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CHAPTER 50
Jacob's body is embalmed - Joseph buries him in Canaan - he comforts his brethern - The children of Israel multiply - Joseph promises that God will bring Israel out of Egypt into Canaan - Joseph dies in Egypt and is embalmed. |
Genesis 50 is the third chapter of Moses' account of the patriarchal order of the Fathers. It is significant that these last chapters of Moses emphasize Joseph and his sons Ephraim and Manasseh and not the other sons of Jacob as being heir to Israel. | JST, GENESIS 50:24-38 (compare Genesis 50:24-26; see also 2 Nephi 3) (Moses, Aaron, and Joseph Smith were all named in this prophecy of Joseph in Egypt. Also, Joseph prophesied that the Book of Mormon would become a companion to the record of Judah.) |
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1 ¶ AND
aJoseph fell upon his father's face, and
bwept upon him, and kissed him.
2 And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to aembalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel. 3 And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days. |
1 - Joseph fell See the previous verse ge4933. Also see ge4604. |
1a
Gen. 46:4 b D&C 42:45 (45-46) 2a Gen. 50:26
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4 And when the days
of his mourning were past, Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, saying,
If now I have found grace in your eyes, speak, I pray you, in the ears
of Pharaoh, saying,
5 My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my agrave which I have digged for me in the land of Canaan, there shalt thou bury me. Now therefore let me go up, I pray thee, and bury my father, and I will come again. 6 And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear. |
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5a
Gen. 47:30;
2 Ne. 1:14
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7
¶ And Joseph went up to bury his father: and with him went up all
the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his house, and all the elders of
the land of Egypt,
8 And all the house of Joseph, and his brethren, and his father's house: only their little ones, and their flocks, and their herds, they left in the land of aGoshen. 9 And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company. 10 And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they amourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a bmourning for his father seven days. |
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8a
Gen. 45:10 10a Alma 28:12 b Job. 2:13
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11 And when the inhabitants
of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they
said, This is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name
of it was called aAbel-mizraim, which is beyond Jordan.
12 And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them: 13 For his sons acarried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a bburyingplace of cEphron the Hittite, before Mamre. 14 And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father. |
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11a IE The mourning of the Egyptians 13a Gen. 49:29 b Gen. 25:10 c Gen. 23:17
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15
¶ And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they
said, aJoseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly
requite us all the evil which we did unto him.
16 And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, 17 So shall ye say unto Joseph, aForgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin; for they did unto thee evil: and now, we pray thee, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of thy father. And Joseph bwept when they spake unto him. 18 And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy aservants. 19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, ye thought aevil against me; but God bmeant it unto cgood, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. 21 Now therefore fear ye not: I will anourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them. |
15 - Joseph's brethren saw The picture is of harmony and peace — a model for family relations at the death of a parent. It's a time for forgiveness. |
15a OR If Joseph bears a grudge against us he will certainly repay us. . . 17a TG Forgiveness b Morm. 2:12; D&C 18:14-16 18a Gen. 37:10 (5-11) 20a TG Evil b Gen. 45:5 c D&C 100:15 21a TG Family, Love within
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.22
¶ And aJoseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's
house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.
23 And Joseph saw Ephraim's achildren of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of bManasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees. |
25 - Ye shall carry And they did jos2432. ge3319, ge4822. |
22a
TG
Israel, Joseph, People of 23a TG Patriarchs b Num. 32:39
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There are a number of significant scriptural facts which are added in the
Joseph Smith Translation of the 'Promises and Prophecies to Joseph' given
by the Lord to Joseph of Egypt. Briefly listed here, many of these will be
further explained in the section below which features the Joseph Smith
Translation in the right column with the 'new' scripture highlighted in
bold italics.
v 24 ~ Lord promised Joseph a righteous branch from house of Joseph ~ Prophet deliver (Moses) to deliver Israel out of Egypt from house of Joseph ~ 'Moses' is not the Messiah called Shilo who was also to be of house of Joseph v 25 ~ Israel will be scattered with one branch carried into a far country ~ Messiah bring scattered out of darkness and captivity into light and freedom in latter days v 26 ~ A 'choice seer' to be raised up out of the house of Joseph in latter days v 27 ~ Lord says that this choice seer will do a work for house of Joseph and his brethern v 28 ~ This Seer will bring them to knowledge of the covenants of the fathers v 29 ~ Latter day choice seer shall be great like unto 'Moses' ~ Prophet who delivers people out of Egypt will be named and called 'Moses' ~ By this name 'Moses', Joseph was to know that Moses would be of the house of Joseph ~ Moses would be of the house of Joseph because he was to be nursed by the king's daughter ~ Moses would be considered of the house of Joseph because he was called king's daughter's son v 30 ~ Latter day seer of house of Joseph to bring forth God's word ~ God's word brought forth by this seer will be for the convincing of Israel of God's word v 31 ~ Fruit of Joseph's loins shall write a record of God's word ~ Fruit of Judah's loins shall write a record of God's word ~ The records will grow together to confound false doctrine, end contention, and extablish peace ~ The records will bring man to a knowledge of the fathers and the covenant of God in the latter days v 32 ~ Out of weakness this latter day seer will be made strong ~ Lord's latter day work is a restoration to them of the house of Israel in the last days v 33 ~ Those who seek to destroy this latter day seer will be confounded ~ Lord's people to be remembered from generation to generation ~ Latter day seer named Joseph after the name of his father Joseph and after Joseph of Egypt ~ He'll be like Joseph of Egypt in bring Lord's people unto salvation v 34 ~ Lord promised Joseph of Egypt that his seed would be preserved forever ~ Moses to have a rod in his hand to gather Lord's people and smite the Red Sea v 35 ~ Moses will have judgment and write the word of the Lord ~ Moses not to speak many words and he will have a spokesman named Aaron ~ Lord will write unto Moses God's Law by the finger of the Lord's own hand v 36 ~ Lord assures Joseph of Egypt that it shall be so done in the last days v 37 ~ Joseph, the covenant bearer, confirmed many other things unto his brethren v 38 ~ Joseph carried up and laid in same sepulchre with his father Jacob |
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24 aAnd
Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and
bbring you out of this land unto the
cland which he sware to dAbraham, to
Isaac, and to Jacob.
25 And Joseph took an aoath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bbones from hence. 26 So aJoseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they bembalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
The Lord knew of the envy of Judah concerning the right of Joseph and Ephraim. And the Lord had in the works a plan where Judah would falsely assume to be the ancestor of the Messiah. True, Boaz was a Jew. And Boaz was the blood father of Oben by Ruth. But Boaz was not the legal and rightful father of Obed under God's law. Boaz was but the surrogate parent of the son who was legally and rightfully of the house of Mahlon and Elimelech, Mahlon being the first husband of Ruth (See Deuteronomy 25:5-10). Even Boaz fully understood that he was raising up seed to the dead and he so stated as much in Ruth chapter 4 verses 5 and 10. Elimelech and his sons where Ephraimites. Ruth chapter 1 verse 2 states that they where Ephrathites. As discussed more fully in the text entitled Messiah ben David ~ Messiah ben Joseph, the only clear meaning of the term 'Ephrathite' is in reference to being of the tribe of Ephraim. Boaz was not the nearest relative and kinsmen in the house of Israel have been well know to be of differing tribes. Mary, the mother of Jesus, was of the House of David, while Elizabeth her 'cousin' or kinswoman was of the tribe of Levi. The Jewish compiled and prepared Old Testament preserves Judah's claim in the ancestry of the house of David and reports it with a purely Jewish slant. Remember by the the date of Ezekiel when the Bible was actually being compiled from what scanty records remained, the entire northern Kingdom of Israel had been scattered to the four winds for over 100 years. Certainly Judah considered themselves to be the only remaining tribe of Israel. And they set themselves out to lay claim to all the promises of the covenant of Abraham even though they were in truth preserved by Joseph and bestowed upon Ephraim. Thus it has been lost as to the fact that Joseph was the prophet of the covenant after the death of Israel or Jacob. And much of the writings of Moses which yields the words of Joseph are removed from the record of the Jews. When Joseph called his Israelite brethern together before his death, he did so as the patriarchal leader of Israel. And his brothers and their descendents had respect unto Joseph accordingly. They all knew that Joseph was their 'ruler', not only in respect to Egypt but also in respect to being the head of the House of Israel. God knew that it was the house of Joseph's right to rule in Israel despite the envy of Judah. God also knew that the children of Israel delivered from Egypt would reject God's higher law. Thus the Lord provided Moses, who by his being raised by the king's daughter, was considered of the house of Joseph (see notes and JST in columns at right). The Lesser Law and Lesser Priesthood was not the full Covenant of God or Priesthood of God which was the right of the tribe of Ephraim. Thus the Lord adopted the tribe of Levi to administer the lesser law and priesthood unto Israel in place of the right of the firstborn in Israel. It would not be until the latter or last days that the tribe of Ephraim would rise up and be ordained with the full covenant and high priesthood of God in the marvelous and work and wonder to be performed by Ephraim in the last days in restoring all to the house of Israel. Today, that fulness is going forth to all the world through The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In these latter days, God has called the promises latter day Seer promised to come forth of the seed of Joseph of Egypt. This prophet was named Joseph after the name of his father Joseph and is like unto the ancient Joseph of Egypt. The blessings of the fathers, the covenant of the fathers, that very Covanant of God proclaimed from before the foundation of the world has come to be fulfilled in the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the seed of Joseph, primarily in and through the seed of Ephraim, the firstborn of God and Israel as proclaimed in the scriptures. The New Covenant of the latter days is the Everlasting Covenant of God come through the fathers by the house of Joseph and his son Ephraim as assisted by Manasseh. |
24a
JST Gen. 50:24-38 (Appendix ~ Also Provided) b TG Israel, Bondage, in Egypt c TG Promised Land d Deut. 11:9 25a TG Oaths b Gen. 47:29; Ex. 13:19 Josh. 24:32 26a Gen. 41:46 (46-47, 54) b Ex. 1:6 c Gen. 50:2
JST 24a not the Messiah who is called
Shilo Some use this reference to state that the Messiah was not
descended from the house of Joseph. This is not what is stated. What
is said is that Moses, who was considered of the house of Joseph, was
not the Messiah. Many of the house of Israel would have made Moses to be the
Messiah without this qualification. And the only reason that Joseph even had
to make such restriction eliminating Moses from being the Messiah was that
the Messiah was to be of Joseph's house.
It was these blessings of the Fathers which Abraham desired to attain to, seeking after heaven (See Abraham 1:2-4). The Abrahamic Covenant as described in the Bible Dictionary consisted of the blessings of the Fathers which included being the ancester to 'the chosen seed', even Jesus Christ. This covenant passed from Abraham to Issac and then to Jacob who was renamed by the Lord, Israel. In one sense, Jacob had twelve son who where called the twelve patriarchs, as each father is the rightful patriarch to their children and descendants after them. But in the sense of tracking the Covenant of God and to who it next pasted to, one needs to be very careful. Remember the 'Covenant of the Fathers' included the right to ancestry to the Messiah. Some believe that the 'Rights of the Covenant' were divided between Judah and Ephraim. That is not consistent with the facts as recorded in scripture. In Genesis 48, Jacob as Israel placed the right of the 'Firstborn of the Covenant' squarely upon the heads of Joseph and his two sons Manasseh and Ephraim with Ephraim being stipulated as the 'Firstborn of Israel' upon whom the name of Israel would rest (See Commentary on Genesis 48 which includes additional information from the Joseph Smith Translation). The blessings of the fathers were preserved through Joseph, Joseph being the rightful heir to the Covenant and blessings of the Fathers. How is it that Christ is considered to be the seed of Joseph and Ephraim while of the blood of Judah? This is discussed in the text Messiah ben David ~ Messiah ben Joseph where it is explained how Christ is of the seed of Joseph through Ephraim as well as of the blood of Judah. |
24. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die, and go unto my fathers;
and I go down to my grave with joy. The God of my father Jacob be with you,
to deliver you out of affliction in the days of your bondage; for the Lord
hath visited me, and I have obtained a promise of the Lord, that out of the
fruit of my loins, the Lord God will raise up a righteous branch out of my
loins; and unto thee, whom my father Jacob hath named Israel, a prophet;
(not the Messiah who is called Shiloa;)
and this prophet shall deliver my people out of Egypt in the days of thy
bondage.
25. And it shall come to pass that they shall be scattered again; and a branch shall be broken off, and shall be carried into a far countrya; nevertheless they shall be remembered in the covenants of the Lord, when the Messiah cometh; for he shall be made manifest unto them in the latter days, in the Spirit of power; and shall bring them out of darkness into light; out of hidden darkness, and out of captivity unto freedom. 26. A seer shall the Lord my God raise up, who shall be a choice seer unto the fruit of my loins. 27. Thus saith the Lord God of my fathers unto me, A choice seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins, and he shall be esteemed highly among the fruit of thy loins; and unto him will I give commandment that he shall do a work for the fruit of thy loins, his brethren. 28. And he shall bring them to the knowledge of the covenants which I have made with thy fathers; and he shall do whatsoever work I shall command him. 29. And I will make him great in mine eyes, for he shall do my work; and he shall be great like unto him whom I have said I would raise up unto you, to deliver my people, O house of Israel, out of the land of Egypt; for a seer will I raise up to deliver my people out of the land of Egypt; and he shall be called Moses. And by this name he shall know that he is of thy house; for he shall be nursed by the king's daughter, and shall be called her sona. 30. And again, a seer will I raise up out of the fruit of thy loins, and unto him will I give power to bring forth my word unto the seed of thy loins; and not to the bringing forth of my word only, saith the Lord, but to the convincing them of my word, which shall have already gone forth among them in the last days; 31. Wherefore the fruit of thy loins shall write, and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall writea; and that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together unto the confounding of false doctrines, and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to a knowledge of their fathers in the latter days; and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord. 32. And out of weakness shall he be made strong, in that day when my work shall go forth among all my people, which shall restore them, who are of the house of Israel, in the last days. 33. And that seer will I bless, and they that seek to destroy him shall be confounded; for this promise I give unto you; for I will remember you from generation to generation; and his name shall be called Joseph, and it shall be after the name of his fathera; and he shall be like unto you; for the thing which the Lord shall bring forth by his hand shall bring my people unto salvation. 34. And the Lord sware unto Joseph that he would preserve his seed forever, saying, I will raise up Moses, and a rod shall be in his hand, and he shall gather together my people, and he shall lead them as a flock, and he shall smite the waters of the Red Sea with his rod. 35. And he shall have judgment, and shall write the word of the Lord. And he shall not speak many words, for I will write unto him my law by the finger of mine own hand. And I will make a spokesman for him, and his name shall be called Aaron. 36. And it shall be done unto thee in the last days also, even as I have sworn. Therefore, Joseph said unto his brethren, God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land, unto the land which he sware unto Abraham, and unto Isaac, and to Jacob. 37. And Joseph confirmed many other things unto his brethren,a and took an oath of the children of Israel, saying unto them, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence. 38. So Joseph died when he was an hundred and ten years old; and they embalmed him, and they put him in a coffin in Egypt; and he was kept from burial by the children of Israel, that he might be carried up and laid in the sepulchre with his father. And thus they remembered the oath which they sware unto him.
For those who have an abiding and deep testamony of the Book of Mormon, this is a confirmation of the truthfulness of the Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible. Lehi quotes and paraphrases the promises of the Lord to Joseph of Egypt much as written by Joseph Smith in his inspired translation of the Bible. Lehi takes the liberty of applying Joseph's words of prophecy to his family, being a family of Joseph's seed brought to the Americas as a branch of the house of Joseph. These promises are also applicable to us in the latter days. |
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The end of Genesis