Genesi 50

1 E GIUSEPPE, gittatosi sopra la faccia di suo padre, pianse sopra lui, e lo baciò.

2 Poi comandò a’ suoi servitori medici, che imbalsamassero suo padre. E i medici imbalsamarono Israele.

3 E quaranta giorni intieri furono posti ad imbalsamarlo; perciocchè tanto tempo appunto si metteva ad imbalsamar coloro che s’imbalsamavano; e gli Egizj lo piansero per settanta giorni.

4 E, dopo che furono passati i giorni del pianto che si fece per lui, Giuseppe parlò alla famiglia di Faraone, dicendo: Deh! se io ho trovata grazia appo voi, parlate, vi prego, a Faraone, e ditegli:

5 Che mio padre mi ha fatto giurare, dicendo: Ecco, io mi muoio; seppelliscimi nella mia sepoltura, la quale io mi ho cavata nel paese di Canaan. Deh! lascia ora dunque che io vada a seppellire mio padre; poi ritornerò.

6 E Faraone disse: Va’, seppellisci tuo padre, come egli ti ha fatto giurare.

7 Giuseppe adunque salì, per seppellir suo padre; e con lui andarono tutti gli anziani della casa di Faraone, servitori di esso, e tutti gli anziani del paese di Egitto;

8 e tutta la famiglia di Giuseppe, e i suoi fratelli, e la famiglia di suo padre; sol lasciarono nella contrada di Gosen le lor famiglie, e le lor gregge, e i loro armenti.

9 Con lui andarono eziandio carri e cavalieri; talchè lo stuolo fu grandissimo.

10 E, come furono giunti all’aia di Atad, che era di là dal Giordano, fecero quivi un grande e molto grave lamento. E Giuseppe fece cordoglio di suo padre per sette giorni.

11 Or i Cananei, abitanti di quel paese, veggendo il cordoglio che si faceva nell’aia di Atad, dissero: Quest’è un duolo grave agli Egizj: perciò fu posto nome a quell’aia, Abel-Misraim, ch’è di là dal Giordano.

12 E i figliuoli di Giacobbe gli fecero come egli avea lor comandato.

13 E lo portarono nel paese di Canaan, e lo seppellirono nella spelonca del campo di Macpela, dirimpetto a Mamre, la quale Abrahamo avea comperata, insieme col campo, da Efron Hitteo, per possession di sepoltura.

14 E Giuseppe, dopo ch’ebbe seppellito suo padre, se ne ritornò in Egitto, co’ suoi fratelli, e con tutti coloro che erano andati con lui, per seppellir suo padre.

15 Or i fratelli di Giuseppe, veggendo che il padre loro era morto, dissero: Forse Giuseppe ci porterà odio, e nimistà, e non mancherà di renderci tutto il male che gli abbiam fatto.

16 Laonde commisero ad alcuni di andare a Giuseppe, per dirgli; Tuo padre, avanti che morisse, ordinò, e disse:

17 Dite così a Giuseppe: Perdona, ti prego, ora a’ tuoi fratelli il lor misfatto, e il lor peccato; conciossiachè essi ti abbiano fatto del male. Deh! perdona dunque ora a’ servitori dell’Iddio di tuo padre il lor misfatto. E Giuseppe pianse, quando coloro gli parlarono.

18 I suoi fratelli andarono eziandio a lui; e, gittatisi in terra davanti a lui, gli dissero: Eccociti per servi.

19 Ma Giuseppe disse loro: Non temiate; perciocchè, sono io in luogo di Dio?

20 Voi certo avevate pensato del male contro a me; ma Iddio ha pensato di convertir quel male in bene, per far ciò che oggi appare, per conservare in vita una gran gente.

21 Ora dunque, non temiate; io sostenterò voi, e le vostre famiglie. Così li consolò, e li riconfortò.

22 E Giuseppe dimorò in Egitto, con la famiglia di suo padre, e visse centodieci anni.

23 E vide ad Efraim figliuoli della terza generazione; i figliuoli di Machir, figliuolo di Manasse, nacquero anch’essi, e furono allevati sopra le ginocchia di Giuseppe.

24 E Giuseppe disse a’ suoi fratelli: Tosto morrò, e Iddio per certo vi visiterà, e vi farà salire fuor di questo paese, nel paese il quale egli giurò ad Abrahamo, a Isacco, e a Giacobbe.

25 E Giuseppe fece giurare i figliuoli d’Israele, dicendo: Iddio per certo vi visiterà; allora trasportate di qui le mie ossa.

26 Poi Giuseppe morì, essendo di età di centodieci anni; e fu imbalsamato, e posto in un cataletto in Egitto.

Genesi 50 Commentary

Chapter 50

The mourning for Jacob. (1-6) His funeral. (7-14) Joseph's brethren crave his pardon, He comforts them. (15-21) Joseph's direction concerning his bones, His death. (22-26)

Verses 1-6 Though pious relatives and friends have lived to a good old age, and we are confident they are gone to glory, yet we may regret our own loss, and pay respect to their memory by lamenting them. Grace does not destroy, but it purifies, moderates, and regulates natural affection. The departed soul is out of the reach of any tokens of our affection; but it is proper to show respect to the body, of which we look for a glorious and joyful resurrection, whatever may become of its remains in this world. Thus Joseph showed his faith in God, and love to his father. He ordered the body to be embalmed, or wrapped up with spices, to preserve it. See how vile our bodies are, when the soul has forsaken them; they will in a very little time become noisome, and offensive.

Verses 7-14 Jacob's body was attended, not only by his own family, but by the great men of Egypt. Now that they were better acquainted with the Hebrews, they began to respect them. Professors of religion should endeavour by wisdom and love to remove the prejudices many have against them. Standers-by took notice of it as a grievous mourning. The death of good men is a loss to any place, and ought to be greatly lamented.

Verses 15-21 Various motives might cause the sons of Jacob to continue in Egypt, notwithstanding the prophetic vision Abraham had of their bondage there. Judging of Joseph from the general temper of human nature, they thought he would now avenge himself on those who hated and injured him without cause. Not being able to resist, or to flee away, they attempted to soften him by humbling themselves. They pleaded with him as the servants of Jacob's God. Joseph was much affected at seeing this complete fulfilment of his dreams. He directs them not to fear him, but to fear God; to humble themselves before the Lord, and to seek the Divine forgiveness. He assures them of his own kindness to them. See what an excellent spirit Joseph was of, and learn of him to render good for evil. He comforted them, and, to banish all their fears, he spake kindly to them. Broken spirits must be bound up and encouraged. Those we love and forgive, we must not only do well for, but speak kindly to.

Verses 22-26 Joseph having honoured his father, his days were long in the land, which, for the present, God had given him. When he saw his death approaching, he comforted his brethren with the assurance of their return to Canaan in due time. We must comfort others with the same comforts with which we have been comforted of God, and encourage them to rest on the promises which are our support. For a confession of his own faith, and a confirmation of theirs, he charges them to keep his remains unburied till that glorious day, when they should be settled in the land of promise. Thus Joseph, by faith in the doctrine of the resurrection, and the promise of Canaan, gave commandment concerning his bones. This would keep up their expectation of a speedy departure from Egypt, and keep Canaan continually in their minds. This would also attach Joseph's posterity to their brethren. The death, as well as the life of this eminent saint, was truly excellent; both furnish us with strong encouragement to persevere in the service of God. How happy to set our early in the heavenly race, to continue stedfastly, and to finish the course with joy! This Joseph did, this we also may do. Even when the pains of death are upon us, if we have trusted in Him upon whom the patriarchs, prophets, and apostles depended, we need not fear to say, "My flesh and my heart faileth, but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."

Chapter Summary

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.