GRIFFIN COMMENTS GEN 50

GRIFFIN COMMENTS GEN 50 (Gen 50:1) And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him.

God had told Jacob the day would come that Joseph would put his hands upon his eyes [to close them in death] Gen_46:4, and that day had come. Now Joseph fell upon that couch of the lifeless form of his father and planted kisses upon lips that did not respond, from a mouth that had spoken its last, and wept his tears of sorrow and grief that he had lost his greatest earthly friend.

(Gen 50:2) And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.

Then it was time to prepare his father for burial and it was his responsibility since things had turned out the way they had. He was the Prime Minister in Egypt and his brothers would now look up to him as long as he lived to make all family decisions, for though he was not designated the son with the birthright, he was in a position where none could question his authority, none dare challenge his authority.

Jacob had died and they embalmed Israel. The Jacob nature of carnality was gone and the Israelite nature would now live on symbolically shown in an embalmed body. The same would later happen to Joseph. He would die here in the land of Egypt but give command concerning his bones that they would carry with them until they arrived at Shechem [burden-bearer] where the burden would be lifted from them and placed in a tomb in the Promised Land.

WHICH IS ME? (Gen_50:2) Within my earthly temple there's a crowd.

There is one of us that's humble, one that's proud.

There's one that's broken hearted for his sins And one that unrepentant sits and grins.

There's one that loves his neighbor as himself.

And one that cares for naught but fame and pelf.

From much perplexing care I would be free If I could once determine which is me!

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(Gen 50:3) 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.

The Egyptians were experts on embalming and the process started with forty days of taking out the insides of the body, the brain particles taken out through the nostrils, and other means of removing what they had to remove in such a way that after the forty days the body looked like it had life. Then there were thirty days of lying in natron or antrum where it pickled the body, leaving the skin with a leathery feel, and all the features as they had been earlier. The mourning of 70 days would include this forty for the embalming process and the thirty lying in the antrum.

(Gen 50:4) 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, Several reasons have been conjectured as to why Joseph did not himself speak to Pharaoh. It could have been that Pharaoh did not allow anyone to come before him in mourning as was the custom of some countries like the Persians. It could have been that since the interment was part of the priestly function of Egypt, he would have to have permission through their priesthood to bypass them and follow his own custom. Or was it because during this seventy days he had not shaved which was unacceptable to the Egyptians and could not come before the king without his face shaved. Maybe this was another Pharaoh who had arisen and since the death of the former Joseph would not have the same prestige and privileges as with the one from the past. We do not know for certain, but we do know that Joseph did not himself go to Pharaoh, but sent messengers.

We call it death to leave this world. But were we once out of it, and instated into the happiness of the next we should think it were dying indeed to come back to it again (Sherlock) (Gen 50:5) My father made me swear, saying, Lo, I die: in my grave 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.

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Dying wishes are ordinarily respected by all people, and especially when an oath is added, and Joseph used this fact to secure the opportunity to take his father’s body back to Canaan. He promised after doing so that he would not remain in that land, though it had been promised earlier, but would return to Egypt to finish building this people into a nation, which could not be done in Canaan as tribesmen.

It is unknown why he said, "my grave which I have digged for me." He was buried in the cave at Macpelah.

(Gen 50:6) And Pharaoh said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.

Apparently the oath, more than the custom of fulfilling the wishes of a dying person, influenced the Pharaoh, for he knew the power of oaths, especially in the superstitious beliefs of Egypt. He also apparently respected the wishes of the old patriarch. Though there were plenty of places in Egypt where he could be buried, his wishes over-ruled such a decision.

(Gen 50:7) 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, This must have been the largest entourage to ever leave the country and with so many of the officialdom of the country which would have expressed extreme honor upon one, and he not even a citizen, but the father of the Prime Minister. However, Joseph was himself so honored and respected that it was all done for his sake.

(Gen 50:8) 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 Goshen.

That is, all the able-bodied men and women went up in the funeral procession, and the children and possessions were left at home with the servants.

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The funeral itself said, Egypt is not our home. It pointed with prophetic significance to the future of God's people. Canaan, the home of God's people, is the symbol of the everlasting home.

(Gen 50:9) And there went up with him both chariots and horsemen: and it was a very great company.

This crowd could even be considered an army, they were so many and so well equipped. Seldom has such honor been bestowed upon any man at his death as this.

The Jews (m) claim that Esau came out with a large army, and met Joseph at the cave of Machpelah, and endeavored to hinder the burial of Jacob there, where he lost his life, having his head struck off with the sword of Chushim, the son of Dan: some say it was Zepho, the grandson of Esau, with the sons of Esau, that made the disturbance there, on which a battle ensued, in which Joseph was the conqueror, and Zepho was taken captive; see Gill on Gen_36:11, the Jews (n) give us the order and manner of the above procession thus; first Joseph, next the servants of Pharaoh, or the princes, then the elders of the court of Pharaoh, then all the elders of the land of Egypt, then the whole house of Joseph, next to them the brethren of Joseph, who were followed by their eldest sons, and after them were the chariots, and last of all the horses. (Gill) (Gen 50:10) And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.

The word Atad signifies thorns held tight into a hedge and a threshing floor would be a place where such were used for protection against any intruders. Such a large flat area would be needed for the encampment of such a large group.

This is said to be beyond Jordan. Deterred, probably, by some difficulty in the direct route, they seem to have gone round by the east side of the Salt Sea. (Barnes Notes) (Gen 50:11) 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 GRIFFIN COMMENTS GEN 50—PAGE 4

Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim, which is beyond Jordan.

The Canaanites called it the “Meadow of Egypt,” for here at the threshing floor which was in a meadow, the Egyptians had camped where they could be seen by the neighboring Israelites. Since it was so unusual a scene it was not forgotten and the place ever after retained that name. The Canaanites concluded the Egyptians must have lost some great man, to make such a lamentation for him.

(Gen 50:12) And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them: The sons of Jacob may have had their differences in the past but now they were joined to put their father in the tomb. They wanted to show respect.

We have then the lot of the children of Jacob; and two facts, the burying of Jacob, and the commandment concerning the bones of Joseph, given as a certain pledge of the re-establishment of Israel, left, according to what had been said to Abraham, and in appearance abandoned, in a strange country, whilst the patience of God bore yet with the iniquity of the Amorites, a patience which strikes only when it is impossible to bear the evil any longer (chaps.

49, 50). (Darby) (Gen 50:13) For his sons carried 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 buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.

It appears from this that the Egyptians remained at the threshing floor of Atad, and the sons of Jacob went alone to Macpelah with their father and placed him in the tomb with his wife Leah, alongside Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekah. Then they returned to the threshing floor of Atad and rejoined the Egyptians before returning with them to Egypt.

(Gen 50:14) 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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Joseph had promised Pharaoh that he would return and he was true to his word, as he always was. He was forever a man of integrity, so much so that there was never a sin charged against him. Of course he was a sinner, but it is great to see a man that nothing evil is ever recorded against him yet much good can be recalled.

(Gen 50:15) And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him.

Now the other sons felt threatened for the only one that could stand between them and their Joseph had been their father. They knew Jacob would be heeded by Joseph in any matter and it was their hope that he would be a buffer, and now that buffer is gone. Their fears were groundless, but when they knew that they would have done such evil had they been in charge, they tended to think others would be the same.

(Gen 50:16) And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, There is no record of this command anywhere and it is doubtful whether it was ever formally made by Jacob. It could have possibly been surmised by something he had said along the way and now they paraphrased it so that it fit the occasion. Most likely, however, it was made up by them to bolster their position in hopes that Joseph would not decide now to take vengeance.

(Gen 50:17) So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, 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 wept when they spake unto him.

Such a statement as they had given did not really sound like Jacob himself, but sounded rather like the sons who wanted to be sure they were safe. Apparently they were putting words in Jacob’s mouth, and he was not there to agree or disagree. It was simply a matter of trying to save their hides. Fear will drive men to find an escape.

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(Gen 50:18) And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants.

To add to their security, they showed that they did not hold any animosity as they had in the past, and that they wanted Joseph to bury that past so that they would not be faced with it at some future time. That was rather natural from someone who faced a threat like these men did. Probably without realizing it, Joseph's dreams were again being proven true for they were bowing before him.

(Gen 50:19) And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? Of course Joseph was true to himself, and continued to show the same spirit he had always shown. This was not some sudden decision born out of their request. This was the nature of the man that had been shown from before he came into Egypt. He had never changed in his attitude toward others. He truly loved without hypocrisy.

(Gen 50:20) But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.

Now he reminded them of the same thing he told them when he first revealed himself to them on their second trip to Egypt. He told them who did it and the purpose. It was God that orchestrated all this and the purpose was to make a great nation and eventually bring this nation out and restore them to the Land of Promise.

(Gen 50:21) Now therefore fear ye not: I will nourish you, and your little ones. And he comforted them, and spake kindly unto them.

He gave them full assurance that they had nothing to fear. He had shown that through the many years they had already been in Egypt and even here he was not putting on a show just because his father was near, but that his attitude had always been sincere and would continue to be.

He demonstrated how God graciously accepts us even though we don't deserve it. Because God forgives us even when we have

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ignored or rejected him, we should graciously forgive others. (Life Application Study Bible) (Gen 50:22) And Joseph dwelt in Egypt, he, and his father's house: and Joseph lived an hundred and ten years.

Almost a hundred years of Joseph’s life were spent in Egypt, only seventeen being in Canaan. He had seen his dreams come to pass and lived to a great age.

TWO HUNDRED YEAR FUNERAL SERVICE (Gen_50:22-26) Exo_13:19; JOSEPH'S BONES Jos_24:32; Act_7:16 Bones are what remains of the body as memory is the remains of a life.

Joseph died 200 years before he was finally buried. He traveled probably 1000 miles to the cemetery. He went from Egypt to Shechem, including 40 years in the wilderness. There were 3,000,000 in the funeral train.

This funeral procession was the longest in history. It should be in the Guinness Book of Records.

They changed Pallbearers several times. They grew old and died along the way.

1.

BONES OF REMEMBERING •He saved us.

•He died in faith.

•He showed us the right spirit.

2.

BONES OF RESPONSIBILITY •In return for saving them they were to carry his bones out.

•They had to keep them 40 years in the wilderness.

•They were finally buried in the promised land.

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3.

BONES OF RESEMBLANCE •Like Christ (2Co_3:18).

•Jam_1:22 Hear the word and do it.

London: "I'm Tommy and I'm lost." Ever seen anything like this? [monument] Yeah, but it had a cross on it.

(Gen 50:23) And Joseph saw Ephraim's children of the third generation: the children also of Machir the son of Manasseh were brought up upon Joseph's knees.

Machir had but one son by his first wife, whose name was Gilead; but marrying a second wife, he had two sons, Peresh and Sheresh; see 1Ch_7:14 who might be born before the death of Joseph, and be said to be brought up upon his knees, being educated by him, and often took up in his lap, and dandled on his knees, as grandfathers, being fond of their grandchildren, are apt to do. (Gill) (Gen 50:24) And Joseph said unto his brethren, I die: and God will surely visit you, and bring you out of this land unto the land which he sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

This promise of a land God would give them was forever in their minds. To this day the Israelites hold to this promise, and well they should for it was given to Abraham as an everlasting covenant.

Why was not Joseph taken up to Canaan and buried there at this time? I think it is obvious that Joseph was a hero in the land of Egypt and his family would not have been permitted to remove his body from Egypt at that time. I think he was one of the outstanding patriots whom the Egyptians reverenced. Probably they had a monument raised at his grave. (McGee) (Gen 50:25) And Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.

Here were the words that assured Joseph a place also in the Promised Land. It is claimed that a tomb has been found in Egypt with an inscription that translates that the savior of the world was buried GRIFFIN COMMENTS GEN 50—PAGE 9

here, and most likely is the tomb of Joseph where his body was kept until Israel left and carried them along until they arrived in Shechem where they were buried.

(Gen 50:26) So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

Joseph received a part of the BIRTHRIGHT! (1Ch_5:2) even though he was not the eldest son of Jacob, as Jesus received the birthright and was called the firstborn among many brethren," (Rom_8:29), though He is after the Old Testament (Leah's children). He is the first begotten from the dead, the first fruits of them that slept (1Co_15:2023).

Joseph was the eldest son of the younger, best-loved wife.

Leah was the elder wife and the first. She had all her children before Rachel, the younger wife.

The Jewish dispensation had its children before the Christian dispensation. The first from the grave was the first Son of Rachel's dispensation.

This son: beloved of his father, is cast out by his brethren (by the children of the elder wife), went into Egypt (constant type of the Gentile world).

After a season of suffering and shame he was EXALTED TO BE THE HEAD OF THE KINGDOM He receive a wife from among the Gentiles, then his brethren knew him (Romans 11) The sin of the Jews, the elder brethren, is made the riches of the Gentiles for a season, until the elder brethren in need are brought to know and worship their brother and are reconciled to him.

No blot was found on his life (Gen_50:21). He was a prefect type of Christ (1Pe_2:22) who had no guile; when he was reviled, He reviled not again, when He suffered, He threatened not, but committed Himself."

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We should be concerned for Joseph (Amo_6:6; compare Lam_1:12).

New King (Exo_1:8) compare 1Co_2:8. Those in Joseph shall abide (Jos_18:5) even as Jesus said those who abide in Him shall ask what they will (Joh_15:4).

A great people (Jos_17:17; Phi_4:13). A blessed people (Jos_17:14; compare Eph_1:3) Prevailed (Jdg_1:35; compare: Rom_8:37) So the closing words of Genesis are “A coffin in Egypt.” A reminder that this is the way all human effort closes. It started with such promise in the Garden of Eden and winds up in a coffin. Genesis gives us the picture of the development or man’s life from birth to the grave in a spiritual sense. Then the books following show how man is redeemed.

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