Genesis 50:3-10

3 taking a full forty days, for that was the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.
4 When the days of mourning had passed, Joseph said to Pharaoh’s court, “If I have found favor in your eyes, speak to Pharaoh for me. Tell him,
5 ‘My father made me swear an oath and said, “I am about to die; bury me in the tomb I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.” Now let me go up and bury my father; then I will return.’ ”
6 Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear to do.”
7 So Joseph went up to bury his father. All Pharaoh’s officials accompanied him—the dignitaries of his court and all the dignitaries of Egypt—
8 besides all the members of Joseph’s household and his brothers and those belonging to his father’s household. Only their children and their flocks and herds were left in Goshen.
9 Chariots and horsemen[a] also went up with him. It was a very large company.
10 When they reached the threshing floor of Atad, near the Jordan, they lamented loudly and bitterly; and there Joseph observed a seven-day period of mourning for his father.

Genesis 50:3-10 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 19

  • 1. S Genesis 37:34; S Deuteronomy 1:3; Numbers 20:29; Deuteronomy 34:8
  • 2. S Genesis 27:41
  • 3. ver 7
  • 4. S Genesis 30:27; S Genesis 32:5
  • 5. S Genesis 24:37; Genesis 47:31
  • 6. ver 24
  • 7. 2 Samuel 18:18; 2 Chronicles 16:14; Isaiah 22:16; Matthew 27:60
  • 8. Genesis 47:31
  • 9. Matthew 8:21
  • 10. Genesis 45:16
  • 11. ver 4
  • 12. ver 14
  • 13. S Genesis 45:10
  • 14. S Genesis 41:43
  • 15. Numbers 15:20; Ruth 3:2; 2 Samuel 24:18; 1 Kings 22:10
  • 16. 2 Samuel 1:17; 2 Samuel 3:33; 2 Chronicles 35:25; Ezekiel 32:16; Acts 8:2
  • 17. 1 Samuel 31:13; Job 2:13; Ezekiel 3:15
  • 18. S Genesis 27:41; S Leviticus 10:6
  • 19. S Genesis 37:34

Footnotes 1

Scripture quoted by permission.  Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.  NIV®.  Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica.  All rights reserved worldwide.