Joseph, understandably, is deeply upset with the passing of his father. He threw himself on him, wept and kissed him, Genesis 50:1. Notice that Joseph directed the physicians to embalm his father, Genesis 50:2.
The process lasted forty days, Genesis 50:3. This was the practice of the Egyptians and from where embalming originated. The process was fairly straightforward, and over the years, the Egyptians became masters of embalming.
First of all, they would remove the vital organs from the body, place them in a separate jar and bury them with the body. The body itself was filled with salt to preserve it, and myrrh and other spices were added for scent; this would prevent the smell of a rotting body. The body was then tightly wrapped with many layers of cloth and encased like a mummy in a stone or wooden coffin, depending on how wealthy you were.
It would make a lot of sense for Joseph to ask for his father, Jacob, to be embalmed because this would preserve his father’s body until they finally reached the cave in the field of Machpelah near Shechem.
Notice that the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days, Genesis 50:3, which shows how much he was respected. Joseph asks Pharaoh’s court to speak to Pharaoh on his behalf, Genesis 50:4.
They are to tell him that his father made him swear an oath, which was he wanted to be buried in the tomb he had dug for himself in the land of Canaan, Genesis 50:5.
Yates, in his commentary, says the following.
‘There is no reason to object to the idea that Jacob went into the cave and dug from the rock his own grave.’
Pharaoh gives permission for Jacob to go and bury his father, Genesis 50:6, and notice how respected Jacob must have been, Pharaoh ordered a whole assignment of Egyptians to go along with Joseph, Genesis 50:7-9.
It appears that while the seven days of mourning were going on, Genesis 50:10, the Canaanites watched what was happening and noticed that the Egyptians themselves were mourning and thought the burial was an Egyptian burial, Genesis 50:11. Abel Mizraim, Genesis 50:11, means mourning of the Egyptians.
Jacob was buried next to Leah, and because he’s buried in Canaan, Genesis 50:12-13 / Genesis 47:29-31 / Genesis 48:21-22, the Promised Land, this tells us that he truly believed what God had promised, concerning the land, Genesis 12:7 / Genesis 35:12.
After burying his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and everyone else who had gone with him to bury his father, Genesis 50:14. This is the end of the great Patriots, but God will raise up great men after they all have gone.
We can learn a few lessons from the life of Jacob, one of which is the great example he set for his children. He never held it against his sons for selling Joseph into slavery, Genesis 37:28. Most parents are aware that they have the most influence in a child’s life, so they must set them an example worth following, Proverbs 22:6.
Another lesson we can learn from Jacob is that he realised that he would reap what he sowed, Galatians 6:7. Remember, he deceived his father, Isaac, to get the blessing, Genesis 27. Jacob himself was deceived by his sons as they lied about Joseph being eaten by a ferocious animal, Genesis 37:31-32.
A final lesson we can learn from Jacob is that even though he thought Joseph was dead, God was planning ahead. God was using the famine and placing Joseph in charge of Egypt to finally get Jacob’s family into Egypt, where eventually He would free them from slavery and bring them into the Promised Land, Genesis 28:13-14. God has plans for us, too, as His people, 1 Corinthians 15:52-54 / 1 John 3:2 / 2 Peter 1:4.
It’s one thing knowing we are forgiven, but another thing accepting that forgiveness. This is something which Joseph’s brothers were really struggling with as they continued to carry all that guilt and shame from selling their brother into slavery, Genesis 50:15-17.
Joseph is obviously upset that his brothers would even think such a thing and notice that they ‘threw themselves down before him’, Genesis 50:18. This again was a fulfilment of Joseph’s dreams when he was a teenager, Genesis 37:5-8.
Joseph’s reply to his brothers, who were afraid he might take vengeance on them, is really humbling, as he tells them, ‘Am I in God’s place?’ Genesis 50:19. Joseph had the right and the ability to take revenge, but he knew that it all was God’s will, Genesis 50:20.
Francisco, in his commentary, says the following.
‘There has never been a more vivid picture of the providence of God than in these words of Joseph to his brothers. He was not saying that God caused them to think evil against him, for they were responsible for their own thoughts. But God, in his wisdom and power, used their evil purpose to achieve his will.’
Although Joseph’s brother’s intent was evil, they still didn’t understand that God used their evil intent to bring about a greater purpose; he wanted to save the lives of all those in the household of Jacob. Joseph reassures them again, not to be afraid and promises to look after them and their children, Genesis 50:21.
Josephus, in his writings, says the following.
‘Now at the first his brethren were unwilling to return with him, because they were afraid lest, now their father was dead, he should punish them; since he was now gone, for whose sake Joseph had been so gracious to them. But he persuaded them to fear no harm, so he brought them along with him, and gave them great possessions, and never left off his particular concern for them.’
Joseph, now a hundred and ten years of age, dies, Genesis 50:22-23.
Coffman, in his commentary, says the following concerning the word ‘placed at birth on Joseph’s knees, Genesis 50:23.
‘It appears to mean that they were born while Joseph still had the strength to take them upon. his knees, thus loving them.’
Joseph reminds them of the promise that was made to Abraham, Genesis 50:24, concerning them having a land of their own, Genesis 12:1-7 / Genesis 15:13-16, but they needed to be patient and work on God’s timetable, Genesis 15:16.
Before he dies, he reminds his brothers that Egypt isn’t their home, but Canaan is, hence why he asked for his body to be taken out of Egypt to the Promised Land where their fathers were buried, Genesis 50:24-25.
Francisco, in his commentary, says the following.
‘After the death of Rachel, Leah had Jacob alone for a number of years. Did she finally win his love, and did Jacob see that her love was far more meaningful than the fitful passion of the more beautiful Rachel? We cannot tell for certain, but this passage hints at Leah’s ultimate victory over Rachel.’
Thomas, in his commentary, says the following.
‘The outstanding feature of Joseph’s life was faithful loyalty to God under all circumstances.’
Joseph, just like his father Jacob, was embalmed and put in a coffin, Genesis 50:26. The coffin would be a silent witness to the promise. They would have to protect and take care of his coffin for the next four hundred years until they received the Promised Land as an inheritance from God. The bones were to be taken to the Promised Land, which would be an act of faith in God, Exodus 13:19 / Joshua 24:32.
1. Both their fathers loved them dearly, Genesis 37:3 / Matthew 3:17.
2. Both were shepherds of their father’s sheep, Genesis 36:2 / John 10:11 / John 10:27.
3. Both were sent by their father to their brothers, Genesis 37:13-14 / Hebrews 2:11.
4. Both were hated by their brothers, Genesis 37:4 / John 7:5.
5. Others plotted to harm them, Genesis 37:20 / John 11:53.
6. Both were tempted, Genesis 39:7 / Matthew 4:1.
7. Both were taken to Egypt, Genesis 37:25 / Matthew 2:14-15.
8. Both had their robes taken from them, Genesis 37:23 / John 19:23.
9. Both were sold for the price of a slave, Genesis 37:28 / Matthew 26:15.
10. Both were bound in chains, Genesis 39:20 / Matthew 27:2.
11. Both were falsely accused, Genesis 39:16-18 / Matthew 26:59-60.
12. Both were placed with two other prisoners, one who was saved and the other lost, Genesis 40:2-3 / Luke 23:32.
13. Both are thirty years old at the beginning of public recognition, Genesis 41:46 / Luke 3:23.
14. Both were exalted after suffering, Genesis 41:41 / Philippians 2:9-11.
15. Both forgave those who wronged them, Genesis 45:1-15 / Luke 23:34.
16. Both saved their nation, Genesis 45:7 / Matthew 1:21.
17. What men did to hurt them, God turned to good, Genesis 50:20 / 1 Corinthians 2:7-8.
The Book of Genesis is full of events which many people have heard of, the story of Adam and Eve, Noah’s Ark, the Tower of Babel, and Jacob’s Ladder. But the story of Genesis is really all about setting the stage for the rest of the Bible; it’s basically a very long introduction to Israel’s beginnings as a nation. Specifically, it’s the story of the promises God made to humans, promises that God begins to carry out through the rest of the Bible, Genesis 17:7.