Genesis Chapter 50: A Detailed Explanation

I. Overview of Genesis 50

Genesis 50 is the final chapter of the book of Genesis and deals with three main events:

Jacob’s Death and Mourning (Verses 1–14) – Joseph mourns for his father Jacob, arranges his burial in Canaan, and fulfills Jacob’s last request.
Joseph Reassures His Brothers (Verses 15–21) – After Jacob's death, Joseph’s brothers fear he might seek revenge. Instead, Joseph reassures them with a profound statement about God's sovereignty.
Joseph’s Death and His Final Words (Verses 22–26) – The chapter concludes with Joseph’s death and his instructions about his bones being taken back to Canaan in the future.

II. Verse-by-Verse Explanation

1. Jacob’s Death and Mourning (Genesis 50:1–14)

Verse 1: "Then Joseph fell on his father’s face and wept over him, and kissed him."

Joseph expresses deep grief over Jacob’s passing.
This mirrors the tender moment in Genesis 46:4, where God promised Jacob that Joseph would be with him at his death.

Verse 2–3: "And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel. Forty days were required for it, for such are the days required for those who are embalmed. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days."

Embalming was an Egyptian practice to preserve bodies for burial. The Hebrews normally did not embalm, but Joseph, living in Egypt, ordered it.
The 70-day mourning period was significant because royal Egyptian figures were mourned for 72 days, showing the high esteem in which Jacob was held.

Verse 4–6: "And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, ‘If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Pharaoh, saying, My father made me swear, saying, Behold, I am about to die: in my tomb that I dug for myself in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me.’"

Joseph respects Egyptian protocol by requesting through intermediaries rather than approaching Pharaoh directly.
Pharaoh grants Joseph permission to fulfill Jacob’s last wish.

Verse 7–9: "So Joseph went up to bury his father, and with him went all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt…"

A grand funeral procession occurs, signifying the great honor Jacob received.
This included Egyptian officials, showing the impact of Joseph’s position.

Verse 10–11: "When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation…"

The Threshing Floor of Atad was near Canaan.
The locals named the place "Abel Mizraim", meaning "mourning of Egypt", showing that Egyptians deeply respected Jacob.

Verse 12–14: "Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them. For his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, which Abraham bought…"

Jacob was buried in the Cave of Machpelah, where Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah were buried.
This fulfills God’s covenant with Abraham about the land of Canaan.

2. Joseph’s Brothers Seek Reconciliation (Genesis 50:15–21)

Verse 15: "When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, ‘It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.’"

The brothers feared Joseph’s revenge, thinking Jacob’s presence had restrained him.
This shows a guilty conscience, as they had sold him into slavery (Genesis 37:28).

Verse 16–17: "So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, ‘Your father gave this command before he died… Please forgive the transgression of your brothers.’"

The message may not be true, as the Bible does not record Jacob saying this.
Joseph’s reaction shows genuine grace, as he weeps.

Verse 18: "His brothers also came and fell down before him and said, ‘Behold, we are your servants.’"

This fulfills Joseph’s earlier dreams (Genesis 37:5–11), where his brothers bowed before him.
Instead of revenge, Joseph responds with kindness and forgiveness.

Verse 19: "But Joseph said to them, ‘Do not fear, for am I in the place of God?’"

Joseph rejects vengeance, recognizing that only God has the right to judge.
This aligns with Romans 12:19, which says, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Verse 20: "As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today."

This is a key verse demonstrating God’s sovereignty.
Even human evil is used by God to accomplish His plan.
Joseph saves Egypt and his family through the famine, fulfilling God’s covenant to Abraham.

Verse 21: "So do not fear; I will provide for you and your little ones."

Joseph reassures them and acts with grace instead of seeking revenge.

3. Joseph’s Death and His Final Request (Genesis 50:22–26)

Verse 22–23: "Joseph remained in Egypt, he and his father’s house. And Joseph lived 110 years."

110 years was considered the ideal lifespan in Egypt.

Verse 24: "And Joseph said to his brothers, ‘I am about to die, but God will visit you and bring you up out of this land to the land that he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.’"

Joseph prophesies the future Exodus of Israel from Egypt.
This connects to Exodus 3:16–17, when God tells Moses He will lead Israel to the Promised Land.

Verse 25: "Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear, saying, ‘God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones from here.’"

This was fulfilled in Exodus 13:19, when Moses took Joseph’s bones to Canaan.
This act shows Joseph’s faith in God’s promise.

Verse 26: "So Joseph died, being 110 years old. They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt."

Unlike Jacob, Joseph was not immediately buried in Canaan but waited until the Exodus.
This foreshadows Israel’s future redemption.

III. Key Themes in Genesis 50

God’s Sovereignty – Even human evil serves God’s purpose (Genesis 50:20).
Forgiveness – Joseph chooses mercy over revenge, reflecting Christ’s forgiveness.
Faith in God’s Promises – Joseph’s request about his bones shows trust in God’s future deliverance.
The Importance of Burial in the Promised Land – This reflects Israel’s spiritual identity.

IV. Conclusion

Genesis 50 serves as both an end and a transition:

It closes the era of the patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob).
It foreshadows the next major biblical event – Israel’s enslavement and Exodus.
Joseph’s final words point to God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His promises.

This chapter teaches us that God is in control, working through both suffering and blessing to accomplish His greater plan.

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Tuesday, March 25, 2025