# Overview Genesis Chapter 50 concludes the story of #Joseph and the patriarchal narratives of the Book of #Genesis. After the death of his father #Jacob, Joseph orders the embalming of Jacob's body, which takes forty days, a customary period for embalming in #Egypt. The chapter highlights the strong connection between Joseph and the Egyptian culture, as well as the respect the Egyptians had for him, seen through the seventy-day mourning period for Jacob. Joseph requests permission from #Pharaoh to fulfill Jacob's dying wish to be buried in the family tomb in #Canaan. Pharaoh honors this request, allowing Joseph to lead a large procession that includes Egyptian officials, elders, and members of Jacob's family to the burial site at the cave of Machpelah. This event underscores the fulfillment of Jacob's covenantal connection to the promised land, despite having lived and died in Egypt. After returning to Egypt, Joseph's brothers express fear that Joseph might seek revenge now that their father is gone. They remind Joseph of Jacob's instructions to forgive them, but Joseph reassures them with kindness and grace. He emphasizes that God intended the evil they did to him for good, to save many lives, demonstrating Joseph's continued faith and understanding of God's sovereign plan. The chapter concludes with Joseph's death at the age of 110. Before he dies, Joseph makes his brothers swear to carry his bones out of Egypt when God brings them to the promised land, reflecting his unwavering faith in God's promises. Joseph's life and death exemplify themes of forgiveness, divine providence, and the anticipation of future redemption for #Israel. ## Theological Insights Genesis 50 serves as a profound conclusion to the book of #Genesis, emphasizing themes of #forgiveness, the #sovereignty of God, and the continuation of the #covenant promises. The chapter showcases the mature faith of #Joseph, who exhibits remarkable forgiveness towards his brothers, affirming God’s providential hand in the events of his life. Joseph's words in Genesis 50:20, where he tells his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives," highlight a critical theological perspective that God's purposes prevail despite human intentions. This mirrors the overarching biblical theme of God bringing good out of evil, a theme that resonates throughout #Scripture, such as in [[Romans/Romans Chapter 8|Romans 8:28]]. The chapter also underscores the fulfillment of God's promises to #Abraham, #Isaac, and #Jacob, signifying a transition from one patriarchal era to the next. Joseph’s commitment to ensure the burial of his father #Jacob in the land of #Canaan signifies the covenantal promise of land and foreshadows the future exodus of the Israelites back to the Promised Land, as described in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 13|Exodus 13:19]] when Moses carries Joseph’s bones out of #Egypt. Furthermore, Joseph’s expression of faith regarding God’s future deliverance of Israel from Egypt (Genesis 50:24-25) points forward to the #Exodus, reinforcing the continuity of God's redemptive plan. This anticipates the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 15|Genesis 15:13-14]]. Joseph’s assurance to his brothers, "God will surely come to your aid," is an affirmation of God's faithfulness and an anticipation of His saving acts, which will be fully realized in the history of #Israel. Thus, Genesis 50 encapsulates a theology of trust in God’s overarching purpose, the importance of reconciliation, and the enduring nature of God's covenant, setting the stage for the unfolding narrative of redemption in the #OldTestament. ## Thematic Connections ### Sovereignty and Providence of God #Genesis Chapter 50 profoundly illustrates the theme of God's sovereignty and providence, particularly through the story of #Joseph. Joseph reassures his brothers in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 50|verse 20]], stating, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." This reflects a consistent biblical theme where God uses human actions, even those with evil intent, for His divine purposes, as seen in stories like [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 45|Joseph’s earlier declaration]] and fulfilled in the life of [[Jesus Christ (Multiple)|Jesus Christ]], whose crucifixion, intended for harm, led to salvation for many. ### Forgiveness and Reconciliation The chapter underscores forgiveness and reconciliation as Joseph forgives his brothers for their past wrongs. This theme is echoed in the New Testament, where believers are encouraged to forgive others just as God forgives, as seen in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 6|Matthew 6:14-15]]. Joseph’s forgiveness reflects a greater biblical narrative of reconciliation, akin to #Esau and #Jacob’s reunion in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 33]], and foreshadows the ultimate reconciliation through Christ. ### Death and Burial Practices The detailed account of #Jacob’s death and burial in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 50|verses 1-14]] highlights the importance of burial practices and honoring one's heritage. It parallels the burial of key patriarchs like [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 25|Abraham]] and [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 35|Isaac]], emphasizing the significance of familial and covenantal ties in death, which prefigures the burial and resurrection narratives of Jesus in the Gospels, where burial customs also play a critical role. ### Assurance of God’s Promises Joseph’s final words in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 50|verses 24-25]] reflect an assurance in God’s promises, as he reminds his brothers of God’s promise to bring them to the land He swore to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. This theme of trust in divine promises is anchored throughout Scripture, from the promises to the patriarchs in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 12]] to the fulfillment of God’s promises in the New Testament, such as the coming of the Holy Spirit in [[Acts/Acts Chapter 2]]. ### The Cycle of Generations The chapter closes with the death of Joseph, thus marking the transition from one generation to another. This cycle of life and death is a recurring theme in Genesis, beginning with Adam and spanning through the patriarchs. It resonates with the genealogies that connect the generations and God's ongoing covenant with His people, seen in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 5]] and fulfilled in the genealogy of Jesus in [[Matthew/Matthew Chapter 1]], establishing a continuity of God's plan through human history. ## Prophetic Fulfillments ### The Continuation of the Abrahamic Covenant In Genesis 50, the death of #Jacob, also known as #Israel, marks a significant moment in the fulfillment of the #AbrahamicCovenant. The blessings Jacob gives to his sons, particularly #Joseph, align with God's promise to #Abraham that his descendants would become a great nation and bring blessings to the world. This covenant, first established in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 12]], is seen through the continuation of Jacob's lineage and the prophetic declarations over his sons, highlighting God's faithfulness to His promises. ### The Assurance of Return to the Promised Land Before his death, Jacob assures his sons that God will bring them back to the land of their ancestors, reflecting the promise given to Abraham, Isaac, and himself about the land of #Canaan. This assurance is a prophetic fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham as detailed in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 15]], where God promises the land to Abraham's descendants. Joseph's own request to have his bones carried back to the Promised Land (Genesis 50:25) further underscores the belief in the fulfillment of this promise, pointing to the future exodus and return to the land, as realized in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 13]]. ### The Role of Joseph as a Type of Christ Joseph’s life and actions in Genesis 50, particularly his forgiveness and provision for his brothers, prefigure the work of #Christ. Joseph's statement, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives," echoes the redemptive theme central to the work of Jesus. This foreshadows the ultimate deliverance and salvation brought by Jesus, fulfilling numerous Old Testament prophecies regarding a savior who would rescue and redeem God's people, as seen in passages like [[Isaiah/Isaiah Chapter 53]]. ### The Fulfillment of Dreams and God's Sovereignty In Genesis 50, Joseph's earlier dreams, recorded in [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 37]], about his family bowing down to him are fully realized, reinforcing God's sovereignty and His ability to bring His plans to fruition despite human intentions. This fulfillment of dreams serves as an example of how God’s purposes prevail, a theme echoed throughout the scriptures, such as in [[Daniel/Daniel Chapter 2|Daniel's interpretations of dreams]] and the prophecies concerning the coming of Christ. By highlighting these prophetic fulfillments, Genesis 50 not only closes the narrative of the patriarchs but also sets the stage for the unfolding redemptive history that continues through the rest of the Bible. ## Verses - **Genesis 50:1** - "Joseph threw himself on his father’s body and wept over him and kissed him." - Note: #Joseph mourns #Jacob, also see [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 47]] for Jacob's blessing of his sons. - **Genesis 50:2** - "Then Joseph told the physicians who served him to embalm his father’s body; so Jacob was embalmed." - Note: Embalming practices in #Egypt, see [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 46]] for Jacob's arrival in Egypt. - **Genesis 50:3** - "The embalming process took the usual forty days. And the Egyptians mourned his death for seventy days." - Note: Mourning period in #Egypt, similar to mourning practices in [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 1]]. - **Genesis 50:4** - "When the period of mourning was over, Joseph approached Pharaoh’s advisers and said, 'Please do me this favor and speak to Pharaoh on my behalf.'" - Note: Joseph's relationship with #Pharaoh, see [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 41]]. - **Genesis 50:5** - "'Tell him that my father made me swear an oath. He said to me, "Listen, I am about to die. Take my body back to the land of Canaan, and bury me in the tomb I prepared for myself." So please allow me to go and bury my father. After his burial, I will return without delay.'" - Note: #Jacob's burial request, see [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 49]] for Jacob's instructions. - **Genesis 50:6** - "Pharaoh agreed to Joseph’s request. 'Go and bury your father, as he made you promise,' he said." - Note: Favor of #Pharaoh upon Joseph, also see [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 45]]. - **Genesis 50:7** - "So Joseph went up to bury his father. He was accompanied by all of Pharaoh’s officials, all the senior members of Pharaoh’s household, and all the senior officers of Egypt." - Note: The mourning procession for #Jacob, similar to [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 12]]. - **Genesis 50:8** - "Joseph also took his entire household and his brothers and their households. But they left their little children and flocks and herds in the land of Goshen." - Note: The children and flocks were left behind in #Goshen, see [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 47]] for more about Goshen. - **Genesis 50:9** - "A great number of chariots and charioteers accompanied Joseph." - Note: The honor given to #Jacob in death, see [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 45]] for Joseph's standing in Egypt. - **Genesis 50:10** - "When they arrived at the threshing floor of Atad, near the Jordan River, they held a very great and solemn memorial service, with a seven-day period of mourning for Joseph’s father." - Note: Mourning customs near the #Jordan River, see [[Joshua/Joshua Chapter 3]]. - **Genesis 50:11** - "The local residents, the Canaanites, watched them mourning at the threshing floor of Atad. Then they renamed that place (which is near the Jordan) Abel-mizraim, for they said, 'This is a place of deep mourning for these Egyptians.'" - Note: #Canaanites observing mourning, also see [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 12]]. - **Genesis 50:12** - "So Jacob’s sons did as he had commanded them." - Note: Obedience of #Jacob's sons, see [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 49]]. - **Genesis 50:13** - "They carried his body to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre. This is the cave that Abraham had bought as a permanent burial site from Ephron the Hittite." - Note: Burial site of #Abraham and #Jacob, see [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 23]]. - **Genesis 50:14** - "After burying Jacob, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had accompanied him to his father’s burial." - Note: Return to #Egypt, see [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 47]]. - **Genesis 50:15** - "But now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers became fearful. 'Now Joseph will show his anger and pay us back for all the wrong we did to him,' they said." - Note: Fear of #Joseph's brothers, see [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 37]]. - **Genesis 50:16** - "So they sent this message to Joseph: 'Before your father died, he instructed us'" - Note: Message to #Joseph, see [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 49]]. - **Genesis 50:17** - "'to say to you: "Please forgive your brothers for the great wrong they did to you—for their sin in treating you so cruelly." So we, the servants of the God of your father, beg you to forgive our sin.' When Joseph received the message, he broke down and wept." - Note: Appeal for forgiveness to #Joseph, also see [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 45]]. - **Genesis 50:18** - "Then his brothers came and threw themselves down before Joseph. 'Look, we are your slaves!' they said." - Note: Fulfillment of #Joseph's dream, see [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 37]]. - **Genesis 50:19** - "But Joseph replied, 'Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you?'" - Note: Joseph's humility and trust in #God, see [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 45]]. - **Genesis 50:20** - "You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people." - Note: God's sovereignty in #Joseph's life, see [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 45]]. - **Genesis 50:21** - "'No, don’t be afraid. I will continue to take care of you and your children.' So he reassured them by speaking kindly to them." - Note: Joseph's kindness, a reflection of God's grace, see [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 45]]. - **Genesis 50:22** - "So Joseph and his brothers and their families continued to live in Egypt. Joseph lived to the age of 110." - Note: Longevity of #Joseph, see [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 1]]. - **Genesis 50:23** - "He lived to see three generations of descendants of his son Ephraim, and he lived to see the birth of the children of Manasseh’s son Makir, whom he claimed as his own." - Note: Descendants of #Ephraim and #Manasseh, see [[Genesis/Genesis Chapter 48]]. - **Genesis 50:24** - "'Soon I will die,' Joseph told his brothers, 'but God will surely come to help you and lead you out of this land of Egypt. He will bring you back to the land he solemnly promised to give to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.'" - Note: Promise of return to the #PromisedLand, see [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 3]]. - **Genesis 50:25** - "Then Joseph made the sons of Israel swear an oath, and he said, 'When God comes to help you and lead you back, you must take my bones with you.'" - Note: Oath regarding #Joseph's bones, see [[Exodus/Exodus Chapter 13]]. - **Genesis 50:26** - "So Joseph died at the age of 110. The Egyptians embalmed him, and his body was placed in a coffin in Egypt." - Note: Death and embalming of #Joseph, concluding the Genesis narrative.