https://www.casualenglishbible.com/genesis-50/
Summary https://marksbiblejourney.blogspot.com/2019/10/genesis.html
"Joseph weeps over his father's dead body and kisses him. Joseph has his father, Israel, embalmed (mummified). This process takes 40 days, and the Egyptians mourned Israel for 70 days. Joseph gets permission from Pharaoh to go and bury his father in the land of Canaan. Israel's sons have a funeral procession all the way to the cave in the field of Machpelah in the land of Canaan from Egypt. Then Joseph, his brothers, and the rest of the procession return to Egypt after the burial and seven days of mourning. Upon their return to Egypt, Joseph's brothers fear for their lives because their father is now dead. Joseph may have a grudge and want to seek revenge on them. So, the brothers ask forgiveness from Joseph, bow down to Joseph, and tell him that they are his slaves. Joseph forgives them, and they reunite as brothers. Joseph says that God has been in control for the whole time, and that all of them and their children will be taken care of. Joseph remains in the land of Egypt until his death at 110 years old. He is embalmed and buried in a coffin in Egypt. Right before his death, Joseph tells his brothers, now known as Israelites or the 12 tribes of Israel, that God will certainly come to their aid. God will bring them up from Egypt to the land God promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Joseph tells his brothers to take his remains to the promised land during the Exodus!"
"Joseph weeps over his father's dead body and kisses him. Joseph has his father, Israel, embalmed (mummified). This process takes 40 days, and the Egyptians mourned Israel for 70 days. Joseph gets permission from Pharaoh to go and bury his father in the land of Canaan. Israel's sons have a funeral procession all the way to the cave in the field of Machpelah in the land of Canaan from Egypt. Then Joseph, his brothers, and the rest of the procession return to Egypt after the burial and seven days of mourning. Upon their return to Egypt, Joseph's brothers fear for their lives because their father is now dead. Joseph may have a grudge and want to seek revenge on them. So, the brothers ask forgiveness from Joseph, bow down to Joseph, and tell him that they are his slaves. Joseph forgives them, and they reunite as brothers. Joseph says that God has been in control for the whole time, and that all of them and their children will be taken care of. Joseph remains in the land of Egypt until his death at 110 years old. He is embalmed and buried in a coffin in Egypt. Right before his death, Joseph tells his brothers, now known as Israelites or the 12 tribes of Israel, that God will certainly come to their aid. God will bring them up from Egypt to the land God promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Joseph tells his brothers to take his remains to the promised land during the Exodus!"
Some key verses from the Amplified Bible (AMP) version..
- "Now forty days were required for this, for that is the customary number of days [of preparation] required for embalming. And the Egyptians wept and grieved for him [in public mourning as they would for royalty] for seventy days." v.3
- "And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. Then his brothers went and fell down before him [in confession]; then they said, “Behold, we are your servants (slaves).” But Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? [Vengeance is His, not mine.] As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present outcome, that many people would be kept alive [as they are this day]. So now, do not be afraid; I will provide for you and support you and your little ones.” So he comforted them [giving them encouragement and hope] and spoke [with kindness] to their hearts." v.17-21
- "Now Joseph lived in Egypt, he and his father’s household, and Joseph lived a hundred and ten years. Joseph saw the third generation of Ephraim’s children; also the children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born and raised on Joseph’s knees. Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely take care of you and bring you up out of this land to the land which He promised to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob [to give you].” Then Joseph made the sons of Israel (Jacob) swear [an oath], saying, “God will surely visit you and take care of you [returning you to Canaan], and [when that happens] you shall carry my bones up from here.” So Joseph died, being a hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him and he was put in a coffin in Egypt." v.22-26
My personal observations and reflections...
- THE END OF A SAGA, THE START OF THE 12 TRIBES. The first book of the Bible called Genesis, written/recorded by Moses (a Tribe of Levi descendant) wrapped up with the death of Israel's 3rd patriarch, Jacob, and his son Joseph. From God's wondrous creation of the earth, the molding of the first man Adam, to the corruption of sin, and to the key persons that God used like Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph-- Genesis set the stage, the foundation, for the next events, or the continuity of God's plans. To know and understand the Lord Jesus is to know the 'beginning'. God the Son (ultimate plan of salvation/the way) was already there, even before the foundation of the world.
We read interesting details about the act of embalming and mummifying the deceased body of Jacob, which required 40 days. Jacob was also publicly mourned for 70 days, not only by his sons/family (although not mentioned clearly), but also by the Egyptians. I wonder if this was because of Joseph's high position in Egypt.
"Burying the Body of Joseph, illustration from the 1890 Holman Bible"
https://www.thetorah.com/article/our-mummified-patriarchs-jacob-and-joseph
https://www.thetorah.com/article/our-mummified-patriarchs-jacob-and-joseph
* Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik:
"Jacob was mourned for 70 days among the whole nation of Egypt. A royal mourning period in Egypt was 72 days. Jacob was obviously a greatly honored man.
a. Joseph went up to bury his father: This was a dramatic burial. The entire clan gathered together to pay tribute to the man who was the last link with the patriarchs. The life of this man’s grandfather overlapped with the sons of Noah.
i. “Luther remarks that there is no burial recorded in the Scriptures quite as honorable as this or with such wealth of detail.” (Leupold)"
i. “Luther remarks that there is no burial recorded in the Scriptures quite as honorable as this or with such wealth of detail.” (Leupold)"
- FUNERAL TO CANAAN. To honor and fulfill his oath to his father Jacob, Joseph 'spoke to [the nobles of] the house of Pharaoh' to speak to Pharaoh, in his behalf. Pharaoh showed favor to Joseph by allowing him to go to Canaan. Joseph has been a trustworthy leader to Pharaoh up to this point, 14 years (abundance/famine), and another 12 years at the time of his father's death. After the famine, Joseph must have continued handling the affairs of Pharaoh's and Egypt's land and tax, and crops, etc.
"Jacob's funeral"
The long journey back to Canaan was graced with many people, "and with him went all the officials of Pharaoh, [the nobles of his court and] the elders of his household and all [the nobles and] the elders of the land of Egypt— and all the household of Joseph and his brothers and his father’s household. They left only their little ones and their flocks and herds in the land of Goshen. Both chariots and horsemen also went up [to Canaan] with Joseph; and it was a very great company." (v.7-9)
Joseph even "observed a seven-day mourning for his father."
- JOSEPH'S BROTHERS GOT AFRAID. Maybe because of the guilt that they have carried for such a long time (for more than 20 years), the brothers got afraid that they may be punished by Joseph after their father's death. I wonder how true was their message to Joseph, “Your father commanded us before he died, saying, ‘You are to say to Joseph, “I beg you, please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, for they did you wrong.”’ Now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.” (v.16-17).. From what we read from the previous Chapters, it seems that it was never revealed to Jacob 'what really happened' between Joseph and his brothers.. But anyway, it made Joseph wept again-- maybe because he remembered his father, he remembered the past again, and/or how good and faithful God was when He rescued Joseph and also restored his relationship with his family (reunion at Egypt). The brothers showed humility and repentance, and fell down before Joseph again “Behold, we are your servants (slaves).” But Joseph assured them once again, to not be afraid. He was likewise humble, when he said that he is not in the place of God, to do revenge. Joseph acknowledged that his brothers meant evil and harm towards him, but God turned it all for the good, for the benefit of many people, for the saving of many lives, including the life of his brothers. Joseph used his position, power and wealth to be a blessing to his brothers-- he even promised that he will provide for his brothers and their children. What a great picture of the awesome love of God for us! God not only forgave and restore us with His great mercy, but with His glorious riches He has also generously provided for us.
* Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik:
"a. Before your father died he commanded: This story was probably made up. They didn’t feel they had the moral right to ask Joseph for mercy, since they sinned against him so greatly. So they put the request for mercy in the mouth of their honored and dead father.b. Joseph wept when they spoke to him: Joseph probably wept because it seemed that his brothers thought so little of him and they doubted his character so greatly.
a. Am I in the place of God? Joseph first understood he was not in the place of God. It wasn’t his job to bring retribution upon his brothers. If the Lord chose to punish them, He would have to find an instrument other than Joseph.
i. From a human perspective, Joseph had the right and the ability to bring retribution upon his brothers, but he knew God was God and he was not. Such retribution was God’s place, not Joseph’s.
b. As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good: Joseph did not romanticize the wrong his brothers did. He plainly said, “You meant evil against me.” Although this was true, it was not the greatest truth. The greatest truth was “God meant it for good.”
i. Every Christian should be able to see the overarching and overruling hand of God in their life; to know that no matter what evil man brings against us, God can use it for good.
ii. Joseph did not have the text of Romans 8:28, but he had the truth of it: And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Sadly, many of us who have the text do not have the truth.
iii. Ultimately, our lives are not in the hands of men, but in the hands of God, who overrules all things for His glory.
c. To save many people alive: This was the immediate good in the situation. If this large family did not come to Egypt and live it would have perished in the famine. Had the family barely survived, it would have assimilated into the Canaanite tribes surrounding it. Only by coming to Egypt could they be preserved and grow into a distinct nation.
i. As said before, if Joseph’s brothers never sold him to the
Midianites, then Joseph never went to Egypt. If Joseph never went to
Egypt, he was never sold to Potiphar. If he was never sold to Potiphar,
Potiphar’s wife never falsely accused him of rape. If Potiphar’s wife
never falsely accused him of rape, then he was never put in prison. If
he was never put in prison, he never met the baker and butler of
Pharaoh. If he never met the baker and butler of Pharaoh, he never
interpreted their dreams. If he never interpreted their dreams, he never
got to interpret Pharaoh’s dream. If he never got to interpret
Pharaoh’s dream, he never became prime minister. If he never became
prime minister, he never wisely administrated for the severe famine
coming upon the region. If he never wisely administrated for the severe
famine coming upon the region, then his family back in Canaan perished
from the famine. If his family back in Canaan perished from the famine,
then the Messiah could not come forth from a dead family. If the Messiah
could not come forth, then Jesus never came. If Jesus never came, then
we are all dead in our sins and without hope in this world. We are
grateful for God’s great and wise plan.
d. And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them: Because Joseph trusted the overarching hand of God, even in all the evil that came upon him through his brothers, he showed the love and compassion to them he did.
i. Often, the problem we have in loving others and in freeing ourselves from bitterness we may have towards them is really a problem of not knowing who God is and trusting Him to be who He says He is."
i. Often, the problem we have in loving others and in freeing ourselves from bitterness we may have towards them is really a problem of not knowing who God is and trusting Him to be who He says He is."
- JOSEPH ALSO DIED IN EGYPT. 54 years later, Joseph also died at the age of 110. The record of Joseph's death showed how significant he is in the Bible. We don't read any details about his brothers' deaths, or their age of death, we only know they also died in Egypt (Exodus 1:6)
Exodus 13:19 "And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had placed the children of Israel under solemn oath, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here with you.”
* Bible Footnotes: Genesis 50:26 "Joseph’s body remained in Egypt until the exodus to the promised land of Canaan about two hundred years later. Its final resting-place was Shechem, near Samaria, in the parcel of ground which Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem (Josh 24:32). Here each of his brothers was also buried (Acts 7:15, 16)."
* Study Guide Commentary from David Guzik:
"a. He was put in a coffin in Egypt: According to this passage and Hebrews 11:22, Joseph was never buried. His coffin laid above ground for the 400 or so years until it was taken back to Canaan. It was a silent witness for all those years that Israel was going back to the Promised Land, just as God said.
i. All during that time, when a child of Israel saw Joseph’s coffin and asked what it was there for and why it was not buried, they could be answered, “Because the great man Joseph did not want to be buried in Egypt, but in the Promised Land God will one day lead us to.”
b. You shall carry up my bones from here: This promise was fulfilled some 400 years later, when Israel left Egypt (Exodus 13:19) This command showed that Joseph’s heart was in the Promised Land. It also proved him to be a man of great faith, trusting in things not yet seen (Hebrews 11:22)."
Read the Bible:
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+50&version=AMP
Reference and credits to https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/guzik_david/StudyGuide2017-Gen/Gen-50.cfm ©2013 David Guzik
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