Genesis 50
Then Joseph afell on his father’s face and bwept over him, and kissed him. 2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to aembalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 Forty days were required for him, for such are the days required for those who are embalmed; and the Egyptians amourned for him seventy days.
4 Now when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spoke to athe household of Pharaoh, saying, “If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the hearing of Pharaoh, saying, 5 a‘My father made me swear, saying, “Behold, I am dying; in my grave bwhich 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.’ ”
6 And Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear.”
7 So 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, 8 as 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. 9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen, and it was a very great gathering.
10 Then they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, and they amourned there with a great and very solemn lamentation. bHe observed seven days of mourning for his father. 11 And 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.
12 So his sons did for him just as he had commanded them. 13 For ahis sons carried him to the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre, which Abraham bbought with the field from Ephron the Hittite as property for a burial place. 14 And 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.
Joseph Reassures His Brothers
15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, athey said, “Perhaps Joseph will hate us, and may actually repay us for all the evil which we did to him.” 16 So 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; afor they did evil to you.” ’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of bthe God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him.
18 Then his brothers also went and afell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.”
19 Joseph said to them, a“Do not be afraid, bfor am I in the place of God? 20 aBut as for you, you meant evil against me; but bGod meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. 21 Now therefore, do not be afraid; aI will provide for you and your little ones.” And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.
Death of Joseph
22 So Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he and his father’s household. And Joseph lived one hundred and ten years. 23 Joseph saw Ephraim’s children ato the third generation. bThe children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, cwere also brought up on Joseph’s knees.
24 And Joseph said to his brethren, “I am dying; but aGod will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land to the land bof which He swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.” 25 Then aJoseph took an oath from the children of Israel, saying, “God will surely visit you, and byou shall carry up my cbones from here.” 26 So Joseph died, being one hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
The Holy Bible, New King James Version, Copyright © 1982 Thomas Nelson.
All rights reserved.