Genesis 50NKJV
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Genesis50

New King James Version

1Then Joseph fell on his father’s face and wept over him, and kissed him.

2And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel.

3Forty days were required for him, for such are the days required for those who are embalmed; and the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.

4Now 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.’ ”

6And Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear.”

7So 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,

8as 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.

9And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen, and it was a very great gathering.

10Then 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.

11And 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.

12So his sons did for him just as he had commanded them.

13For 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.

14And 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.

15When 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.”

16So 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.

18Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”

19Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God?

20But 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.

21Now therefore, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

22So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father’s household. And Joseph lived one hundred and ten years.

23Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were also brought up on Joseph’s knees.

24And 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.”

25Then Joseph 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 and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Study Guide

Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Genesis 50.

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Chapter Summary

In this chapter: The mourning for Jacob. (1–6). His funeral. (7–14). Joseph's brethren crave his pardon, He comforts them. (15–21). Joseph's direction concerning his bones, His death. (22–26).

vv1-6

Though pious relatives and friends have lived to a good old age, and we are confident they are gone to glory, yet we may regret our own loss, and pay respect to their memory by lamenting them. Grace does not destroy, but it purifies, moderates, and regulates natural affection. The departed soul is out of the reach of any tokens of our affection; but it is proper to show respect to the body, of which we look for a glorious and joyful resurrection, whatever may become of its remains in this world. Thus Joseph showed his faith in God, and love to his father. He ordered the body to be embalmed, or wrapped up with spices, to preserve it. See how vile our bodies are, when the soul has forsaken them; they will in a very little time become noisome, and offensive.

vv7-14

Jacob's body was attended, not only by his own family, but by the great men of Egypt. Now that they were better acquainted with the Hebrews, they began to respect them. Professors of religion should endeavour by wisdom and love to remove the prejudices many have against them. Standers-by took notice of it as a grievous mourning. The death of good men is a loss to any place, and ought to be greatly lamented.

vv15-21

Various motives might cause the sons of Jacob to continue in Egypt, notwithstanding the prophetic vision Abraham had of their bondage there. Judging of Joseph from the general temper of human nature, they thought he would now avenge himself on those who hated and injured him without cause. Not being able to resist, or to flee away, they attempted to soften him by humbling themselves. They pleaded with him as the servants of Jacob's God. Joseph was much affected at seeing this complete fulfilment of his dreams. He directs them not to fear him, but to fear God; to humble themselves before the Lord, and to seek the Divine forgiveness. He assures them of his own kindness to them. See what an excellent spirit Joseph was of, and learn of him to render good for evil. He comforted them, and, to banish all their fears, he spake kindly to them. Broken spirits must be bound up and encouraged. Those we love and forgive, we must not only do well for, but speak kindly to.

Cross References

Genesis 50
v1Genesis 46:4fulfillment

Fulfills God's promise that Joseph would lay his hand upon Jacob's eyes at death.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v19Romans 12:19thematic

Joseph refuses to take vengeance, recognizing that judgment and retribution belong only to God.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin

v20Genesis 45:5thematic

Parallels Joseph's earlier explanation that God sent him ahead to preserve life.

Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin

v24Hebrews 11:22thematic

New Testament commentary confirming Joseph's faith in his prophetic commandment concerning his bones.

Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB

v25Exodus 13:19fulfillment

Moses carries Joseph's bones out of Egypt, fulfilling the oath sworn in Genesis 50:25.

Supported by JFB

v25Joshua 24:32fulfillment

The final burial of Joseph's bones in Shechem, completing his dying request.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v2John 19:39-40thematic

Illustrates the practice of preparing bodies for burial using spices, as done for Jesus.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Refers back to Jacob making Joseph swear a solemn oath to bury him in Canaan.

Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin, JFB

v18Genesis 37:7-11fulfillment

The ultimate fulfillment of Joseph's dreams as his brothers bow down before him.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v24Genesis 48:21thematic

Jacob's matching dying assurance that God will visit them and bring them back to Canaan.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v3Numbers 20:29thematic

Compares Israel's thirty-day mourning custom to the period observed here.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Matches the thirty-day mourning period later observed for Moses.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v4Esther 4:2thematic

Explains why Joseph used intermediaries: mourners could not enter the royal presence.

Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB

v24Exodus 3:16fulfillment

God's visitation of Israel in Egypt, using the exact phrase 'I have surely visited you.'

Supported by JFB

v25Genesis 47:30thematic

Jacob's similar oath imposed on Joseph to carry his body out of Egypt.

Supported by Matthew Poole

Parallel custom of kings preparing their own resting places during their lifetime.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v5Matthew 27:60thematic

Parallels Jacob's custom of digging out his own personal grave cell.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v13Genesis 23:16-18allusion

Refers to Abraham's legal purchase of the Machpelah cave for a family burial place.

Supported by John Calvin

v18Genesis 42:6thematic

Echoes the brothers' initial bowing down to Joseph upon their arrival in Egypt.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v19Genesis 30:2thematic

Echoes Jacob's identical rhetorical question regarding God's exclusive sovereignty.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v20Philemon 1:15thematic

Thematic parallel of God overriding human evil to work out a greater, saving purpose.

Supported by John Calvin

v21Genesis 45:11thematic

Joseph's previous promise to nourish his brothers and their households in Egypt.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v23Genesis 30:3thematic

The idiom of children being brought up on one's knees, signifying adoption or acknowledgement.

Supported by Matthew Poole

v24Genesis 15:14-16thematic

The Abrahamic promise of departure from Egypt after four hundred years of servitude.

Supported by Matthew Henry

v26Genesis 50:2thematic

The process of Egyptian embalming previously described for Jacob is applied to Joseph.

Supported by JFB