Joseph died at age 110 and lived to see the third generation of Ephraim’s children. Joseph told his brothers that God will come to take them to the Promise Land. He made them swear to carry his bones out of Egypt and take him with them. He was embalmed in Egypt.
16) God will come to take them to the Promise Land.
17) Joseph never doubted God and His promises. He knew the Israelites would be taken back to the Promised Land when the time was right.
18) Both died in faith surrounded by their family. It was a long journey, but God and His ways brought them both to Him. They were both honored and embalmed, and both will be buried in the Promise Land.
Great ending to a life well lived.
Joseph was led and blessed by God his entire life. He was 56 when Jacob died, and none of the details of Joseph’s live is recorded in scripture. We can presume that Joseph continued to lead the people of Egypt and his family. He lived 93 of his 110 years in Egypt. He was foreigner most of his life, but he was faithful to God throughout, and was rewarded for it.
It is said that Joseph was never buried in Egypt. His bones/coffin stood as a testament to the Israelites of the future of the Promise Land. Joseph would be taken out of Egypt by Moses to the Promise Land for burial in 400 years time. (Exodus 13:19)
Some promises of God take a long time to fulfill. The book of Genesis concludes with Joseph’s death — a death that looks forward to the future.
Now with Jacob dead, the brothers feared retribution from Joseph over what they did. They lied (presumably again), saying that Jacob told them to tell Joseph to forgive them. Joseph wept at the message. The brothers threw themselves at Joseph’s feet, calling themselves his slaves. Joseph told them to not be afraid (much like God would). God intended their actions for good so that he can save many lives. Joseph told them he would provide for them and their families.
13) The brothers feared retribution from Joseph over what they did. They lied (again), saying that Jacob told them to tell Joseph to forgive them. Joseph wept at the message. The brothers threw themselves at Joseph’s feet, calling themselves his slaves.
14) “In all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” Joseph forgives his brothers and promises to take care of them and their children.
15) There is good in every situation, and you have to have faith that God intends everything (even the bad) for good. With time, you can see it.
The brothers lie again. Is there no end here? Joseph echoes his words from before that God intended their actions for good to save lives (Genesis 45:5).
Joseph’s tears are probably because the brothers are showing no faith in him and his forgiveness from years before.
Josepth rightly put retribution into God’s hands. God uses all things for our good.
Our lives are in God’s hands. God saved the lives of Jacob’s family to save all of us.
Joseph provided for his brothers out of love and compassion. He had the love of God in him, which he shared with his brothers.
Jacob gave each son the appropriate blessing. He requests to be buried in the same tomb as Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah, and Leah. Then he died.
8 ) Because God had promised him the land.
9) He is faithful.
10) They abided by his wishes and got special permission to take his body back. They all went to Canaan (a long journey) to bury him, as did the dignitaries of Egypt.
11) Pharaoh gave Joseph permission to take his body back to be buried. The Egyptian officials accompanied Joseph and mourned. Chariots and horses were taken. The Canaanites knew it was a solemn cermony.
12a) If you believe in Jesus, you will have eternal life. If you do not believe, you will die in your sins. All those in Christ will live again. Man will die once and then face judgement and Christ will appear a second time and bring salvation to all.
b) I really don’t think about my death all that much.
I love the ceremony for Jacob. It is fitting. Wish the Bible did say more about death.
Jacob knew he would see Isaac and Abraham in heaven. He also wanted his eternal resting place for his body on earth to be in the Promised Land, although he could have been buried with riches and in a pyramid for all we know.
Jacob is repeated his death wishes to the rest of the brothers; he already told Joseph (Genesis 47:29-31)
This ends the life of the last patriarch: Abraham, Isaac & Jacob. Those who believe in Christ defy death.
The mourning of Jacob in Egypt shows how great he was. 70 days was almost a royal mourning.
It’s interesting that Jospeh did not make his request directly to Pharaoh in the beginning even though he was 2nd in command. This shows the proof of the truth of the Bible.
This burial must have been grand, indeed, and the fact that Jacob was embalmed. Only the wealthy were embalmed in ancient Egypt. This is rare in Scripture to see this detail of a burial (outside of Jesus) recorded.
Remember that Abraham purchased this cave (Genesis 23:9), which was the only part of the Promised Land he actually owned (Genesis 23:17). Sarah (Genesis 23:19), Abraham (Genesis 25:9), Isaac, Rebekah, Leah, (Genesis 49:31) and now Jacob are buried here.
Jacob calls his sons together to bless them and tell them their future before he dies. He tells Reuben he will no longer excel because of his defilement of his father’s bed. Simeon and Levi will be scattered in Israel. They will no longer be leaders as punishment for the slaughter at Shechem.
Judah’s brothers will praise him and bow down to him. The scepter will not leave Judah’s hand until it comes to whom it belongs and obedience is his (reference to Jesus). His (Jesus) robes will be washed in blood, his eyes darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk.
Zebulun will live by the seashore and become a haven for ships. Issachar will submit to forced labor. Dan will provide justice for his people. Gad will be attacked, but he will attack back. Asher will have rich food. Naphtali is free.
Joseph is a fruitful vine that overflows. Enemies attack, but Joseph remains steady because of God who blesses him. His blessings rest on him, the “prince among his brothers.”
Benjamin devours and plunders.
These were the 12 Tribes of Israel.
3) Benjamin’s is to me. He is like a ravenous wolf who devours his prey and divides his plunder. Since Benjamin is the youngest, I picture him as the most innocent, not as this is painted.
4a) Their descendents are punished because of them. Reuben he will no longer excel because of his defilement of his father’s bed. Simeon and Levi will be scattered in Israel. They will no longer be leaders as punishment for the slaughter at Shechem.
b) God holds people responsible for their actions, and sin can be passed down and perpetrated into next generations, which is why being a parent is so hard as we try not to pass our sins onto ur children.
5) Judah’s brothers will praise him and bow down to him. The scepter will not leave Judah’s hand until it comes to whom it belongs and obedience is his (reference to Jesus). His (Jesus) robes will be washed in blood, his eyes darker than wine, his teeth whiter than milk.
6) God can do whatever He wants. He is God. It is not on us to question Him, His authority, or what He does.
7) It would take many pages to type this one out. Suffice it to say that every choice brings you to where you are at today, and it is all in God’s plan to honor and bless you in that way. Nothing should be regretted You are here because God has let you be here.
This lesson was much condensed from last time we did this study and was much improved. It’s interesting to me how sin is perpetuated and many people don’t have kids because of this fact. But there is nothing you can do about it. All you can do is your best.
You can safely say that many of these are not blessings but prophecies (unsure how telling your kid you won’t be a leader, you will be scattered, and you won’t excel is a blessing).
Fun Fact: This is the first prophecy spoken by a man (not God) in the Bible.
Note that Jacob refers to himself by both names (Jacob and Israel). He is recognizing both sides of himself (the good and the bad here).
Reuben’s sin: Genesis 35:22. No one of note came from Reuben’s line (Matthew 19:30). No king, prophet, or judge would come from Reuben. His tribe was the first to be conquered by the Assyrian and Babylonians, and he would settle east of the Jordan, which was not well fortified.
Simeon and Levi’s sin: (Genesis 34:25-29). Forgiven sins can still haunt us. Their sin is anger and retribution in anger. This is not a godly anger Ephesians 4:26), but an ungodly one. Ephesians 4:31)
Simeon’s tribe shrank when they wandered in the wilderness after the parting of the Red Sea. They went from the 3rd largest (Numbers 1:23), to the smallest (Numbers 26:14) in 40 years. They had to share their piece of the Promise Land with Judah (Joshua 19:1). They would be enveloped into Judah’s tribe.
Levi, however, gained blessing despite his sin and was chosen to be the line of the priesthood because of their faithfulness during the Golden Calf episode (Exodus 32:26-28). They gained God as their inheritance (Joshua 13:33). It pays to draw near to God when you’ve been reprimanded by Him. However, they were scattered as priests had to live all over Israel in order to preach to the people.
Judah made many mistakes and committed many sins (like all of us), (Genesis 37:26).,(Genesis 38:26),,(Genesis 38:18), but he had good in his heart. (Genesis 44:18-34). God’s grace is good.
Because Judah inherited the ruling position, the kings of Israel (including Jesus, the ultimate King) would come from him. Revelation 5:5, Lions in scripture symbolize power, victory, and dominion. His tribe would prosper.
Shiloh is another name for Jesus, meaning “he whose right it is.” David partially fulfilled this prophecy, but it was Jesus a full 1600 years later that sealed the deal.
Zebulon settled next to the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee — both places for ships. His tribe is noted in the Bible for being faithful to David (1 Chronicles 12:33). His name means “honored dwelling.”
Issachar was a large tribe, but they became slaves. Numbers 26
From the tribe of Dan came the judge, Samson (Judges 13:2). Dan menas “he judged.”
The Bible records the tribe of Dan as one of sin and idolatry. (Judges 18:30). (1 Kings 12:26-30), (Amos 8:14).
Some Bible scholars believe the Antichrist will come from the tribe of Dan (based on Daniel 11:37 and Jeremiah 8:16).
Dan is left out of the listing of tribes in Revelation 7:5-8 B nor in 1 Chronicles 2-9. but Dan is the first tribe listed in Ezekiel’s list (Ezekiel 48).
Jacob calls out for Jesus (the Hebrew word for salvation is “yeshuwah.”). Cool, isn’t it?
Gad helped David (1 Chronicles 12:14). They settled on the east side of the Jordan and had to fend off constant attacks.
Asher was known as a land of luxury Deuteronomy 33:24, near Phoenicia. Anna, a prophetess from Asher, saw Jesus (Luke 2:36-38)
Naphtali’s land bordered the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus spent much of his time (Matthew 4:12-16)
Joseph had already received his blessing. Perhaps this was a repeat for the benefit of the other brothers Genesis 48. God gave Joseph the strength of will for the bow. Joseph’s tribes of Mannsseh and Ephraim were some of the biggest. Joseph overcame much.
Benjamin’s tribe will be one of great warriors: Ehud (Judges 3:15-23), Saul (1 Samuel 9:1, 14:47-52), and Paul (Acts 8:1-3). Judges 19 and 20.
Summary of passage: Israel requested to be buried in the Promised Land. When Jacob was old, Joseph and his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, went to visit him. Jacob repeated God’s promise to him and he reckons Joseph’s two sons as his to share in this blessing and inheritance. Jacob blesses the two boys, giving the firstborn blessings to the younger.
Joseph was displeased that Jacob blessed the younger son over the older son but Jacob insisted, saying he will be greater than his brother. Thus Ephraim was put ahead of Manasseh.
Jacob says God will take him soon back to the Promised Land and he gives Joseph the land he took from the Amorites.
Questions:
10a) Joseph obtained the rights of the firstborn when Reuben defiled his father’s marriage bed. Then Jacob substitutes Joseph for his two sons, thus giving Joseph double the inheritance.
b) Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, Joseph over Reuben
11) Personal Question. My answer: To be honest, none stand out.
12) God
13) Personal Question. My answer: Verse 19 where Jacob clearly says the younger will be greater than the older. Talk about setting up sibling rivalry.
14) He asks to be buried in the Promised Land (47:30). He repeats God’s covenant (48:4). He says Joseph’s two sons will inherit the territory from God (48:6). He tells Joseph that God will take him back to the Promised Land ( 48:21) and gives him some land he conquered there (48:22).
Conclusions: Didn’t get much out of this besides the fact Jacob finally believed God, which we found out a while back. Great example of how life isn’t fair and just because you are born first doesn’t mean you are automatically granted privileges. You have to earn it and all the aforementioned first-borns forfeited theirs.
Thus, we can think of the firstborn more as the first position and not necessarily birth order as we’ve seen throughout Genesis.
With this adoption, there are actually 13 tribes/sons of Israel as Joseph’s inheritance is now divided into two.
I wish the Bible said why Jacob gave Joseph’s two sons the inheritance when he did this for no other. I’m assuming because Joseph is his favorite and as the favorite you are accorded special privileges. Not saying this is right but this is the way of the world.
We know that the right hand is the favored position as exhibited the best by Jesus sitting at the right hand of God.
The story of Joseph is a great parallel to Jesus’s and I wish BSF would have spent more time drawing that comparison out in the questions.
End Notes: Luz is another name for Bethel.
Fun Search: Do research on the number 12 in the Bible. 12 is special to God as seen with 12 sons and 12 disciples, etc.
Fun Fact: This is the first mention in the Bible of God as a shepherd to His people (Genesis 48:15).
Summary of passage: All the food (except that stored by Joseph) was eaten in Egypt and Canaan during the famine. Joseph brought all the money in payment for the grain to Pharaoh and when all of the people’s money was gone the people came to Joseph, begging for food.
So Joseph began exchanging food for the people’s livestock. When the people’s livestock was gone, they had nothing left to sell except their land and their bodies. So all the land became Pharaoh’s and the people were reduced to servitude. All except the priests who were protected and fed by Pharaoh.
Joseph instructed the people to begin planting again but to give one-fifth of their crop to Pharaoh. This became law for all land except the priests’ land.
The Israelites settled in Goshen, acquired property, and were fruitful. Israel requested to be buried in the Promised Land.
Questions:
8a) That the Promised Land was in fact his–enough so to spent eternity there. That he believed in God’s covenant with him and his people.
b) Personal Question. My answer: The Bible says our home is in heaven. Our inheritance is in heaven. We are children of God. We exist for heavenly rewards, not earthly rewards.
This life is temporary. We are to do God’s work here and work for Him. Our time here is short and we are to live each day to the fullest for we do not know when God will call us home. We should look forward to that day when we get to spend eternity with God. We should not be afraid. If our work is done, we shall depart to a better place.
9a) First, the people were to use money to buy grain. Second, they were to use livestock once their money ran out. Finally, they were to sell their land and bodies as payment.
b) Personal Question. My answer: So the people didn’t get used to handouts from the government. The people still had to earn their food and work for it. This gives people a sense of pride and keeps the country prosperous.
c) No.
d) Personal Question. My answer: Discipline of kids and money.
Conclusions: I found this interesting cause I never really knew how the Israelites ended up in bondage in Egypt. This is one reason at least. Fascinating.
Summary of passage: Jacob left Beersheba for Egypt, taking with him all his sons, their wives and children, his daughters and their families and all his possessions including his livestock. They numbered 66 persons who went with Jacob that were direct descendants. Counting Joseph and his two sons and Jacob the total came to 70 in Egypt.
Joseph met his family at Goshen to escort them to Egypt and he threw his arms around his father and wept. Joseph said he will go to Pharaoh and ask for them to settle in Goshen as shepherds for all shepherds are detestable to Egyptians. Pharaoh gave them the best land in Goshen and told Joseph to choose some to tend his flocks as well.
Jacob blessed Pharaoh and settled in Goshen in the best part of the land and had plenty to eat.
Questions:
5a) 66 that journeyed with Jacob, 70 including Joseph and his 2 kids and Jacob himself.
b) Personal Question. My answer: To preserve the record to Jesus. These sons are also going to be the 12 Nations of Israel, God’s chosen people, so it’s important to know who’s who.
c) Personal Question. My answer: Our names are written in heaven and those who accept Jesus as their Savior are written in the book of life and go to heaven. Anyone else goes to the lake of fire. It lets me know that I am saved, I am known, I am remembered, I am important, I am loved.
6a) Personal Question. My answer: So as not to intermix with the locals. To stay as a separate people and propagate the land as God commanded. To grow together and not separate. And to obey God who told Jacob to go to Egypt where He would make them into a great nation.
b) It kept the Israelites separate from the Egyptians, away from their influence and corruptible practices and kept God’s people from intermingling. It was apparently a good land to graze animals on.
7) Even though Pharaoh did not believe in the One, True God, he recognized God’s power and abilities and God’s will for Joseph. He recognized competency and put Joseph in charge despite who he was and his background. He was gracious to Joseph and Jacob, allowing them to come to Egypt and have the best land and whatever else they need.
He made every effort to assimilate Joseph and make him comfortable by giving him a prominent Egyptian wife. He trusted Joseph implicitly with his empire. He gave Joseph carts for Jacob to travel to Egypt.
Ultimately, Pharaoh was saving his people and was using whomever could do that for him. He cared for the people by preparing for the famine instead of letting the poor die out. He was preparing for the future, not the present. He delegated where he needed to delegate and trusted those under him to do the job. He rewarded those who served him well (such as Joseph). Overall, Pharaoh saved his kingdom along with God’s people.
Conclusions: Let’s not forget that Joseph is the whole reason Jacob and his family were saved. “Joseph settled his father”. “Joseph provided food”. Pharaoh accepted Jacob and the family only because of Joseph. If they had just been regular Hebrews looking for relief from the famine, they would have been turned away. But because of Joseph (and God) they were saved–as was God’s will.
The Egyptians considered sheep unclean; hence, everyone who worked with sheep were unclean.
Goshen was what is basically the Sinai Peninsula today. Today it is a desert land but in ancient times it was renown for it’s grazing of animals. Succinct history on Goshen HERE.
Map of Goshen: http://www.lds.org/scriptures/bc/images/03990_000_bible-map-9.pdf
Summary of passage: Israel/Jacob set out with all of his household and belongings for Egypt. At Beersheba he offered sacrifices to God. There God spoke to him, reassuring him to go to Egypt.
Questions:
3a) Because last time God spoke to Jacob (Genesis 35:1), God had told him to go to Bethel, the Promised Land. Jacob may have had doubts if he was following God’s will or not to go to Egypt and as BSF pointed out in Genesis 26:2, God had previously said not to go to Egypt. God was reassuring Jacob that this was His plan.
b) Genesis 26:2 & 46:3: God tells us where to go.
Proverbs 3:5-6: God will guide you if you trust and know Him and His ways with all your heart.
James 1:5-7: Ask God for what you desire and it will be given. But you must believe and not doubt that it will be so and that God will accomplish it.
4a) God will make Jacob into a great nation in Egypt. God will go to Egypt with Jacob. God will bring Jacob back again. Joseph’s own hand will close his eyes.
b) Exodus 1:7 says how the Israelites were fruitful and multiplied and filled the land. God was with them in Egypt (Exodus 1:20; 3:8). God commissions Moses to bring the Israelites back (Exodus 3:10; 6:8) and God will be with him (Exodus 3:12). Exodus 12 is the Exodus from Egypt. Genesis 50:1 has Joseph throwing himself upon Jacob when he died and crying and kissing him so presumably he closed his eyes since that is what one normally does when one dies.
Conclusions: Short and sweet. Wish the rest of Genesis would be this way cause I don’t know about you but I’m ready to be done with this study. It has definitely been a long one this year it seems.
Beersheba was one of the last towns in the Promised Land before reaching Egypt. Many events have taken place in Beersheba in Genesis here with God so it probably held special significance as well to Jacob (Genesis 21:22; 21:33; 26:24-25; 22:19).
Jacob could also have been hesitant to go to Egypt because of the evil it brought upon Abraham with Hagar and Sarah.
I like the emphasis on prophecy being fulfilled. Great example of how God is faithful to us always.