Genesis 50:15-26

Joseph's Kindness

15 When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said to one another, "If Joseph is holding a grudge against us, he will certainly repay us for all the wrong we caused him."
16 So they sent this message to Joseph, "Before he died your father gave a command:
17 'Say this to Joseph: Please forgive your brothers' transgression and their sin-the wrong they caused you.' Therefore, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father." Joseph wept when their message came to him.
18 Then his brothers also came to him, bowed down before him, and said, "We are your slaves!"
19 But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God?
20 You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result-the survival of many people.[a]
21 Therefore don't be afraid. I will take care of you and your little ones." And he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.[b]

Joseph's Death

22 Joseph and his father's household remained in Egypt. Joseph lived 110 years.
23 He saw Ephraim's sons to the third generation; the sons of Manasseh's son Machir were recognized by[c] Joseph.
24 Joseph said to his brothers, "I am about to die, but God will certainly come to your aid and bring you up from this land to the land He promised Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob."
25 So Joseph made the Israelites take an oath: "When God comes to your aid, you are to carry my bones up from here."[d]
26 Joseph died at the age of 110. They embalmed him and placed him in a coffin in Egypt.

Images for Genesis 50:15-26

Genesis 50:15-26 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 50

This chapter contains a short account of what happened from the death of Jacob to the death of Joseph, and is chiefly concerned with the funeral of Jacob; it first gives an account how Joseph was affected with his father's death, of his orders to the physicians to embalm him, and of the time of their embalming him, and of the Egyptians mourning for him, Ge 50:1-3, next of his request to Pharaoh to give him leave to go and bury his father in Canaan, and his grant of it, Ge 50:4-6 and then of the grand funeral procession thither, the mourning made for Jacob, and his interment according to his orders, Ge 50:7-13 upon the return of Joseph and his brethren to Egypt, they fearing his resentment of their former usage of him, entreat him to forgive them; which they said they did at the direction of their father, to which Joseph readily agreed, and comforted them, and spoke kindly to them, and bid them not fear any hurt from him, for whatever were their intention, God meant it, and had overruled it for good, Ge 50:14-21 and the chapter is concluded with an account of Joseph's age and death, and of his posterity he saw before his death, and of the charge he gave to his brethren to carry his bones with them, when they should depart from Egypt, Ge 50:22-26.

Footnotes 4

  • [a]. Gn 45:7; Rm 8:28
  • [b]. Lit spoke to their hearts
  • [c]. Lit were born on the knees of; referring to a ritual of adoption or of legitimation; Gn 30:3
  • [d]. Ex 13:19
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