These notes authored mostly by ChatGPT o3 - Book: [[Genesis]] - Next chapter: [[Exodus 1]] > [!summary] Summary > - [[Jacob]] (now “[[Israel]]”) is embalmed and honored with a grand Egyptian–Canaanite funeral procession > - [[Joseph]] reassures his fearful brothers, uttering the classic providence text: “You meant evil …but **God meant it for good** (50 : 20)” > - [[Joseph]] lives to 110, makes the sons of [[Israel]] swear to carry his bones to the [[Promised Land]], and is placed in a coffin > [!info] Why is this here? > Concludes [[Genesis]] by showing God’s covenant family preserved *in* [[Egypt]] yet still oriented *toward* [[Canaan]] # Overview ## v 1-14 Egyptian embalming & Canaanite burial - Joseph **weeps**, kisses his father, and orders the physicians (not priests) to embalm Jacob—**40 days** plus **70 days** of national mourning - Pharaoh grants leave for burial; a vast entourage (chariots, elders of Egypt & Israel) accompanies Joseph - At **Goren ha-Atad** (“Threshing-floor of Atad”) beyond the Jordan, they lament **7 days**—so impressive locals rename the site **Abel-Mizraim** (“Egyptian Mourning”) - Jacob is laid in the family tomb—the cave of **Machpelah** bought by [[Abraham]] (Gen 23) ## v 15-21 Brothers’ fear & Joseph’s forgiveness - With Jacob gone, the brothers suspect revenge; they cite a (possibly invented) dying request for pardon - Joseph **weeps** again, replies: “Am I in the place of God? … **You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring about that many people should be kept alive**” - He vows to nourish (“provide for”) them and their little ones, speaking **comfortingly** (lit. “to their hearts”) ## v 22-26 Joseph’s last will & testament - Joseph remains in Egypt, lives **110 years** (ideal Egyptian lifespan), sees **Ephraim’s great-grandchildren** - On his death-bed he invokes the oath-formula of [[Genesis 24]]: “God will surely visit you (**paqōd yipqōd**) and you shall carry up my bones” - Joseph is **embalmed** and placed in a coffin **in Egypt**—a story-hook fulfilled in [[Exodus 13]]: 19 and [[Joshua 24]]: 32 # Details - **“Am I in the place of God?”** (v 19) same phrasing as [[Jacob]]’s *“Am I in the place of God?”* ([[Genesis 30]] : 2) - Joseph’s coffin: only buried corpse in [[Genesis]] **not** buried in [[Canaan]] # Diagrams ```dot digraph Gen50_EvilToGood { rankdir=LR; node [shape=box]; BrothersSelling [label="Brothers sell\nJoseph (37)"]; JosephInEgypt [label="Joseph in Egypt\n(39–41)"]; GrainForWorld [label="Grain for the world\n(41–47)"]; FamilySaved [label="Israel saved\nfrom famine (47)"]; Providence [label="\"You meant evil…\nGod meant good\" (50 : 20)"]; BrothersSelling -> JosephInEgypt -> GrainForWorld -> FamilySaved -> Providence; label="Genesis 50:20 – God’s Providence Trajectory"; } ```