The Deaths of Jacob & Joseph
INTRODUCTION: The story is ending. The last of the founding patriarchs are dying. This is a story of burials and not of births. Yet, hope remains. It remains in the hearts. It remains in the last request of Joseph to carry his bones back to the land of Canaan when God visits His people.
- THE DEATH OF JACOB (Genesis 49:28-33 [28] All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.
[29] And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,
[30] In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace.
[31] There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.
[32] The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth.
[33] And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.
See All...) - Jacob Blesses the Twelve Tribes (Genesis 49:28All these are the twelve tribes of Israel: and this is it that their father spake unto them, and blessed them; every one according to his blessing he blessed them.
See All...). - Jacob’s Burial to be in Canaan (Genesis 49:29-32 [29] And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,
[30] In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace.
[31] There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.
[32] The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth.
See All...) - In the cave of Machpelah (Genesis 49:29-30 [29] And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite,
[30] In the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought with the field of Ephron the Hittite for a possession of a buryingplace.
See All...) - Purchased by Abraham as a burying place (Genesis 49:31-32 [31] There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.
[32] The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth.
See All...; Genesis 23) - Jacob Yields up the Ghost (Genesis 49:33And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.
See All...). - He made an end of commanding his sons.
- He gathers his feet into the bed.
- He yields up the ghost (Genesis 35:18And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.
See All...; Matthew 27:50Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.
See All...). - He was gathered to his people.
- Not identical to his burial since they did not even begin the trip to Canaan for 70 days (Genesis 50:3And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.
See All...) - Neither was it burial in the family plot alongside a person’s relatives. Consider Moses who was gathered unto his people (Deuteronomy 32:50And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people:
See All...) though no one knew where he was buried (Deuteronomy 34:5-6 [5] So Moses the servant of the LORD died there in the land of Moab, according to the word of the LORD. [6] And he buried him in a valley in the land of Moab, over against Bethpeor: but no man knoweth of his sepulchre unto this day.
See All...). - Consider those who were gathered unto their people or the fathers.
- Abraham (Genesis 25:8Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.
See All...) - Ishmael (Genesis 25:17And these are the years of the life of Ishmael, an hundred and thirty and seven years: and he gave up the ghost and died; and was gathered unto his people.
See All...) - Isaac (Genesis 35:29And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.
See All...) - Jacob (Genesis 49:33And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.
See All...) - Aaron (Numbers 20:24Aaron shall be gathered unto his people: for he shall not enter into the land which I have given unto the children of Israel, because ye rebelled against my word at the water of Meribah.
See All...) - Moses (Deuteronomy 32:50And die in the mount whither thou goest up, and be gathered unto thy people; as Aaron thy brother died in mount Hor, and was gathered unto his people:
See All...) - The people who served the Lord the days of Joshua (Judges 2:10And also all that generation were gathered unto their fathers: and there arose another generation after them, which knew not the LORD, nor yet the works which he had done for Israel.
See All...) - Josiah (2 Kings 22:20Behold therefore, I will gather thee unto thy fathers, and thou shalt be gathered into thy grave in peace; and thine eyes shall not see all the evil which I will bring upon this place. And they brought the king word again.
See All...) - Done for the purpose of future gathering unto Shiloh, the Messiah (Genesis 49:10The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be.
See All...) - Refers to the Old Testament saints being gathered together in Abraham’s bosom (Luke 16:22And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried;
See All...) to be taken up by Christ at His resurrection and ascension (Psalm 68:18Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them.
See All...; Ephesians 4:8Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.
See All...) - THE BURIAL OF JACOB (Genesis 50:1-13 [1] And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.
[2] And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.
[3] And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.
[4] And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying,
[5] My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again.
[6] And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.
[7] And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
[8] And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.
[9] And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.
[10] And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.
[11] And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim, which is beyond Jordan.
[12] And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them:
[13] For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.
See All...) - Jacob’s Body Is Prepared for Burial (Genesis 50:1-3 [1] And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.
[2] And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.
[3] And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.
See All...). - Joseph weeps for him (Genesis 50:1And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.
See All...). - Jacob’s body is embalmed (Genesis 50:2-3 [2] And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.
[3] And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.
See All...a). - At the command of Joseph
- Done by the Egyptian physicians
- Takes a period of forty days
- The Egyptians mourn for seventy days (Genesis 50:3And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.
See All...b). - Note: Mourning for the dead
- Thirty days – the amount of time that they wept for Moses (Deuteronomy 34:8And the children of Israel wept for Moses in the plains of Moab thirty days: so the days of weeping and mourning for Moses were ended.
See All...) and Aaron (Numbers 20:29And when all the congregation saw that Aaron was dead, they mourned for Aaron thirty days, even all the house of Israel.
See All...) - Seven days – the common time of mourning for the Jews (Genesis 50:8-10 [8] And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.
[9] And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.
[10] And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.
See All...; 1 Samuel 31:11-13 [11] And when the inhabitants of Jabeshgilead heard of that which the Philistines had done to Saul; [12] All the valiant men arose, and went all night, and took the body of Saul and the bodies of his sons from the wall of Bethshan, and came to Jabesh, and burnt them there. [13] And they took their bones, and buried them under a tree at Jabesh, and fasted seven days.
See All...) - Seventy days – possibly the standard amount of time the Egyptians mourned (Genesis 50:2-3 [2] And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.
[3] And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days.
See All...) - Notice that the Jews did not mourn for their dead in the same manner as the Egyptians. In 1 Thessalonians 4:13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
See All..., we are told, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.” - Plans Are Made to Transport the Body (Genesis 50:4-6 [4] And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying,
[5] My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again.
[6] And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.
See All...). - Joseph makes a request of Pharaoh (Genesis 50:4-5 [4] And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying,
[5] My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again.
See All...). - Joseph pleads for grace from Pharaoh (Genesis 50:4And when the days of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying, If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears of Pharaoh, saying,
See All...). - Joseph asks to be able to keep his word to his father, and bury him in the land of Canaan (Genesis 50:5My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again.
See All...). - Joseph promises to return (Genesis 50:5My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again.
See All...). - Pharaoh grants his request (Genesis 50:6And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.
See All...). - The Burial Party Travels to Canaan (Genesis 50:7-11 [7] And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
[8] And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.
[9] And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.
[10] And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.
[11] And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim, which is beyond Jordan.
See All...). - The burial party leaves the land of Egypt (Genesis 50:7-9 [7] And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
[8] And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.
[9] And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.
See All...). - The company travelling with Joseph (Genesis 50:7-8 [7] And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of the land of Egypt,
[8] And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of Goshen.
See All...) - All the servants of Pharaoh
- The elders of Pharaoh’s house
- The elders of the land of Egypt
- All the house of Joseph
- Joseph’s brethren
- The company included chariots and horsemen (Genesis 50:9And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.
See All...). - They mourn for seven days at the floor of Atad (Genesis 50:10-11 [10] And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.
[11] And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim, which is beyond Jordan.
See All...). - Upon arrival at the threshingfloor of Atad, Joseph lamented sore for the loss of his father (Genesis 50:10And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.
See All...). - The Canaanites witnessed this mourning and changed the name of the place to Abelmizraim (Genesis 50:11And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim, which is beyond Jordan.
See All...). - Jacob Is Buried in the Cave of Machpelah (Genesis 50:12-13 [12] And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them:
[13] For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.
See All...). - THE FEAR OF JOSEPH’S BROTHERS (Genesis 50:14-21 [14] And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.
[15] And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.
[16] And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,
[17] So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
[18] And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.
[19] And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
[20] But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
[21] Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
See All...) - Joseph and His Brethren Return to Egypt (Genesis 50:14And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father.
See All...). - Joseph’s Brothers Approach Him in Fear (Genesis 50:15-18 [15] And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.
[16] And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,
[17] So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
[18] And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.
See All...). - They fear revenge from Joseph (Genesis 50:15And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.
See All...). - They speak in their father’s name (Genesis 50:16And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,
See All...). - They repent of their sin toward Joseph (Genesis 50:17So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph wept when they spake unto him.
See All...). - They offer themselves as servants to Joseph (Genesis 50:18And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.
See All...). - Joseph Assures Them of Their Safety (Genesis 50:19-21 [19] And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
[20] But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
[21] Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
See All...). - Joseph will not judge them as God (Genesis 50:19And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
See All...). - He sees God’s purpose in all that took place (Genesis 50:20But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
See All...). - He desires only to nourish and comfort them (Genesis 50:21Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
See All...). - NOTE: In this, Joseph was again like Jesus in His first coming.
- THE DEATH OF JOSEPH (Genesis 50:22-26 [22] And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.
[23] And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees.
[24] And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
[25] And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.
[26] So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
See All...) - Joseph Lives a Blessed Life (Genesis 50:22-23 [22] And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.
[23] And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees.
See All...). - To the age of 110 (Genesis 50:22And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.
See All...) - Seeing grand children and great grandchildren (Genesis 50:23And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees.
See All...) - Joseph Secures a Promise from His Family (Genesis 50:24-25 [24] And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
[25] And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.
See All...). - Joseph approaches the time of his death (Genesis 50:24And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
See All...). - Joseph foretells of God’s deliverance (Genesis 50:24And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
See All...). - Joseph wants his bones taken to the promised land when the children of Israel return (Hebrews 11:22By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
See All...).
CONCLUSION: The book of Genesis ends “in a coffin in Egypt” (Genesis 50:26So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
See All...), but those very bones are held in hope of a return to the land of promise. They are still seeking that better country and the city whose builder and maker is God (Hebrews 11:10For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
See All..., 13-15).