Genesis 50:1-10

1 Yosef fell on his father's face, wept on him, and kissed him.

2 Yosef commanded his servants, the physicians, to embalm his father; and the physicians embalmed Yisra'el.

3 Forty days were fulfilled for him, for that is how many the days it takes to embalm. The Mitzrim wept for him for seventy days.

4 When the days of weeping for him were past, Yosef spoke to the house of Par`oh, saying, "If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the ears of Par`oh, saying,

5 'My father made me swear, saying, "Behold, I am dying. Bury me in my grave which I have dug for myself in the land of Kana`an." Now therefore, please let me go up and bury my father, and I will come again.'"

6 Par`oh said, "Go up, and bury your father, just like he made you swear."

7 Yosef went up to bury his father; and with him went up all the servants of Par`oh, the Zakenim of his house, all the Zakenim of the land of Mitzrayim,

8 all the house of Yosef, his brothers, and his father's house. Only their little ones, their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.

9 There went up with him both chariots and horsemen. It was a very great company.

10 They came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Yarden, and there they lamented with a very great and sore lamentation. He mourned for his father seven days.

Genesis 50:1-10 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.