Genesis 50:1-14

Contemporary English Version

50 ¹ Joseph started crying, then leaned over to hug and kiss his father.

² Joseph gave orders for Jacob's body to be embalmed, ³ and it took the usual 40 days.

The Egyptians mourned 70 days for Jacob. ⁴ When the time of mourning was over, Joseph said to the Egyptian leaders, “If you consider me your friend, please speak to the king^[a] for me. ^5 (A) Just before my father died, he made me promise to bury him in his burial cave in Canaan. If the king will give me permission to go, I will come back here.”

⁶ The king answered, “Go to Canaan and keep your promise to your father.”

^7-9 When Joseph left Goshen with his brothers, his relatives, and his father's relatives to bury Jacob, many of the king's highest officials and even his military chariots and cavalry went along. The Israelites left behind only their children, their cattle, and their sheep and goats.

¹⁰ After crossing the Jordan River, Joseph stopped at Atad's threshing place, where they all mourned and wept seven days for Jacob. ¹¹ The Canaanites saw this and said, “The Egyptians are in great sorrow.” Then they named the place “Egypt in Sorrow.”^[b]

¹² So Jacob's sons did just as their father had instructed. ^13 (B) They took him to Mamre in Canaan and buried him in Machpelah Cave, the burial place Abraham had bought from Ephron the Hittite.

¹⁴ After the funeral, Joseph, his brothers, and everyone else returned to Egypt.