Genesis 50:18-26

18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.

19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?

20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.

21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

The Death of Joseph

22 Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years

23 and saw the third generation of Ephraim’s children. Also the children of Makir son of Manasseh were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees.^[a]

24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

25 And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.”

26 So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.

Genesis 50:18-26 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.

Cross References

• 1. S Genesis 37:7
• 2. S Genesis 43:18
• 3. S Genesis 30:2; S Exodus 32:34; Romans 12:19; Hebrews 10:30
• 4. Genesis 37:20
• 5. Isaiah 10:7; Micah 4:11-12
• 6. Romans 8:28
• 7. S Genesis 45:5; Esther 4:14
• 8. S Genesis 45:11; Genesis 47:12
• 9. S Genesis 34:3; Ephesians 4:32
• 10. S Genesis 25:7; Joshua 24:29
• 11. Job 42:16
• 12. S Genesis 41:52
• 13. S Genesis 48:11
• 14. Numbers 26:29; Numbers 27:1; Numbers 32:39,40; Numbers 36:1; Deuteronomy 3:15; Joshua 13:31; Joshua 17:1; Judges 5:14
• 15. S Genesis 41:51
• 16. S Genesis 48:12
• 17. ver 5; Genesis 48:21
• 18. Ruth 1:6; Psalms 35:2; Psalms 106:4; Isaiah 38:14; Exodus 3:16-17
• 19. S Genesis 15:14
• 20. S Genesis 13:17
• 21. S Genesis 17:19
• 22. S Genesis 12:7; S Genesis 15:16; Genesis 26:3; Genesis 28:13; Genesis 35:12
• 23. S Genesis 24:37
• 24. S Genesis 49:29
• 25. S Genesis 47:29-30; Exodus 13:19; Joshua 24:32; Hebrews 11:22
• 26. Exodus 1:6
• 27. S Genesis 25:7
• 28. S ver 2

Footnotes

• [a] That is, were counted as his