Genesis 50:1-21 ▼

1 Then Joseph (YHWH has added) fell upon his father’s face, wept over him, and kissed him.

2 And Joseph (YHWH has added) directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel (he wrestles with God). So they embalmed him,

3 taking the forty days required to complete the embalming. And the Egyptians (double straits) mourned for him seventy days.

4 When the days of mourning had passed, Joseph (YHWH has added) said to Pharaoh’s (great house) court, “If I have found favor in your⁺ eyes, please tell Pharaoh that

5 my father made me swear an oath when he said, ‘I am about to die. You must bury me in the tomb that I dug for myself in the land of Canaan (lowland).’ Now let me go and bury my father, and then return.”

6 Pharaoh (great house) replied, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear to do.”

7 Then Joseph (YHWH has added) went to bury his father, and all the servants of Pharaoh (great house) accompanied him—the elders of Pharaoh’s household and all the elders of the land of Egypt (land of bondage)—

8 along with all of Joseph’s (YHWH has added) household, and his brothers, and his father’s household. Only their children and flocks and herds were left in Goshen (drawing near).

9 Chariots and horsemen alike went up with him, and it was an exceedingly large procession.

10 When they reached the threshing floor of Atad, which is across the Jordan (flowing down), they lamented and wailed loudly, and Joseph mourned for his father seven days.

11 When the Canaanites (merchants) of the land saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a solemn ceremony of mourning by the Egyptians (land of bondage).” Thus the place across the Jordan (flowing down) is called Abel-mizraim (mourning of the Egyptians).

12 So Jacob’s sons did as he had charged them.

13 They carried him to the land of Canaan (lowland) and buried him in the cave at Machpelah (double) in the field near Mamre (strength / fatness), which Abraham (father of many) had purchased from Ephron (fawn-like) the Hittite as a burial site.

14 After Joseph (YHWH has added) had buried his father, he returned to Egypt (land of bondage) with his brothers and all who had gone with him to bury his father.

15 When Joseph’s (YHWH has added) brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge? Then he will surely repay us for all the evil that we did to him.”

16 So they sent word to Joseph (YHWH has added), saying, “Before he died, your father commanded,

17 ‘This is what you⁺ are to say to Joseph (YHWH has added): I beg you, please forgive the transgression and sin of your brothers, for they did you wrong.’ So now, Joseph, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God {Elohe} of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

18 His brothers also came to him, bowed down before him, and said, “We are your slaves!”

19 But Joseph (YHWH has added) replied, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God {Elohim}?

20 As for you⁺, what you⁺ intended against me for evil, God {Elohim} intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people.

21 Therefore do not be afraid. I will provide for you⁺ and your⁺ little ones.” So Joseph reassured his brothers and spoke kindly to them.