Bereavement, the period of mourning and grief following the death of a loved one, is a profound experience that is deeply woven into the fabric of human existence. In the biblical narrative, the account of Joseph and the loss of his father, Jacob, provides a poignant example of this experience. Joseph, a key figure in the Book of Genesis, is depicted as a man of great faith and resilience, yet he is not immune to the sorrow that accompanies the death of a parent.

Context and Background

Joseph, the eleventh son of Jacob and the firstborn of Rachel, is a central character in the latter chapters of Genesis. His life is marked by a series of dramatic events, including being sold into slavery by his brothers, rising to power in Egypt, and eventually being reunited with his family during a time of famine. The relationship between Joseph and his father, Jacob, is one of deep affection and mutual respect. Jacob's favoritism towards Joseph is evident from the "robe of many colors" (Genesis 37:3) he gives him, which sets the stage for the familial tensions that follow.

The Death of Jacob

The account of Jacob's death is found in Genesis 49:29-33 and Genesis 50:1-14. After blessing his sons and giving them instructions regarding his burial, Jacob "breathed his last and was gathered to his people" (Genesis 49:33). Joseph's response to his father's death is immediate and heartfelt. Genesis 50:1 records, "Then Joseph fell upon his father’s face, wept over him, and kissed him." This act of mourning is a testament to the deep bond between father and son, highlighting the natural human response to loss.

Mourning and Burial

Joseph's bereavement is further expressed through the elaborate preparations for Jacob's burial. He orders the embalming of his father, a process that takes forty days, and the Egyptians mourn for Jacob for seventy days (Genesis 50:2-3). This period of mourning reflects both Joseph's high status in Egypt and the respect accorded to Jacob as the patriarch of the family.

Following the period of mourning, Joseph seeks permission from Pharaoh to fulfill Jacob's request to be buried in the cave of Machpelah in Canaan, the burial site of Abraham and Isaac. Pharaoh grants this request, and Joseph leads a grand funeral procession to Canaan, accompanied by his brothers, Egyptian officials, and a large entourage (Genesis 50:4-9). The journey and the burial are acts of filial piety and honor, underscoring the importance of fulfilling the wishes of the deceased.

Expressions of Grief

Joseph's grief is not only personal but also communal. The mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, where they lament with "a very great and solemn lamentation" (Genesis 50:10), is so profound that the Canaanites name the place Abel-mizraim, meaning "mourning of the Egyptians." This public expression of grief illustrates the depth of Joseph's sorrow and the respect Jacob commanded.

Theological Implications

Joseph's bereavement over his father is rich with theological significance. It demonstrates the sanctity of family bonds and the importance of honoring one's parents, as commanded in the Decalogue (Exodus 20:12). Moreover, Joseph's actions reflect a deep trust in God's providence, as he navigates the complexities of his dual identity as a Hebrew and an Egyptian official. The narrative also foreshadows the future return of the Israelites to the Promised Land, as Jacob's burial in Canaan symbolizes the enduring connection between the patriarchs and the land promised by God.

In summary, the account of Joseph's bereavement over his father Jacob is a profound exploration of love, loss, and faith. It serves as a reminder of the enduring human experience of grief and the hope of God's promises.Genesis 50:1,4
And Joseph fell on his father's face, and wept on him, and kissed him.
Nave's Topical Index

Second Causes.
... unkind surmise which is still often heard in the hour of bereavement and in ... for great
are His mercies!" He may at times, like Joseph to His brethren, appear ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/memories of bethany/xi second causes.htm

Letter Lxxix. To Salvina.
... The greatness of her bereavement has brought out the reality of her ... to go back to
earlier times, we read of Joseph who gave proof of his integrity both ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lxxix to salvina.htm

Alive unto God.
... It was this which comforted Joseph in the Egyptian prison, and ... of friends and courtiers,
is, at his death, as ... of our life are darkened, when bereavement, or ill ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon xli alive unto god.htm

2 Sam. 23:4-5. Without Clouds.
... and Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and Joseph, and Moses ... a wise cause for every loss
and bereavement under which ... Almost His last thought upon the cross was for ...
/.../the upper room being a few truths for the times/chapter xiv 2 sam 23 4-5.htm

The Vanguard and Rereward of the Church
... He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was ... their iniquities and cast their sins
behind his back. ... bemoan because of past trial or past bereavement; let me ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/the vanguard and rereward of.htm

Psalm CV.
... doubt made His own Mother exceeding sorrowful, heavily struck with human bereavement.
Now Joseph was in this tribulation, "until his word came ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cv.htm

The Best of All, God is with Us
... though she had to endure that bereavement, and another ... the father's, and says, "As
one whom his mother comforteth ... I recollect how Mr. Joseph Irons used to say ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 42 1896/the best of all god.htm

Matt. 8:11 Many
... Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and Joseph, and Moses, and ... who once ran away and denied
his Master, to ... it is a peace which trouble, bereavement, sickness, and ...
/.../the upper room being a few truths for the times/chapter xiii matt 8 11 many.htm

Abraham, his Trial in Egypt; his Humility
... Bereavement, how to learn to bear it, [187]56, [188 ... his own profit, [959]147; fled
from his duty, [960 ... Joseph, a disinterested person, [961]147; a slave yet free ...
/.../abraham his trial in egypt.htm

That it was Before Predicted that the World Would Hold us in ...
... and Jacob was driven into exile, and Joseph was sold ... words, but rather ascribed it
to his sins that ... her sex, nor moved by her manifold bereavement, looked upon ...
/.../cyprian/the treatises of cyprian/11 that it was before.htm

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