50 Joseph threw himself on his father’s body. He sobbed over him and kissed him.

2Then Joseph talked to the doctors who served him. He told them to prepare the body of his father Israel to be buried. So the doctors prepared it. 3They took 40 days to do it. They needed that much time to prepare a body in the right way. The Egyptians sobbed over Jacob for 70 days.

4After the days of sorrow had passed, Joseph went to Pharaoh’s officials. He said to them, “If you are pleased with me, speak to Pharaoh for me. Tell him, 5‘My father made me take an oath and make a promise to him. He said, “I’m about to die. Bury me in the tomb I dug for myself in the land of Canaan.” So let me go up and bury my father. Then I’ll come back.’ ”

6Pharaoh said, “Go up and bury your father. Do what he made you promise to do.”

7So Joseph went up to bury his father. All of Pharaoh’s officials went with him. They were the important people of his court and all of the leaders of Egypt.

8All of Joseph’s family also went. His brothers and all of the rest of his father’s family went too. Only their children and their flocks and herds were left in Goshen.

9Chariots and horsemen also went up with him. It was a very large group.

10They came to the threshing floor of Atad. It was near the Jordan River. There they sobbed loudly and bitterly. Joseph set apart seven days of sadness to honor his father’s memory.

11The people of Canaan who were living there saw how sad all of them were at the threshing floor of Atad. They said, “The Egyptians are having a very special service for the dead.” That’s why that place near the Jordan River is called Abel of the Egyptians.

12So Jacob’s sons did exactly as he had commanded them. 13They carried his body to the land of Canaan. They buried it in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre. Abraham had bought the cave as a place where he could bury his wife’s body. He had bought it from Ephron the Hittite, along with the field.

14After Joseph buried his father, he went back to Egypt. His brothers and all of the others who had gone to help him bury his father went back with him.

Joseph Sets His Brothers Free From Their Fears

15Now that their father was dead, Joseph’s brothers were worried. They said, “Remember all of the bad things we did to Joseph? What if he decides to hold those things against us? What if he pays us back for them?”

16So they sent a message to Joseph. They said, “Your father gave us directions before he died. 17He said, ‘Here’s what you must say to Joseph. Tell him, “I’m asking you to forgive your brothers. Forgive the terrible things they did to you. Forgive them for treating you so badly.” ’ Now then, please forgive our sins. We serve the God of your father.”

When their message came to Joseph, he sobbed.

18Then his brothers came and threw themselves down in front of him. “We are your slaves,” they said.

19But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Do you think I’m God? 20You planned to harm me. But God planned it for good. He planned to do what is now being done. He wanted to save many lives.

21“So then, don’t be afraid. I’ll provide for you and your children.” He set them free from their fears. And he spoke in a kind way to them.

Joseph Dies

22Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all of his father’s family. He lived 110 years. 23He lived long enough to see Ephraim’s children and grandchildren. When the children of Makir were born, they were placed on Joseph’s knees and counted as his own children. Makir was the son of Manasseh.

24Joseph said to his brothers, “I’m about to die. But I’m sure that God will come to help you. He’ll take you up out of this land. He’ll bring you to the land he promised with an oath to give to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”

25Joseph made the sons of Israel take an oath and make a promise to him. He said, “I’m sure that God will come to help you. Then you must carry my bones up from this place.”

26So Joseph died at the age of 110. They prepared his body to be buried. Then he was placed in a casket in Egypt.