| Joseph makes himself known to his brethren |
| The brothers return to Canaan |
| Israel comes to Egypt |
| Jacob blesses Joseph's sons |
| Jacob's blessing on his sons |
| Joseph and his brothers |
| Joseph's death |
| Close |
In Part 5 of our study about the life of Joseph we had learned about the events which happened when his brothers came into Egypt the second time. They had brought with them their brother Benjamin, and on their way home they had been stopped by the steward of Joseph's house and been accused of stealing. Then they all returned in to the city unto Joseph. Judah then had pleaded and interceded on Benjamin's behalf, even offering that he would stay back and be a slave in Benjamin's stead so that the younger brother would be able to go home to their father with the others.
After Judah had interceded for Benjamin with a very heartfelt speech, the brothers were very anxious and expectant as to what was going to happen now. The Egyptian ruler had made it clear in no uncertain terms that he was planning to keep Benjamin as slave and that he was going to send the others all to return home. How would he now react to the words of Judah?
Genesis 45:1:
Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. …
Joseph was overwhelmed by the change of heart displayed in Judah's speech and he no longer could refrain himself. Thus he quickly ordered that all other bystanders leave the room immediately.
Genesis 45:1–3:
… And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.
And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard.
And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.
The brothers had experienced a lot in Egypt in very little time, and now all of a sudden that brother, whom they had thought to dead, had told to be dead and had forgotten as being dead as much as they had been able to, was standing right in front of them! What a surprise and what terror now grabbed a hold of them! They were absolutely speechless, not a word came across their lips, for they were troubled. Why should they believe him? Was he indeed Joseph? Perhaps this Egyptian, after having learned from them that they had had another brother who most likely was dead, was now only pretending to be that brother?
Genesis 45:4:
And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt.
As Joseph continued to talk with them, any doubts about his identity were quickly eliminated. This man standing in front of them was obviously Joseph, because only they (and possibly only the nine older brothers) and Joseph himself knew this terrible secret that he now brought up — that they had actually sold him into Egypt!
Genesis 45:5:
Now therefore be not grieved, …
Joseph was very concerned that this situation would not develop in a wrong way and go in a wrong direction.
Genesis 45:5 and 6:
nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life.
For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest.
This then happened in the second year of those seven years of the famine. Joseph comforted them by explaining to them that really their plans and their actions were the focal point of what had happened, but rather that in all of this something else was really happening, a salvation for their lives planned and carried out by God. They before had wanted to take Joseph's life, but God had directed all in a way where now it turned out to be for the saving of their lives.
Genesis 45:7 and 8:
And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance.
So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
All that happened here was part in a plan of God, and this plan did not concern just Joseph but rather all their lives and their families, "to preserve them a posterity in the earth".
Once again, a third time, Joseph points out to them that God had been doing something here. Sure, they had had some part in it at first, but their evil desires and their evil plan were not the decisive matter, rather God somehow used and turned this evil into His good.
"Hath made me a father to Pharaoh" is a figure of speech and points out that Joseph was a counselor to Pharaoh, was helping Pharaoh as a father would.
Genesis 45:9–13:
Haste ye, and go up to my father, and say unto him, Thus saith thy son Joseph, God hath made me lord of all Egypt: come down unto me, tarry not:
And thou shalt dwell in the land of Goshen, and thou shalt be near unto me, thou, and thy children, and thy children's children, and thy flocks, and thy herds, and all that thou hast:
And there will I nourish thee; for yet there are five years of famine; lest thou, and thy household, and all that thou hast, come to poverty.
And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you.
And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither.
Joseph recognized that it was time now to send them back to their father in order to bring all into Egypt so that they could live there during the time of the famine. They all were to now go together up to Jacob to affirm him that Joseph was indeed still living and that he was ruler over all of Egypt. It was not a ghost or apparition standing in front of them, but it was him, bodily, that Joseph whom they had sold into Egypt. It was their brother who now encouraged them "to go up to my father" and to "tell my father" what they had seen.
Joseph planned to bring them into the land of Goshen, a part of Egypt – commonly thought to be located in the north eastern part of Egypt in the direction of Sinai – and to have them settle there. Again and again Joseph pointed toward God Who had been behind all that happened. Above all the mistakes, the errors and sins of the brothers, God was pursuing His goal in order to procure and bring to pass eventually the promises He had already made to Abraham, and which He also had confirmed to Isaac and to Jacob.
Genesis 45:14 and 15:
And he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck.
Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him.
The brothers had been long speechless as they were very troubled when they knew Joseph was standing right in front of them. Only after his words of comfort and assurance that he was not angry nor planning any revenge and that this whole matter did not concern him or his plans anyway, but rather this concerned God and His plans, they slowly gained a little confidence and began to talk with him.
Genesis 45.16:
16 And the fame [the news] thereof was heard in Pharaoh's house, saying, Joseph's brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants.
Once again we can see also in this how God was at work behind the scenes. Even before Joseph would have to go before Pharaoh in order to make an appeal for his family to be allowed to come into Egypt, the Pharaoh already "had the right idea" which he then told Joseph.
Genesis 45:17–20:
And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan;
And take your father and your households, and come unto me: and I will give you the good of the land of Egypt, and ye shall eat the fat of the land.
Now thou art commanded, this do ye; take you wagons out of the land of Egypt for your little ones, and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.
Also regard not your stuff; for the good of all the land of Egypt is yours.
Pharaoh's idea is a great help for Joseph's plan and now his relatives are even given the best parts of the land of Egypt.
Genesis 45:21 and 22:
And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way.
To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment.
In this also Benjamin is being favored. Such is life – and not in everything is always everything "fair".
Genesis 45:23 and 24:
And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way.
So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way.
About such items there had already been some "falling out by the way" long time ago, and Joseph now encourages them all to not have arguments and fights on their journey!
Genesis 45:25 and 26:
And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father,
And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob's heart fainted, for he believed them not.
Jacob had heard a few things from their mouths, and this story left him rather cold ("his heart remained cold") and he did not get excited one bit about their report. He did not want to believe them!
Genesis 45:27:
And they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said unto them: and when he saw the wagons which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived:
Jacob had long mourned for Joseph and could not be comforted; and now (after many years) he learned that Joseph was still alive. "When he saw the wagons" – this was the very first thing which was beyond just the words of the brothers. He seemingly did not quite want to believe the his sons, but when he saw the wagons his spirit revived, he became lively again.
Genesis 45:28:
And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.
literally the text reads, "Enough! My son Joseph is still alive!“ It appears as if the brothers also admitted to their father what they really once had done. But all the explanatory words which they tried to convey to him were unnecessary. What now counted was simply the fact that "Joseph my son is yet alive! And I will go and see him before I die!"
Joseph was able with God's help to move the hearts and minds of his brothers. The previous hard and rough words were bearing fruit, a change of heart occurred in the brothers and the good and happy end is slowly getting under way. God had sent Joseph ahead of the others, which meant that they were to come to him down into Egypt. The brothers reported to their father Jacob, and after he, after having seen the wagons, believed that Joseph was still alive, he makes the decision to go down to Egypt to finally see his beloved son Joseph once again!
Genesis 46:1:
And Israel took his journey with all that he had, and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.
Beersheba is located in the south of Canaan, on the way to Egypt. Jacob knew of the promise of God to Abraham, that the people at one time were to go to Egypt, but until now he himself had not received any guidance from God about such a move. Jacob therefore stopped at Beersheba, the very same place where Isaac also had sacrificed to God, and he now offered sacrifices unto the God of his father Isaac.
Genesis 46:2–5:
And God spake unto Israel in the visions of the night, and said, Jacob, Jacob. And he said, Here am I.
And he said, I am God, the God of thy father: fear not to go down into Egypt; for I will there make of thee a great nation:
I will go down with thee into Egypt; and I will also surely bring thee up again: and Joseph shall put his hand upon thine eyes.
And Jacob rose up from Beersheba: …
After this revelation with four important promises and assurances of God, Jacob was ready to go into Egypt trusting God and His promises. This promise again reminds us in many ways of the promise which God had promised to Abraham as well as Isaac. Jacob was to go down to Egypt without any fear for God was gong to make of them a great nation there, and God was gong with them, and God eventually was going to bring them again up out of Egypt.
Genesis 46:5–8:
… and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him.
And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob, and all his seed with him:
His sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters, and all his seed brought he with him into Egypt.
And these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons: …
The whole family now started and moved from Canaan to Egypt where they would find a safe place and be protected at first from the the current famine.
In the following verses the sons of Jacob and their families are enumerated, and in verse 20 the two sons of Joseph are also mentioned.
Genesis 46:26 and 27:
All the souls that came with Jacob into Egypt, which came out of his loins, besides Jacob's sons' wives, all the souls were threescore and six;
And the sons of Joseph, which were born him in Egypt, were two souls: all the souls of the house of Jacob, which came into Egypt, were threescore and ten.
There were 66 who came together with Jacob, then we add Joseph and his two sons who already were in Egypt, and Jacob himself which makes for a total of 70 persons who are mentioned here. Acts 7:14 mentions 75 persons who came into Egypt which obviously included 5 persons who were not direct descendants of Jacob ("came out of his loins"). From this relatively small group of people, a great nation developed in Egypt, a place where they could live relatively safe and where they multiplied and grew into a nation.
Genesis 46:28 and 29:
And he sent Judah before him unto Joseph, to direct his face unto Goshen; and they came into the land of Goshen.
And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, …
Goshen was very conducive for them as herdsmen, it was a bit remote from the otherwise densely populated Nile valley in Egypt. Israel was a bit separate from the Egyptians and could develop and grow into a nation quickly
Jacob now sent Judah before him to announce his arrival to Joseph who also had come some of the way to meet his father.
Genesis 46:29 and 30:
… and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while.
And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art yet alive.
Jacob, here now fittingly called "Israel“, who had mourned for so long and who had been without comfort now saw his beloved son Joseph, and he held him in his arms, and he had no further great or small wishes for his life.
Joseph now made preparation for announcing their arrival to Pharaoh.
Genesis 46:31–34:
And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father's house, I will go up, and show Pharaoh, and say unto him, My brethren, and my father's house, which were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me;
And the men are shepherds, for their trade hath been to feed cattle; and they have brought their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have.
And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation?
That ye shall say, Thy servants' trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd is an abomination unto the Egyptians.
Shepherds were seemingly not well liked in Egypt. Joseph wanted to achieve that they would be able to live in the land of Goshen and not be locate too close to the city of Pharaoh nor close to the other cities of Egypt. This gave them the opportunity to continue doing their things and especially to continue serving their God without unpleasant interruptions.
Genesis 47:1–3:
Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen.
And he took some of his brethren, even five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh.
And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers.
They answered the question of Pharaoh truthfully and honestly, and they declared that they already for generations had been shepherds and were not intending on doing anything much different now.
Genesis 47:4:
They said moreover unto Pharaoh, For to sojourn [to sojourn, but not to permanently dwell] in the land are we come; …
They already pointed out a very important point which was that they had not come to stay for ever, but rather that they only had come "for to sojourn in the land". They had come to Egypt upon the invitation of Pharaoh, and by already here pointing out that they were not intending to stay there but rather were planning to only be there for a certain amount of time, they later also had the right to be free and decide when they wanted to leave. However, when they later on wanted to leave, the new Pharaoh refused to let them go. He really had no right to keep them for they had only come to sojourn in the land for a certain period of time which they right they had been granted by Pharaoh.
Genesis 47:4–6:
… for thy servants have no pasture for their flocks; for the famine is sore in the land of Canaan: now therefore, we pray thee, let thy servants dwell [sojourn] in the land of Goshen.
And Pharaoh spake unto Joseph, saying, Thy father and thy brethren are come unto thee:
he land of Egypt is before thee; in the best of the land make thy father and brethren to dwell; in the land of Goshen let them dwell: and if thou knowest any men of activity among them, then make them rulers over my cattle.
Pharaoh appointed the best of the land to them where they could keep their flocks and live as shepherds.
Genesis 47:7:
And Joseph brought in Jacob his father, and set him before Pharaoh: and Jacob blessed Pharaoh.
Jacob was aware of who he was and in whose hand his life was and that he was walking with God. When he stood before the mighty Pharaoh, the great king of Egypt, he blessed Pharaoh.
Genesis 47:8–10:
And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou?
And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, The days of the years of my pilgrimage are an hundred and thirty years: few and evil have the days of the years of my life been, and have not attained unto the days of the years of the life of my fathers in the days of their pilgrimage.
And Jacob blessed Pharaoh, and went out from before Pharaoh.
Jacob was a lot older than Pharaoh and others whom Pharaoh knew, and Pharaoh was quite impressed with this fact. When Pharaoh saw the old man he was seemingly very impressed. It is not recorded what Pharaoh said. We learn that Jacob was at the time 130 years old, and he spoke of his life as a pilgrimage, which is truly remarkable if we compare this to the record in Hebrews 11.
Hebrews 11:13–16:
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
Jacob said that his 130 years were only few compared to the days and age of his fathers (Abraham lived to be 175 years old, Isaac even 180 years) and that the time of his life had been evil. Jacob indeed did not have an easy life, and what happened in his life he could rightfully call "evil".1
Genesis 47:11 and 12:
And Joseph placed his father and his brethren, and gave them a possession in the land of Egypt, in the best of the land, in the land of Rameses, as Pharaoh had commanded.
And Joseph nourished his father, and his brethren, and all his father's household, with bread, according to their families.
The land of Rameses is the land of Goshen, named after the royal city which was later on built in this vicinity and then called "Rameses". This is where the children of Israel then settled and lived.
Genesis 47:27:
And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly.
Now here we see the term "Israel" used for the first time really for the whole family, before this "Israel" was a reference to Jacob himself. The people had possessions in the land and they grew and multiplied greatly, exceedingly.
Genesis 47:28:
And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years.
God in His grace and mercy granted Jacob another 17 years, exactly the same amount of time he had had together in the beginning with his beloved son Joseph, before Joseph had been sold to Egypt at the age of 17. Such small details do show though how God works and what great things He really can do; I mean, Jacob could also have died one year later or perhaps after another 10 years.
Genesis 47:29–31:
And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt:
But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said, I will do as thou hast said.
And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed’s head.
As the time of his death was approaching, Jacob had his son Joseph make an oath that he would not bury his father in Egypt. there was great emphasis put the fact that one was buried on one's home land or home country. Already with Abraham it had been remarkable that he did not want to be buried in Haran or even in Chaldea, but rather wanted to be buried in the land in which he himself was only a foreigner and a sojourner. He actually bought a burying place solely for the purpose of then being able to be buried in this land. Now he definitely had his eyes fixed on the yet far future that he would be resurrected in the land which God had promised him as a heritage forever.
Jacob most likely remembered also what God had told him at Beersheba that He would lead him again up out of Egypt. Egypt was not the country in which he wanted to be buried, and Joseph made an oath that he would bury him with his fathers in the land of Canaan, after which Jacob bowed himself in prayer upon the bed's head.2
Genesis 48:1–5:
And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
And one told Jacob, and said, Behold, thy son Joseph cometh unto thee: and Israel strengthened himself, and sat upon the bed.
And Jacob said unto Joseph, God Almighty appeared unto me at Luz [Bethel] in the land of Canaan, and blessed me,
And said unto me, Behold, I will make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, and I will make of thee a multitude of people; and will give this land to thy seed after thee for an everlasting possession.
And now thy two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, which were born unto thee in the land of Egypt before I came unto thee into Egypt, are mine; as Reuben and Simeon, they shall be mine.
Jacob desired to adopt these two sons of Joseph in order to give them the status of his own sons, and in so doing so he gave them the status of his two firstborn.
Genesis 48:6–8:
And thy issue, which thou begettest after them, shall be thine, and shall be called after the name of their brethren in their inheritance.
And as for me, when I came from Padan, Rachel died by me in the land of Canaan in the way, when yet there was but a little way to come unto Ephrath: and I buried her there in the way of Ephrath; the same is Bethlehem.
And Israel beheld Joseph’s sons, and said, Who are these?
It could have been that Jacob saw the two for the first time because the two sons of course lived with Joseph and not in the land of Goshen where Israel was living. Also, Jacob's eyes had become weak as well on account of his age.
Genesis 48:9–13:
And Joseph said unto his father, They are my sons, whom God hath given me in this place. And he said, Bring them, I pray thee, unto me, and I will bless them.
Now the eyes of Israel were dim for age, so that he could not see. And he brought them near unto him; and he kissed them, and embraced them.
And Israel said unto Joseph, I had not thought to see thy face: and, lo, God hath shewed me also thy seed.
And Joseph brought them out from between his knees, and he bowed himself with his face to the earth.
And Joseph took them both, Ephraim in his right hand toward Israel’s left hand, and Manasseh in his left hand toward Israel’s right hand, and brought them near unto him.
Joseph wanted to help his father out, so that he would bless the two boys correctly according to their age. The right hand was preferred as the hand of blessing before the left hand, and therefore he positioned his sons in a way which would put his oldest at the right hand of his father Israel.
Genesis 48:14–19:
And Israel stretched out his right hand, and laid it upon Ephraim’s head, who was the younger, and his left hand upon Manasseh’s head, guiding his hands wittingly; for Manasseh was the firstborn.
And he blessed Joseph, and said, God, before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac did walk, the God which fed me all my life long unto this day,
The Angel which redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.
And when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand upon the head of Ephraim, it displeased him: and he held up his father’s hand, to remove it from Ephraim’s head unto Manasseh’s head.
And Joseph said unto his father, Not so, my father: for this is the firstborn; put thy right hand upon his head.
And his father refused, and said, I know it, my son, I know it: …
Jacob knew very well, and he actually had said so already before (cp. verse 5) as he mentioned Ephraim before Manasseh! Jacob was not about to make a mistake, for he knew who was the first according to their birth, but he also knew who was to be the first according to the blessing.
Genesis 48:19 and 20:
… he also shall become a people, and he also shall be great: but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he, and his seed shall become a multitude of nations.
And he blessed them that day, saying, In thee shall Israel bless, saying, God make thee as Ephraim and as Manasseh: and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
In Hebrews 11:21 this incident is also mentioned.
Hebrews 11:21:
By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.
Jacob seemingly had received revelation fro God, and thus he acted "by faith". It is furthermore remarkable that only this blessing of the two sons of Joseph is mentioned in the record about Jacob here in Hebrews 11. He blessed them according to the will of God, by faith and trust in God's direction, and it was Ephraim who was placed above his older brother Manasseh.
Genesis 48:21 and 22:
And Israel said unto Joseph, Behold, I die: but God shall be with you, and bring you again unto the land of your fathers.
Moreover I have given to thee one portion above thy brethren, which I took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow.
Israel's words demonstrate a great trust in God and in God's faithfulness. With his life the story would not come to an end, for he was only on a pilgrimage. What a great confidence and assurance Jacob had. He then gave to Joseph "one portion" [literally: Shechem]. Joseph received above his brethren the area around Shechem as a special gift. The expression "took out of the hand of the Amorite with my sword and with my bow" could be a prophetic statement looking forward to that which later on indeed happened, because it is not recorded anywhere that Jacob himself ever went to war or used "sword and bow" to take something from the Amorite. Later on when Israel entered the land they needed to go in and with sword and bow in wars take back what had been rightfully theirs and which God had already promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, including the area around Shechem. This area of Shechem was also the place where Jacob had dug a well and where centuries later Jesus had an interesting conversation with a woman of Samaria.
Jacob reminded Joseph once again that Israel was only to stay in Egypt for some time for God had ordained it that way. He was with them in Egypt, and He would bring them back again into the land of their fathers, the land of promise.
Before Jacob died, he once again gathered all his sons to him in order to give each one a blessing.
Genesis 49:1 and 2:
And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days.
Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.
In this blessing Jacob spoke prophetically of future events and what would happen with each of the tribes of Israel. Each one of his sons received a special blessing from Jacob, and yet his words about Judah and Joseph are by far exceeding those he spoke regarding the others.
Genesis 49:8–12:
Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee.
Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up?
The 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.
Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes:
His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.
Judah would be the most prominent of the tribes, from Judah would come "Shiloh", the one holding "the sceptre", the one who would be the redeemer. In addition, it was proclaimed that Judah would live in a very fruitful part of the land.
A number of other prophecies in the Old Testament tell us about the redeemer who would be coming out of the tribe of Judah.3
After some other prophecies about some of his other sons, Jacob then began to speak about his son Joseph. Joseph also, as had been the case with Judah, received a longer and more extensive blessing.
Genesis 49;22–26:
Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall:
The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:
But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)
Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:
The blessings of thy father have prevailed above the blessings of my progenitors unto the utmost bound of the everlasting hills: they shall be on the head of Joseph, and on the crown of the head of him that was separate from his brethren.
Joseph himself is later not mentioned as a single tribe among the tribes of Israel, rather his two sons Ephraim and Manasseh are taking his place. In these two portions Joseph received in a way the double portion of the inheritance which was rightfully the inheritance of the firstborn son. Jacob had adopted Joseph's two sons as his own sons, and his blessing now extends to these two tribes. Ephraim was, aside from Judah, the most influential tribe in Israel, it was the largest, most important and influential tribe of the later northern kingdom, when the kingdom of Israel after Solomon was divided into the house of Israel and the house of Judah. Joseph would be fruitful and have a great blessing among the tribes of Israel.
After these blessing for his sons, Jacob commanded them all once again before he died regarding his burial in the land of Canaan, where he was to be "with his fathers".
Genesis 49:28–33:
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.
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,
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.
There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife; there they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife; and there I buried Leah.
The purchase of the field and of the cave that is therein was from the children of Heth.
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.
Jacob's home was not Egypt as he already had told Joseph when he took an oath from him about being buried in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 50:1–3:
And Joseph fell upon his father’s face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.
And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.
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.
Jacob was then embalmed according to Egyptian custom. He, being Joseph's father, also was held in high regard by the Egyptians and there was a 70 day mourning for him in Egypt.
Genesis 50:4 and 5:
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,
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.
Joseph, being in mourning according to Hebrew custom, could most likely not appear himself before Pharaoh, and therefore got in contact with Pharaoh via intermediaries ("the house of Pharaoh"). He assured Pharaoh that they only wanted to go and bury his father in Canaan, and that they would return to Egypt – "and I will come again [will return shortly]".
Genesis 50:6–9:
And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.
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,
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.
And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.
Almost 40 years had now passed since Joseph had been sold by his brothers into Egypt. Now then, after 40 years Joseph once again came back into the land of Canaan, this time with a large caravan, in order to bury his father. "Great company" is a designation for a "large caravan", a large group; it was a great company, accompanied by Egyptian chariots and horsemen for protection because of Joseph's position as governor of Egypt.
Genesis 50:10 and 11:
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.
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.
The Canaanites seemingly had not noticed as of yet that the cause of this was the death of Jacob, and Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, as they were thinking it had to do with the Egyptians (the sons of Mizraim).
Genesis 50:12–14:
And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them:
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.
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.
Jacob's sons then under the leadership of Joseph fulfilled their oath and buried their father in the land of Canaan. After that, they returned to Egypt as Joseph had told Pharaoh.
Genesis 50:15:
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.
The brothers seemingly had not really and truly overcome all that had happened. Joseph had assured them before that he had no evil intentions whatever but that God had worked something good for the benefit of all of them. Since they all had come into Egypt with their father Jacob, another 17 years now had passed. After Jacob's death, Joseph's brothers become very concerned once again and they confess their evil deed done to Joseph and they are wanting to do something about comforting their brother.
Genesis 50:16 and 17:
And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying,
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.
Joseph was greatly moved, perhaps also somewhat disappointed about their conduct and the thoughts which they still harbored in their hearts.
Genesis 50:18 and 19:
And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.
And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God?
They feared Joseph’s revenge and that now after the death of their father, they would have to repay for the evil done. But Joseph was a God fearing man and knew that revenge was not his, but the Lord's. He was not in the place of God, and alone God can and will repay all according to their deeds.
Genesis 50:20:
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.
Psalm 105 also records some of these tremendous truths about this whole incident, and we can gain further insight from what is stated there.
Psalm 105:17–24:
He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:
Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:
Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.
The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free.
He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance:
To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.
Israel also came into Egypt; and Jacob sojourned in the land of Ham.
And he increased his people greatly; and made them stronger than their enemies.
Joseph had long forgiven them and had reconciled himself back to them, and he once again assured them that he was looking on what God had worked, the great thing which God had accomplished in this, and to which they had only contributed something, albeit of course not with a good intent on their part.
Genesis 50:21–23:
Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.
And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father’s house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.
And Joseph saw Ephraim’s children of the third generation [his grandchildren]: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph’s knees.
Joseph dwelled another 54 years in Egypt, but not much is mentioned in Scripture about that period of time.
Genesis 50:24 and 25:
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.
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.
Joseph's great hope is expressed in his last recorded words. His whole life and everything else that happened in connection with it had not been geared toward Egypt, but had had something different in view – the land which God had promised his fathers and which He had sworn to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
God had promised the land to Abraham (cp. Genesis 12:7; 15:18; 17:7 ff), Isaac also had received this promise (cp. Genesis 26) and Jacob also was given this promise of God (cp. Genesis 35:12). Joseph now took an oath of his brothers regarding the time when "God will surely visit you and bring you out of this land", for he knew that this time there would not be a mourning company going up to Canaan. Some more time was to pass until their return to the land of Canaan would come. Joseph's desire was that they carry with them his bones and leave him not behind in the land of Egypt but rather that he would find his lasting burying place also with his fathers in the land of Canaan.
Genesis 50:26:
So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: …
In Hebrews 11, the wonderful record about those who accomplished tremendous things "by faith", also mentions Joseph.
Hebrews 11:22:
By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.
This is the one thing which is mentioned about Joseph – not that he interpreted dreams when no one else could, not that he accomplished tremendous things to keep many people alive through a terribly severe famine, but rather the few words which he spoke shortly before his death! By faith Joseph spoke those words assuring his brothers that God would surely visit them and lead them forth from the land of Egypt to the land He had sworn to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
Genesis 50,26:
… and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
This "coffin" was a mummy, which somewhat would resemble the stature or figure of the man being embalmed.
In Galatians there is a mention of 430 years between the promise made to Abraham and the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai during the first year of their exodus from Egypt. 430 years — when Joseph died in Egypt, 291 years of this period of time had passed and another 139 years were to pass until they would leave Egypt. Joseph was of the first generation which came into Egypt, and God led them out of Egypt in the fourth generation as he had promised already to Abraham. About 60 years after Jospeh's death Moses was born, and Moses was 80 years old when he led them out of the land of Egypt. In the meantime however some drastic changes happened in Egypt. A new Pharaoh came into power, actually most likely a whole new dynasty, who "did not know Joseph", that is they may have come from a foreign land (Assyria?) and who also seemingly tried to erase the memory of Joseph and then began to suppress Israel and make them slaves.
Genesis starts with the greatness of "God' created the heavens and the earth", and it ends with "a coffin [a mummy] in Egypt". But – the mummy in Egypt was not the end. This mummy in Egypt "spoke" and almost was like a symbol to Israel that God indeed would surely graciously visit them and bring them out of the land of Egypt and into the promised land. The book of Genesis ends with a coffin in Egypt which is not to remain in Egypt. It ends with Joseph, who – although dead – yet spoke and in the form of a mummy was a constant witness to the great promise which he had given to his brothers by faith. He did die, but God would graciously visit them and keep His oath which He had sworn to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.
When the children of Israel finally left Egypt, about 140 years later, they did take the coffin with them and brought Joseph’s bones into the land of Canaan where also their fathers had been buried (Exodus 13:19; Joshua 24) and where he now, being gathered unto his people, together with his fathers is awaiting the resurrection — the final and complete fulfillment of the great hope which he declared by faith at the end of his life.
1 This mention of Jacob's age of 130 years whose that at this time already almost half of the total time of sojourn of 430 years which was between Abraham's departure from Chaldea and the giving of the Law at Mt. Sinai in the year of Israel's exodus from Egypt had passed. About 215 years had passed, and another 215 years were ahead.
2 This was not the same incident as that recorded in Hebrews 11:21.
3 Cp. for example Isaiah 9:5–6; Numbers 23:22-24; 24:9,17–19.