Genesis 50
Genesis 50 is the final chapter of Genesis. It records Jacob’s (Israel’s) death and burial, the reconciliation between Joseph and his brothers, and Joseph’s death and final instructions. It marks an important turning point—one era coming to a close and the next generation receiving God’s promises.
1verseJoseph fell on his father’s face, wept on him, and kissed him.
2verseJoseph commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm his father; and the physicians embalmed Israel.
3verseForty days were used for him, for that is how many days it takes to embalm. The Egyptians wept for Israel for seventy days.
4verseWhen 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,
5verse‘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.’”
6versePharaoh said, “Go up, and bury your father, just like he made you swear.”
7verseJoseph 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,
8verseall 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.
9verseBoth chariots and horsemen went up with him. It was a very great company.
10verseThey 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.
11verseWhen 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.
12verseHis sons did to him just as he commanded them,
13versefor 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.
14verseJoseph returned into Egypt—he, and his brothers, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.
15verseWhen 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.”
16verseThey sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father commanded before he died, saying,
17verse‘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.
18verseHis brothers also went and fell down before his face; and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”
19verseJoseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for am I in the place of God?
20verseAs for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to save many people alive, as is happening today.
21verseNow therefore don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.” He comforted them, and spoke kindly to them.
22verseJoseph lived in Egypt, he, and his father’s house. Joseph lived one hundred ten years.
23verseJoseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The children also of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were born on Joseph’s knees.
24verseJoseph 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.”
25verseJoseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.”
26verseSo Joseph died, being one hundred ten years old, and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
Jacob’s Funeral (Verses 1–14)
After Jacob dies at the age of 147, Joseph carefully embalms his father’s body according to Egyptian customs. Then, with Pharaoh’s permission, he and the brothers, along with Egypt’s officials, mourn greatly as they bury Jacob in the land of Canaan, in the Cave of Machpelah. This shows God’s faithfulness to the land he promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Reconciliation Between Joseph and His Brothers (Verses 15–21)
After Jacob’s death, Joseph’s brothers fear that their past sins might be exposed and that they may face revenge. So Joseph emphasizes God’s providence and forgiveness, reassuring them that God used this situation to save lives. This scene shows that even people’s evil intentions can be used within God’s good plan.
Joseph’s Final Days and His Instructions (Verses 22–26)
Joseph lives in Egypt with his descendants until he is 110 years old. Joseph expresses his faith that God will surely lead the Israelites’ descendants into the promised land, and leaves instructions for his bones to be taken to the land of Canaan. This symbolizes how a legacy of faith in God’s promises continues to the next generation.
Reflection Points
- You can see how God faithfully carries the promise forward through each generation.
- From Joseph’s perspective, you can think about how he understood forgiveness and God’s providence.
- Take a moment to reflect on what legacy and faith you want to leave in the final moments of your life.
Personal Application
- Look inward to consider whether you can trust that God will lead you for good even in difficult problems or conflict situations.
- Think about how you might interpret past wounds and pain from God’s perspective, and whether you can prepare the opportunity for forgiveness and reconciliation.
- Let us think concretely about how God’s promises can be carried forward today in my life, my family, and my descendants.
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This is the last chapter of Genesis.