Bible Commentaries
Genesis 50

Introduction

Overview

Genesis 50:1, The mourning for Jacob; Genesis 50:4, Joseph gets leave of Pharaoh to go to bury him; Genesis 50:7, The funeral; Genesis 50:15, Joseph comforts his brethren, who crave his pardon; Genesis 50:22, His age; Genesis 50:23, He sees the third generation of his sons; Genesis 50:24, He prophesies unto his brethren of their return; Genesis 50:25, He takes an oath of them concerning his bones; Genesis 50:26, He dies, and is put into a coffin.

Verse 1

fell: Genesis 46:4, Deuteronomy 6:7, Deuteronomy 6:8, Ephesians 6:4

wept: Genesis 23:2, 2 Kings 13:14, Mark 5:38, Mark 5:39, John 11:35-38, Acts 8:2, 1 Thessalonians 4:13

Reciprocal: Genesis 46:19 - Joseph

Verse 2

the physicians: The Hebrew ropheim, from rapha, to heal, is literally the healers, those whose business it was to heal, or restore the body from sickness, by administering proper medicines; and when death took place, to heal or preserve it from decomposition by embalming. The word chanat, to embalm, is also used in Arabic to express the reddening of leather; somewhat analogous to our tanning; which is probably the grand principal in embalming.

embalmed: Genesis 50:26, 2 Chronicles 16:14, Matthew 26:12, Mark 14:8, Mark 16:1, Luke 24:1, John 12:7, John 19:39, John 19:40

Reciprocal: 2 Chronicles 16:12 - physicians Nehemiah 3:8 - of the apothecaries

Verse 3

forty days: We learn from the Greek historians, that the time of mourning was while the body remained with the embalmers, which Herodotus says was seventy days. During this time the body lay in nitre, the use of which was to dry up all its superfluous and noxious moisture, and when, in the space of 30 days, this was sufficiently effected, the remaining forty, the time mentioned by Diodorus, were employed in anointing it with gums and spices to preserve it, which was properly the embalming. This sufficiently explains the phraseology of the text.

mourned: Heb. wept

threescore: Numbers 20:29, Deuteronomy 21:13, Deuteronomy 34:8

Reciprocal: Genesis 27:41 - The days Genesis 50:26 - they embalmed Ecclesiastes 12:5 - the mourners

Verse 4

the days: Genesis 50:10

Joseph: Esther 4:2

found grace: Genesis 18:3

Reciprocal: Genesis 27:41 - The days Genesis 33:10 - if now

Verse 5

made me: Genesis 47:29-31

I die: Genesis 50:24, Genesis 48:21, Genesis 49:29, Genesis 49:30, Deuteronomy 4:22, 1 Samuel 14:43

I have: 2 Chronicles 16:14, Isaiah 22:16, Matthew 27:60

bury me: Genesis 3:19, Job 30:23, Psalms 79:3, Ecclesiastes 6:3, Ecclesiastes 12:5, Ecclesiastes 12:7

let me go: Matthew 8:21, Matthew 8:22, Luke 9:59, Luke 9:60

Reciprocal: Genesis 23:20 - for a Genesis 46:4 - and I will Genesis 47:30 - General Genesis 50:25 - took an

Verse 6

as he made: Genesis 48:21

Verse 7

and with him: Genesis 14:16

Verse 8

only their: Exodus 10:8, Exodus 10:9, Exodus 10:26, Numbers 32:24-27

Reciprocal: Genesis 43:8 - also our

Verse 9

chariots: Genesis 41:43, Genesis 46:29, Exodus 14:7, Exodus 14:17, Exodus 14:28, 2 Kings 18:24, Song of Solomon 1:9, Acts 8:2

Verse 10

the threshingfloor: This place was situated, according to Jerome, between the Jordan and the city of Jericho, two miles from the former, and three from the latter, where Bethagla was afterwards built. Procopius of Gaza states the same. As aataad signifies thorns, the place might have been remarkable for their production; though all the versions except the Arabic consider it as a proper name. As Moses wrote or revised his history on the east side of Jordan, the term beyond Jordan, in his five books, means westward of Jordan; but in other parts of Scripture it generally means eastward.

beyond: Genesis 50:11, Deuteronomy 1:1

seven days: Genesis 50:4, Numbers 19:11, Deuteronomy 34:8, 1 Samuel 31:13, 2 Samuel 1:17, Job 2:13, Acts 8:2

Reciprocal: Genesis 23:2 - mourn Genesis 27:41 - The days Joshua 15:6 - Bethhogla 1 Samuel 1:10 - wept sore 1 Chronicles 10:12 - fasted 2 Chronicles 32:33 - did him Ezekiel 3:15 - sat

Verse 11

the Canaanites: Genesis 10:15-19, Genesis 13:7, Genesis 24:6, Genesis 34:30

Abelmizraim: i.e. The mourning of the Egyptians, 1 Samuel 6:18

beyond Jordan: Genesis 50:10, Deuteronomy 3:25, Deuteronomy 3:27, Deuteronomy 11:30

Reciprocal: Genesis 27:41 - The days Exodus 2:19 - an Egyptian 1 Samuel 25:1 - lamented 2 Samuel 1:17 - lamented 2 Chronicles 32:33 - did him Acts 8:2 - made

Verse 12

Genesis 47:29-31, Genesis 49:29-32, Exodus 20:12, Acts 7:16, Ephesians 6:1

Verse 13

the cave: Genesis 23:16-18, Genesis 25:9, Genesis 35:27, Genesis 35:29, Genesis 49:29-31, 2 Kings 21:18

Reciprocal: Genesis 15:15 - buried Genesis 23:4 - burying place Genesis 23:17 - the field Genesis 23:19 - General Genesis 23:20 - for a Genesis 46:4 - and I will Genesis 49:31 - General 2 Samuel 19:37 - by the grave

Verse 15

their father: Genesis 27:41, Genesis 27:42

Joseph: Genesis 42:17, Leviticus 26:36, Job 15:21, Job 15:22, Psalms 14:5, Psalms 53:5, Proverbs 28:1, Romans 2:15

Reciprocal: Genesis 37:9 - the sun 1 Kings 17:18 - art thou come Proverbs 19:11 - and Ecclesiastes 7:2 - better Matthew 5:23 - rememberest Acts 7:9 - sold

Verse 16

sent: Heb. charged, Proverbs 29:25

Reciprocal: 1 Thessalonians 2:11 - as

Verse 17

Forgive: Matthew 6:12, Matthew 6:14, Matthew 6:15, Matthew 18:35, Luke 17:3, Luke 17:4, Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:12, Colossians 3:13

they did: Genesis 50:20, Job 33:27, Job 33:28, Psalms 21:11, Proverbs 28:13, James 5:16

servants: Genesis 31:42, Genesis 49:25, Matthew 10:42, Matthew 25:40, Mark 10:41, Galatians 6:10, Galatians 6:16, Philemon 1:8-20

wept: Genesis 42:21-24, Genesis 45:4, Genesis 45:5, Genesis 45:8

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:5 - the God 1 Kings 17:18 - art thou come Psalms 81:1 - the God Psalms 146:5 - the God Luke 23:34 - Father Romans 6:22 - become 1 Thessalonians 2:11 - as

Verse 18

fell: Genesis 27:29, Genesis 37:7-11, Genesis 42:6, Genesis 44:14, Genesis 45:3

Reciprocal: Genesis 45:4 - I am Joseph 2 Samuel 9:7 - Fear not 1 Kings 18:7 - fell on Romans 3:7 - if the truth Ephesians 4:32 - forgiving

Verse 19

fear not: Genesis 45:5, Matthew 14:27, Luke 24:37, Luke 24:38

for am I: It belongs to God to execute vengeance, and Joseph did not intend to usurp his prerogative. Thus he instructed his brethren not to fear him, but to fear God; to humble themselves before God, and to seek his forgiveness. Genesis 30:2, Deuteronomy 32:35, 2 Kings 5:7, Job 34:19-29, Romans 12:19, Hebrews 10:30

Verse 20

ye thought: Genesis 37:4, Genesis 37:18-20, Psalms 56:5

God meant: Genesis 45:5-8, Psalms 76:10, Psalms 105:16, Psalms 105:17, Psalms 119:71, Isaiah 10:7, Acts 2:23, Acts 3:13-15, Acts 3:26, Romans 8:28

Reciprocal: Genesis 41:57 - all countries Genesis 47:25 - Thou hast Genesis 50:17 - they did 2 Samuel 16:10 - so let him 2 Samuel 24:1 - moved 2 Kings 24:3 - Surely 2 Chronicles 11:4 - for this thing Proverbs 19:21 - nevertheless Isaiah 37:26 - how I Amos 3:6 - shall there Acts 4:28 - to do Acts 13:27 - they have Acts 27:1 - when Romans 9:19 - Why doth Philemon 1:15 - General

Verse 21

I will nourish: Genesis 45:10, Genesis 45:11, Genesis 47:12, Matthew 5:44, Matthew 6:14, Romans 12:20, Romans 12:21, 1 Thessalonians 5:15, 1 Peter 3:9

kindly unto them: Heb. to their hearts, Genesis 34:3, Isaiah 40:2, *marg.

Reciprocal: Genesis 43:8 - also our Genesis 49:24 - the shepherd Judges 19:3 - speak

Verse 22

an hundred: Joseph's life was the shortest of all the patriarchs; for which Bp. Patrick gives this reason, he was the son of his father's old age. Genesis 50:22

Reciprocal: Genesis 50:26 - being an hundred and ten years old Joshua 24:29 - an hundred

Verse 23

the children: Genesis 48:19, Genesis 49:12, Numbers 32:33, Numbers 32:39, Joshua 17:1, Job 42:16, Psalms 128:6

brought up: Heb. born

Joseph's: Genesis 30:3

Reciprocal: Genesis 41:52 - called he Numbers 1:34 - Manasseh Deuteronomy 3:15 - Machir 1 Chronicles 2:21 - Machir 1 Chronicles 7:14 - Machir Job 3:12 - the knees Psalms 127:5 - Happy Proverbs 17:6 - Children's

Verse 24

I die: Genesis 50:5, Genesis 3:19, Job 30:23, Ecclesiastes 12:5, Ecclesiastes 12:7, Romans 5:12, Hebrews 9:27

visit you: Genesis 21:1, Exodus 4:31

you out: Genesis 15:14-16, Genesis 26:3, Genesis 35:12, Genesis 46:4, Genesis 48:21, Exodus 3:16, Exodus 3:17

sware: Genesis 12:7, Genesis 13:15, Genesis 13:17, Genesis 15:7, Genesis 15:18, Genesis 17:8, Genesis 26:3, Genesis 28:13, Genesis 35:12, Genesis 46:4, Exodus 33:1, Numbers 32:11, Deuteronomy 1:8, Deuteronomy 6:10

Reciprocal: Genesis 23:20 - for a Genesis 25:11 - after Genesis 31:3 - Return Genesis 47:29 - must die Exodus 1:6 - General Exodus 3:8 - I am Exodus 13:5 - sware Exodus 13:19 - for he had Numbers 11:12 - the land Jeremiah 32:22 - which Zephaniah 2:7 - shall visit Acts 7:32 - I am Acts 20:32 - I commend 2 Timothy 4:6 - and Hebrews 2:6 - visitest Hebrews 11:13 - all died Hebrews 11:22 - faith

Verse 25

took an: Genesis 50:5, Genesis 47:29-31

and ye: Exodus 13:19, Joshua 24:32, Acts 7:16, Hebrews 11:22

Reciprocal: Genesis 23:19 - General Genesis 23:20 - for a Genesis 24:3 - swear Genesis 46:4 - and I will Genesis 47:30 - General Ruth 1:6 - visited 2 Kings 11:4 - took an oath

Verse 26

being an hundred and ten years old: Ben meah weaiser shanim; "the son of an hundred and ten years;" the period he lived being personified. Genesis 50:22, Genesis 47:9, Genesis 47:28, Joshua 24:29

they embalmed: Genesis 50:2, Genesis 50:3

Reciprocal: Genesis 35:28 - General Exodus 1:6 - General Exodus 6:16 - an hundred 2 Samuel 19:32 - fourscore Job 42:16 - an