Genesis — Chapter 50
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1And Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.
2And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.
3And 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.
4And 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,
5My 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.
6And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.
7And 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,
8And 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.
9And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.
10And 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.
11And 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 Abel-mizraim, which is beyond Jordan.
12And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them:
13For 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.
14And 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.
15And 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.
16And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,
17So 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.
18And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.
19And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
20But 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.
21Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
22And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father’s house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.
23And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph’s knees.
24And 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.
25And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.
26So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
1And Joseph fell upon his father`s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.
2And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.
3And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of embalming: and the Egyptians wept for him three-score and ten days.
4And when the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found favor in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying,
5My 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.
6And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.
7And 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,
8and 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.
9And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.
10And they came to the threshing-floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and there they lamented with a very great and sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.
11And 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 Abel-mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan.
12And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them:
13for 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 burying-place, of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.
14And 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.
15And when Joseph`s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully requite us all the evil which we did unto him.
16And they sent a message unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,
17So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the transgression of thy brethren, and their sin, for that they did unto thee evil. And now, we pray thee, forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
18And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we are thy servants.
19And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
20And as for you, ye meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
21Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
22And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father`s house: and Joseph lived a hundred and ten years.
23And Joseph saw Ephraim`s children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were born upon Joseph`s knees.
24And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die; but God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
25And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.
26So Joseph died, being a hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
1Then Joseph hugged his father’s face. He wept over him and kissed him.
2Joseph instructed the physicians in his service to embalm his father, so the physicians embalmed Israel.
3They took 40 days, for that is the full time needed for embalming. The Egyptians mourned for him 70 days.
4When the days of mourning had passed, Joseph said to Pharaoh’s royal court, “If I have found favor in your sight, please say to Pharaoh,
5‘My father made me swear an oath. He said, “I am about to die. Bury me 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.’”
6So Pharaoh said, “Go and bury your father, just as he made you swear to do.”
7So Joseph went up to bury his father; all Pharaoh’s officials went with him—the senior courtiers of his household, all the senior officials of the land of Egypt,
8all 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.
9Chariots and horsemen also went up with him, so it was a very large entourage.
10When they came to the threshing floor of Atad on the other side of the Jordan, they mourned there with very great and bitter sorrow. There Joseph observed a seven-day period of mourning for his father.
11When the Canaanites who lived in the land saw them mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a very sad occasion for the Egyptians.” That is why its name was called Abel Mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan.
12So the sons of Jacob did for him just as he had instructed them.
13His 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.
14After he buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, along with his brothers and all who had accompanied him to bury his father.
15When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge and wants to repay us in full for all the harm we did to him?”
16So they sent word 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.
18Then his brothers also came and threw themselves down before him; they said, “Here we are; we are your slaves.”
19But Joseph answered them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?
20As for you, you meant to harm me, but God intended it for a good purpose, so he could preserve the lives of many people, as you can see this day.
21So now, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your little children.” Then he consoled them and spoke kindly to them.
22Joseph lived in Egypt, along with his father’s family. Joseph lived 110 years.
23Joseph saw the descendants of Ephraim to the third generation. He also saw the children of Makir the son of Manasseh; they were given special inheritance rights by Joseph.
24Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to you and lead you up from this land to the land he swore on oath to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
25Joseph 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.”
26So Joseph died at the age of 110. After they embalmed him, his body was placed in a coffin in Egypt.
1Joseph fell on his father’s face, wept on him, and kissed him.
2Joseph commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm his father; and the physicians embalmed Israel.
3Forty days were fulfilled for him, for that is how many the days it takes to embalm. The Egyptians wept for him for seventy days.
4When the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to the house of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying,
5‘My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am dying. Bury me in my grave which I have dug for myself in the land of Canaan.” Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father, and I will come again.’”
6Pharaoh said, “Go up, and bury your father, just like he made you swear.”
7Joseph went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, all the elders of the land of Egypt,
8All 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.
9There went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company.
10They came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and there they lamented with a very great and severe lamentation. He mourned for his father seven days.
11When the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, “This is a grievous mourning by the Egyptians.” Therefore its name was called Abel Mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan.
12His sons did to him just as he commanded them,
13for 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, as a possession for a burial site, from Ephron the Hittite, near Mamre.
14Joseph returned into Egypt—he, and his brothers, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.
15When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully pay us back for all the evil which we did to him.”
16They sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father commanded before he died, saying,
17‘You shall tell Joseph, “Now please forgive the disobedience of your brothers, and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ Now, please forgive the disobedience of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
18His brothers also went and fell down before his face; and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”
19Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for am I in the place of God?
20As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is today, to save many people alive.
21Now therefore don’t be afraid. I will nourish you and your little ones.” He comforted them, and spoke kindly to them.
22Joseph lived in Egypt, he, and his father’s house. Joseph lived one hundred ten years.
23Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children also of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph’s knees.
24Joseph said to his brothers, “I am dying, but God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land to the land which he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.”
25Joseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.”
26So Joseph died, being one hundred ten years old, and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
Summary
Jacob is buried in Canaan; Joseph reassures his fearful brothers that God meant their evil for good, and dies in Egypt at 110.
Authorship & Background
Map & Geography
- Machpelah/Hebron (v.13) — Jacob is buried in the cave Abraham purchased (ch.23), alongside Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah. The patriarchal family tomb in the Promised Land.
- The threshing floor of Atad (v.10) — beyond the Jordan, where the funeral procession mourns. The Canaanites name it Abel-mizraim ("mourning of Egypt") because of the great Egyptian entourage.
- Joseph's bones remain in Egypt "in a coffin" (v.26), awaiting the Exodus — a statement of faith that God will bring Israel back to Canaan (v.24-25).
Commentary
- Enduring Word (David Guzik): enduringword.com Guzik emphasizes v.20 as the theological climax of Genesis — God's sovereignty over human evil for redemptive purposes. Also covers Joseph's faith in the future exodus.
- Charles Spurgeon: Sermon: "God Meant It Unto Good" on v.20 (MTP Vol. 35, No. 2084) "YE thought evil — BUT GOD meant it unto good. Here are two wills at work: the will of man, which is evil; and the will of God, which is good. And God's will overrules man's will without destroying it. The brothers MEANT evil — they are responsible. God MEANT good — He is sovereign. Both are true simultaneously. This is not fatalism — fatalism says 'it doesn't matter what you do.' This is providence — 'what you did was evil, AND God used it for good.' The cross is the ultimate proof: wicked hands crucified Christ — AND God's determinate counsel ordained it for the salvation of the world. Joseph's story is the gospel in miniature: rejected by his brothers, exalted to save them, forgiving them freely."
- Sermon: "Joseph's Bones" on v.25 (MTP Vol. 22, No. 1300) "Carry up my bones — Joseph's faith looked beyond death to the promise. He did not say 'bury me in a pyramid.' He said 'carry me HOME.' Four hundred years his bones waited in that coffin — but God kept His word. Christian, your faith may outlast your lifetime. The promises you trust may be fulfilled after you're gone. But they WILL be fulfilled."
Reflection
- 1. "Ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good" (v.20). This is the lens through which to view all suffering. Can you trust that God is working even through the evil done to you? This doesn't excuse the evil — it magnifies God's sovereignty over it.
- 2. "Am I in the place of God?" (v.19). Joseph refuses to take revenge. Are you holding onto the right to punish someone? Release it. You are not in the place of God.
- 3. "God will surely visit you" (v.24). Joseph dies in faith — trusting a promise he won't see fulfilled in his lifetime. What promises are you trusting that may outlast your life? Faith doesn't require seeing the fulfillment.
- 4. "Carry up my bones" (v.25). Joseph's identity is not Egyptian — it's Israelite. Despite 93 years in Egypt, his heart belongs to the Promised Land. Where is YOUR true home? Don't let comfort in "Egypt" make you forget where you belong.
- 5. Genesis ends with a coffin — but not without hope. The coffin awaits the exodus. Death awaits resurrection. Whatever "coffin" you're staring at today — a dead dream, a lost relationship, a failed plan — God will surely visit. He keeps His promises.