Genesis50
World English Bible · Public Domain
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 used for him, for that is how many days it takes to embalm. The Egyptians wept for Israel for seventy days.
4When the days of weeping for him were past, Joseph spoke to Pharaoh’s staff, 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.
9Both chariots and horsemen went up with him. 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 save many people alive, as is happening today.
21Now therefore don’t be afraid. I will provide for 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.
Study Guide
Public-domain commentary and original-language notes for Genesis 50.
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.
Key Words
יוֹסֵף: Joseph, the name of seven Israelites
נָפַל: to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
אָב: father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application
פָּנִים: the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposition (before, etc.)
בָּכָה: to weep; generally to bemoan
עַל: above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
נָשַׁק: to kiss, literally or figuratively (touch); also (as a mode of attachment), to equip with weapons
צָוָה: (intensively) to constitute, enjoin
עֶבֶד: a servant
רָפָא: properly, to mend (by stitching), i.e. (figuratively) to cure
Cross References
Genesis 50Fulfills God's promise that Joseph would lay his hand upon Jacob's eyes at death.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
Joseph refuses to take vengeance, recognizing that judgment and retribution belong only to God.
Supported by Matthew Poole, John Calvin
Parallels Joseph's earlier explanation that God sent him ahead to preserve life.
Supported by Matthew Henry, John Calvin
New Testament commentary confirming Joseph's faith in his prophetic commandment concerning his bones.
Supported by Matthew Henry, JFB
Moses carries Joseph's bones out of Egypt, fulfilling the oath sworn in Genesis 50:25.
Supported by JFB
The final burial of Joseph's bones in Shechem, completing his dying request.
Supported by Matthew Henry
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
The ultimate fulfillment of Joseph's dreams as his brothers bow down before him.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Jacob's matching dying assurance that God will visit them and bring them back to Canaan.
Supported by Matthew Henry
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
Explains why Joseph used intermediaries: mourners could not enter the royal presence.
Supported by Matthew Poole, JFB
God's visitation of Israel in Egypt, using the exact phrase 'I have surely visited you.'
Supported by JFB
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
Parallels Jacob's custom of digging out his own personal grave cell.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Refers to Abraham's legal purchase of the Machpelah cave for a family burial place.
Supported by John Calvin
Echoes the brothers' initial bowing down to Joseph upon their arrival in Egypt.
Supported by Matthew Henry
Echoes Jacob's identical rhetorical question regarding God's exclusive sovereignty.
Supported by Matthew Poole
Thematic parallel of God overriding human evil to work out a greater, saving purpose.
Supported by John Calvin
Joseph's previous promise to nourish his brothers and their households in Egypt.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The idiom of children being brought up on one's knees, signifying adoption or acknowledgement.
Supported by Matthew Poole
The Abrahamic promise of departure from Egypt after four hundred years of servitude.
Supported by Matthew Henry
The process of Egyptian embalming previously described for Jacob is applied to Joseph.
Supported by JFB