LESSON 26
Genesis for Today: Chapters 49-50
by Herb Drake

Copyright (c) 1998, 2020, Herb Drake.

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When Jacob realizes that he is nearing death, his first action is to ask Joseph to swear that he not be buried in Egypt, but rather in the family burial ground that Abraham had paid so dearly for at Machpelah in Canaan.

Jacob blesses his sons

The order of the blessings is as follows:

  • The six sons fof Leah, but Zebulun is shown before Issachar.
  • The four sons of the two concubines.
  • The two sons of Rachel.

References to events in the Joseph story are made in the case of the first three sons. Reuben, mentioned first, is described in terms that clearly indicate his qualifications for heirship, but that heirship is denied because of his deeds. Similarly, Simeon and Levy are dealt with harshly; the former eventually loses its tribal identity, and the latter becomes scattered among the other tribes as priests, no land being awarded it. (The priests, when one considers them in the scriptures, "are not gentle folk." The one exception was crucified.)

Judah is the heir, even king. The meaning of v. 10 is not clear, the Hebrew saying "until Shiloh comes" or "until he comes to Shiloh." The RSV's translation "until he comes to whom it belongs," a statement of messianic character, seems to best capture the meaning.

Joseph's blessing jakes it clear that Jacob is doing all he can to acclaim Joseph, but leaving the bearer-of-the-promise blessing to Judah. Most regard Benjamin's blessing as negative; even those who find advantage in it, however, must acknowledge its short length (condemnation by faint praise?). This is surprising when considering the histories of the candidates for the promise, and one tends to wonder if there are negatives in Benjamin's backgrond that did not appear in the text.

Jacob's last request is to repeat that he not be buried in Egypt, but there is a remarkable reference to Leah in v. 31. The athna in the Hebrew text of this verse indicates that a pause is intended. This pause makes the verse especially poignant, leading the reader to the idea that Jacob's late maturity may have included a belated appreciation for this wife.

Death of Jacob

Joacob is embalmed by the Egyptians. Pharaoh gives Joseph leave to take Jacob's body back to the family burial ground in Edom, Esau's terratory. We can assume that Esau was present at the internment, just as the Ismael was present on the burial of Abraham. Joseph brings a "great company," including many Egyptians, on the journey. Joseph is buried and the company returns to Egypt.

The guilt felt by Joesph's brothers persists, no matter how strongly Joseph tries to assure them. With Jacob's passing, they worry that Joseph still has plans for revenge. They approach Joseph with a story (probably fabricated) that Jacob had asked that Joseph restrain his hand in this matter. Joseph wept, and assured them again that they had nothing to fear from him. He says "Even though you intended to do harm to me, God intended it for good, in order to preserve a numerous people...."

Death of Joseph

After reaching the age of 110 years, and knowing that his own death was near, he makes them promise to heed God when it is time for them to leave Egypt. He asks that his body be carried with them when that time comes. He dies, is embalmed, and is buried in Egypt.

This concludes Genesis -- a book beginning with much promise, but ending in a coffin in Egypt. And that coffin also concludes the "garment" motif, as Joseph is now placed in the "garment of death."

Epilog to Genesis

Genesis began with "In the beginning," but ends in Egypt. The promise of an eternity with God in an abundant garden in fellowship with God ended up "in Egypt." But God's activity does not stop here. The story is picked up in Exodus 2:23-2:25: "...the people of Israel groaned under their bondage and cried out for help. And God heard their groaning, and remembered ... and God saw the people of Israel, and God knew their condition. The Hebrew sense of the verb "to know" is always experiential. God participates in their misery.

The patriarchs are all dead, but God's promise continues.

Genesis 47-48