Genesis 50:1-26 Mourning and Burial for Jacob
“Then Joseph fell upon his father’s face, wept over him, and kissed him. And Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So they embalmed him, taking the forty days required to complete the embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days.
When the days of mourning had passed, Joseph said to Pharaoh’s court, “If I have found favor in your eyes, please tell Pharaoh that 5my father made me swear an oath when he said, ‘I am about to die. You must bury me in the tomb that I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.’ Now let me go and bury my father, and then return.”
Pharaoh replied, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear to do.”
Then Joseph went to bury his father, and all the servants of Pharaoh accompanied him—the elders of Pharaoh’s household and all the elders of the land of Egypt— along with all of Joseph’s household, and his brothers, and his father’s household. Only their children and flocks and herds were left in Goshen.
Chariots and horsemen alike went up with him, and it was an exceedingly large procession. When they reached the threshing floor of Atad, which is across the Jordan, they lamented and wailed loudly, and Joseph mourned for his father seven days.
When the Canaanites of the land saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a solemn ceremony of mourning by the Egyptians.” Thus the place across the Jordan is called Abel-mizraim. (“mourning of the Egyptians”)
So Jacob’s sons did as he had charged them. They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave at Machpelah in the field near Mamre, which Abraham had purchased from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site.
After Joseph had buried his father, he returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone with him to bury his father.
Joseph Comforts His Brothers
“When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge? Then he will surely repay us for all the evil that we did to him.”
So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Before he died, your father commanded, ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I beg you, please forgive the transgression and sin of your brothers, for they did you wrong.’ So now, Joseph, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God of your father.”
When their message came to him, Joseph wept. His brothers also came to him, bowed down before him, and said, “We are your slaves!”
But Joseph replied, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God? As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people. Therefore do not be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.” So Joseph reassured his brothers and spoke kindly to them.
The Death of Joseph
Now Joseph and his father’s household remained in Egypt, and Joseph lived to the age of 110. He saw Ephraim’s sons to the third generation, and indeed the sons of Machir son of Manasseh were brought up on Joseph’s knees. (placed on his knees at birth)
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God will surely visit you and bring you up from this land to the land He promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.” And Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath and said, “God will surely attend to you, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.” So Joseph died at the age of 110. And they embalmed his body and placed it in a coffin in Egypt.”
Jacob dies at the age of 147, and all of Egypt mourns with Joseph. Afte being dragged off to Egypt as a teen-age slave, Joseph has now become the savior of Egypt, revered, respected, and even loved. When Joseph’s father dies, the Egyptians give him the same honor they would give to one of their own nobles with forty days for embalming and seventy days of mourning in Egypt. Then when Joseph and his brothers are bringing Jacob’s body back to Canaan, the Egyptians send a high-level delegation to accompany the body and to witness the burial in the cave at Machpelah. “Then Joseph went to bury his father, and all the servants of Pharaoh accompanied him—the elders of Pharaoh’s household and all the elders of the land of Egypt— along with all of Joseph’s household, and his brothers, and his father’s household. Only their children and flocks and herds were left in Goshen. Chariots and horsemen alike went up with him, and it was an exceedingly large procession. When they reached the threshing floor of Atad, which is across the Jordan, they lamented and wailed loudly, and Joseph mourned for his father seven days.”
Viewed from the vantage of millenia, we might not appreciate the singular honor Pharaoh and his give to Joseph and his family. At this time, the Egyptians are one of the leading nations in the world scientifically, artistically, and militarily. The Egyptians have a very high opinion of themselves and a relatively low opinion of those from other nations; however, Joseph has so distinguished himself that the Egyptians treat him as one of their own nobles. Pharoah can’t leave Egypt but all his elders and the elders of the land make the long trip to Canaan and back, all to honor Joseph. The man who has named his son Manasseh because he is a “stranger in a strange land,” has found a second home in Egypt.
Once Jacob’s funeral is over, Joseph’s brothers become very worried. What if Joseph has been waiting all these years just to take vengeance once his father is out of the way? If Joseph had never suffered through years of slavery and imprisonment, his brothers’ fears might be justified. But Joseph has learned to forgive and to move on. Joseph has also learned how precious family can be and he wants to build family relationships, not destroy them. “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God? As for you, what you intended against me for evil, God intended for good, in to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people. Therefore do not be afraid. I will provide for you and your little ones.” So Joseph reassured his brothers and spoke kindly to them.“
Joseph’s story is one with a series of satisfying and happy endings. God transforms the bratty little brother who begins by tattling on his older brothers into a leader who delivers not only his own family but the entire nation of Egypt as well as untold other surrounding nations when famine strikes the Middle East. After years of separation, Joseph is reunited with his family and painful relationships are healed. Jacob the patriarch witnesses the salvation of his family and is reunited with Joseph, even enjoying being a grandfather to Joseph’s children. Joseph himself lives to the age of 110 and enjoys his grandchildren. But Joseph always remembers that this stay in Egypt is temporary and causes his family to swear to carry his bones back to Canaan.
My husband and I have spent years as “strangers in a strange land.” We have served the people of our small town through our work at the hospital. My husband has helped found the Local Council of Churches and also regularly ministers to uniformed service personnel. Our lives are woven together with those of our friends and neighbors. We have already told family and friends that if we die in our little village, our friends should bury us here and honor us by spending the money they would uses for an elaborate funeral to educate young people. Our greatest joys come from celebrating the accomplishments of those around us.
We can testify that when you serve people, they will respond and you will have peace. Yes, there will be challenges and struggles and frustrations. But the same God who brought Joseph through all his problems can also bring you through as well.
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to trust that when You call us to leave our own cultures and families, You will supply friends and families wherever You send us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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