Genesis 50

Genesis 50 brings the patriarchal narrative to a close by recording the funeral of Jacob in Canaan, the final reconciliation between Joseph and his brothers, and the eventual death of Joseph in Egypt. It serves as a bridge, anchoring the future of the covenant people in the hope of the Exodus.

• Joseph mourns his father and oversees the extensive Egyptian burial rites (vv. 1-3).
• Joseph fulfills his oath to Jacob by leading a massive procession to bury him in the cave of Machpelah in Canaan (vv. 4-14).
• Joseph's brothers, fearing retribution after Jacob's death, seek his forgiveness; Joseph reassures them, pointing to God's providence (vv. 15-21).
• Joseph lives to see his great-grandchildren, affirms the coming Exodus, and charges his family to ensure his bones are carried to Canaan (vv. 22-26).

• Forty days of embalming for Jacob (v. 3).
• Seventy days of mourning by the Egyptians (v. 3).
• The threshingfloor of Atad (Abel-mizraim) (v. 10-11).
• The cave of the field of Machpelah (v. 13).
• Joseph dies at one hundred and ten years old (v. 26).

This chapter is essential because it secures the future of the covenant by tying the family’s destiny to the land of Canaan rather than Egypt; as Matthew Henry observes, the death of good men is a loss to any place, and their faith—symbolized by Joseph's bones—keeps the expectation of the promise alive for future generations. It provides the theological capstone to the Joseph narrative: the recognition that even when humanity intends evil, God exercises sovereignty to bring about good (v. 20).

God's sovereignty over human history ensures that the promises made to the fathers (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) remain the ultimate destination for the people of God, regardless of their present circumstances in a foreign land.

The chapter moves from the solemn duty of honoring the dead patriarch, Jacob, to the restoration of relationships among the living, concluding with the anticipation of the next generation's redemption.

• God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land (v. 24).

• Fear not (v. 19, 21).
• Ye shall carry up my bones from hence (v. 25).

• Embalming (חָנַט [H2590]) was a standard Egyptian practice for high-status individuals, requiring forty days for the process, followed by an additional period of mourning, fitting for the father of the second-in-command of Egypt.
• The mention of 'physicians' (רָפָא [H7495]) indicates the high level of medical and embalming care provided to Jacob.

• The massive funeral procession, including chariots and horsemen, demonstrates the honor bestowed upon Joseph and his father by the Egyptian state.
• The brothers' terror regarding Joseph's response reflects the standard ancient Near Eastern dynamic where a person in power would logically exact revenge once the buffer (their father) was removed.

• Genesis 50 serves as the conclusion to the 'Toledoth' of Jacob (Genesis 37:2).
• The chapter establishes the 'hook' for the book of Exodus, as the narrative leaves the family in Egypt with a prophetic expectation of departure.

• The narrative directly links the end of Genesis to the covenant promises made to the patriarchs in Genesis 12, 15, and 28.
• New Testament writers connect this narrative to faith: Hebrews 11:22 explicitly cites Joseph's instruction about his bones as an act of faith regarding the Exodus.

• Exodus 13:19 records the literal fulfillment of the command in verse 25: 'And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him: for he had straitly sworn the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you; and ye shall carry up my bones away hence with you.'

• Joseph (יוֹסֵף [H3130]) is the central figure, ensuring the family understands their future lies in the promise, not the land of Egypt.
• The word 'wept' (בָּכָה [H1058]) appears multiple times, underscoring the deep emotional reality of the patriarch's death and the subsequent reconciliation.
• The verb 'commanded' (צָוָה [H6680]) highlights the solemn, binding nature of Jacob's final wishes and Joseph's final instructions.

• The brothers' fear (v. 15) indicates that despite seventeen years of life in Egypt, they still lacked full assurance of Joseph's forgiveness, revealing the long-term psychological impact of their sin.
• Joseph does not demand an apology for his sake, but redirects their fear to the Lord, demonstrating that he considers himself under God's authority (v. 19).

• The precise location of the 'threshingfloor of Atad' is unknown, though the text places it 'beyond Jordan.'
• Scholars debate whether the brothers' message to Joseph about their father's command was a genuine report or a fabrication (or embellishment) born of their fear.