12 So Jacob’s sons did as he had commanded them:(A) 13 They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah,(B) near Mamre,(C) which Abraham had bought along with the field(D) as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite.(E) 14 After burying his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, together with his brothers and all the others who had gone with him to bury his father.(F)

Joseph Reassures His Brothers

15 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge(G) against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?”(H) 16 So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions(I) before he died: 17 ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins(J) and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’(K) Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.(L)” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.(M)

18 His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him.(N) “We are your slaves,”(O) they said.

19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God?(P) 20 You intended to harm me,(Q) but God intended(R) it for good(S) to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.(T) 21 So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.(U)” And he reassured them and spoke kindly(V) to them.

The Death of Joseph

22 Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years(W) 23 and saw the third generation(X) of Ephraim’s(Y) children.(Z) Also the children of Makir(AA) son of Manasseh(AB) were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees.[a](AC)

24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die.(AD) But God will surely come to your aid(AE) and take you up out of this land to the land(AF) he promised on oath to Abraham,(AG) Isaac(AH) and Jacob.”(AI) 25 And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath(AJ) and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones(AK) up from this place.”(AL)

26 So Joseph died(AM) at the age of a hundred and ten.(AN) And after they embalmed him,(AO) he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 50:23 That is, were counted as his

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