²⁷ Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, ^(A)in the land of Goshen. ^(B)And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly. ²⁸ And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. ^(C)So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were 147 years.

²⁹ And ^(D)when the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If now ^(E)I have found favor in your sight, ^(F)put your hand under my thigh and ^(G)promise to deal kindly and truly with me. ^(H)Do not bury me in Egypt, ³⁰ but let me lie with my fathers. Carry me out of Egypt and ^(I)bury me in their burying place.” He answered, “I will do as you have said.” ³¹ And he said, “Swear to me”; and he swore to him. Then ^(J)Israel bowed himself upon the head of his bed.^[a]

¹⁴ After he had buried his father, Joseph returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone up with him to bury his father.

God's Good Purposes

¹⁵ When Joseph's brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us and pay us back for all the evil that we did to him.” ¹⁶ So they sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father gave this command before he died: ¹⁷ ‘Say to Joseph, “Please forgive the transgression of your brothers and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ And now, please forgive the transgression of the servants of ^(A)the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him. ¹⁸ His brothers also came and ^(B)fell down before him and said, “Behold, we are your servants.” ¹⁹ But Joseph said to them, “Do not fear, for ^(C)am I in the place of God? ²⁰ As for you, you meant evil against me, but ^(D)God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people^[a] should be kept alive, as they are today. ²¹ So do not fear; ^(E)I will provide for you and your little ones.” Thus he comforted them and spoke kindly to them.