 Joseph gave orders for Jacob's body to be embalmed,

3 and it took the usual 40 days.
The Egyptians mourned 70 days for Jacob.
4 When the time of mourning was over, Joseph said to the Egyptian leaders, “If you consider me your friend, please speak to the kingt for me.

5 t 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.”

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

7-9 When 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.
10 After crossing the Jordan River, Joseph stopped at Atad's threshing place, where they all mourned and wept seven days for Jacob.

11 The Canaanites saw this and said, “The Egyptians are in great sorrow.” Then they named the place “Egypt in Sorrow.”t
12 So Jacob's sons did just as their father had instructed.

13 t They took him to Mamre in Canaan and buried him in Machpelah Cave, the burial place Abraham had bought from Ephron the Hittite.

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

Joseph's Promise //to His Brothers


15 After 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?”

16 So they sent this message to Joseph:
Before our father died,

17 he 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.

18 Right then, Joseph's brothers came and bowed down to the ground in front of him and said, “We are your slaves.”
19 But Joseph told them, “Don't be afraid! I have no right to change what God has decided. 20 You 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.

21 Don't be afraid! I will take care of you and your children.” After Joseph said this, his brothers felt much better.

Joseph's Death


22 Joseph lived in Egypt with his brothers until he died at the age of 110. 23 Joseph 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. 24 Before 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 t Now promise me that you will take my body with you when God leads you to that land.”
26 So Joseph died in Egypt at the age of 110; his body was embalmed and put in a coffin.