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50:1 And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.
50:2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.
50:3 And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.
50:4 And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, 50:5 My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again.
50:6 And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.
50:7 And 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, 50:8 And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.
50:9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.
50:10 And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.
50:11 And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim, which is beyond Jordan.
50:12 And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them: 50:13 For 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 for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.
50:14 And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.
50:15 And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.
50:16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, 50:17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
50:18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.
50:19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
50:21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
50:22 And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.
50:23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees.
50:24 And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
50:25 And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.
50:26 So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.


King James Bible:Genesis
Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to: Genesis
Book: Genesis
Chapter: 50

Overview:
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)

1-6 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.

7-14 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. Bystanders 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.

15-21 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.

22-26 Joseph having honoured his Father, his days were long in
the land, which, for the present, God had given him. When he saw
his Death approaching, he comforted his brethren with the
Assurance of their return to Canaan in due time. We must comfort
others with the same comforts with which we have been comforted
of God, and encourage them to Rest On the promises which are our
support. For a Confession of his own Faith, and a confirmation
of theirs, he charges them to keep his remains unburied till
that glorious Day, when they should be settled in the land of
promise. Thus Joseph, By Faith in the doctrine of the
resurrection, and the promise of Canaan, gave commandment
concerning his bones. This would keep up their expectation of a
speedy departure from Egypt, and keep Canaan continually in
their minds. This would also attach Joseph's posterity to their
brethren. The Death, as Well as the Life of this eminent Saint,
was truly excellent; both furnish us with strong encouragement
to persevere in the service of God. How happy to set out early
in the heavenly race, to continue stedfastly, and to finish the
course with joy! This Joseph did, this we also may do. Even when
the pains of Death are upon us, if we have trusted in Him upon
whom the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles depended, we need
not fear to say, "My Flesh and my Heart faileth, but God is the
strength of my Heart, and my portion for ever."

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