Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

(A song by David for worship.)

Thanking the Lord for Victory

Jacob's Death

^29-31 (A) Jacob told his sons:

Soon I will die, and I want you to bury me in Machpelah Cave. Abraham bought this cave as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite, and it is near the town of Mamre in Canaan. Abraham and Sarah are buried there, and so are Isaac and Rebekah. I buried Leah there too. ³² Both the cave and the land that goes with it were bought from the Hittites.

^33 (B) When Jacob had finished giving these instructions to his sons, he lay down on his bed and died. 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 (C) 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 (D) 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.

¹² We won't dare compare ourselves with those who think so much of themselves. But they are foolish to compare themselves with themselves. ¹³ We won't brag about something we don't have a right to brag about. We will only brag about the work God has sent us to do, and you are part of that work. ¹⁴ We are not bragging more than we should. After all, we did bring the message about Christ to you.

¹⁵ We don't brag about what others have done, as if we had done those things ourselves. But I hope as you become stronger in your faith, we will be able to reach many more of the people around you.^[a] That has always been our goal. ¹⁶ Then we will be able to preach the good news in other lands where we cannot take credit for work someone else has already done. ^17 (A) The Scriptures say, “If you want to brag, then brag about the Lord.” ¹⁸ You may brag about yourself, but the only approval that counts is the Lord's approval.