[And He Walks With Me] Genesis 50
1-11 Even the Egyptians mourned for [Jacob] seventy days. Live in such a way that even perfect strangers mourn when you are gone!
1-21 Even though they had long ago reconciled (see note on vss 22-23), Joseph’s brothers were afraid that he harbored a grudge. Satan will often remind us of things long forgiven in an effort to regain leverage over us. He will suggest that the forgiveness we have received is not legitimate because our sin was too great, and the person we hurt will certainly repay us for all the suffering we caused. Here, however, we see the power of authentic forgiveness as Joseph reassured his brothers and promised to continue to provide for them. Be assured that authentic forgiveness is possible.
Notice that Joseph does not deny or minimize the pain his brothers caused. Instead, he steps out of the way of God’s justice (Am I in the place of God?), recognizes the good that God brought out of their sin (You planned evil against me; God planned it for good to bring about the present result – the survival of many people), and promised to take care of you and your children. Then, to drive home the point, he comforted them and spoke kindly to them. This stands in stark contrast to the world’s concept of “forgiveness,” which often includes some sort of reprisal or price to pay. Ultimately, this is what forgiveness is: refusing to allow past sins to keep us from doing what is good and right toward the person who hurt us.
2 The Egyptian practice of embalming preserved a body after death in order to preserve personal identity in the afterlife.[135] Egyptians believed the spirit would return to the body in the afterlife. Therefore, to preserve the body, mortuary priests (probably the physicians mentioned here) removed the internal organs and used natron (a natural sodium carbonate) to dehydrate the body. Individual organs were also preserved in this way. Then the body was washed with wine, anointed with various oils and gum resins, wrapped in linen, adorned with protective amulets, and bathed in resin. This is the only time in Scripture that this process was performed on an Israelite.[136]
4 The fact that Joseph did not go personally to Pharaoh should not be misconstrued to indicate there was a rift between them. In many ancient cultures, it was forbidden to be sad in the presence of the king (e.g., Nehemiah 2:1).
9 Notice the contrast between here and the next time Egyptian chariots appear, in Exodus 14:9; 15:19. Here, they comprise an honor guard to escort and protect the Israelites. There, they are pursuing Israel to reclaim the nation as slaves.
16 If Jacob actually gave a command, it is not recorded in the Bible.
22-23 The fact that Joseph lived 110 years is significant for two reasons. First, even though the typical life expectancy of an Egyptian was between 40 and 50 years, this was considered by Egyptians to be the ideal lifespan.[137] Second, it means that Joseph lived more than 70 years after the famine that reunited and reconciled him with his father and brothers. He saw Ephraim’s sons to the third generation means that he saw his great grandchildren.
the sons of Manasseh’s son Machir were recognized by Joseph (CSB) is translated in a variety of ways. The CSB indicates that Joseph retained his cognitive abilities even in his old age. The NRSV, NIV, and KJV indicate that Manasseh’s grandkids were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees (NIV). This is the literal translation and suggests Joseph retained physical strength and stamina as well as a role in rearing the kids. The ESV takes it a step further and renders the phrase were counted as Joseph’s own, interpreting the role in rearing the kids to suggest that Joseph actually adopted Machir’s children as his own, much as Jacob adopted Ephraim and Manasseh as his own in Genesis 48:5.
24 Joseph did not see the fulfillment of God’s promise, but even on his deathbed, he looked forward with faithful certainty to the day it would be realized. Just because God’s promises are not fulfilled today or in our generation does not mean they will never be fulfilled. Instead, we should embrace the notion that God’s promises are not fulfilled yet.
25 The promise to carry Joseph’s bones to the Promised Land was fulfilled in Exodus 13:19, and they were eventually buried at Shechem in Joshua 24:32.
26 Again, the Egyptians embalmed [Joseph] and placed him in a coffin in Egypt. This was a high honor not typically bestowed upon foreigners. Yet, Joseph lived in such a way that everyone respected him, and if they mourned for Jacob, they surely mourned also for Joseph. Live in such a way that everyone respects you!
[135] Sproul 2016, Genesis 50:2
[136] Keener and Walton 2016, Genesis 50:2
[137] Keener and Walton 2016, Genesis 50:22