Genesis 48-50

Jacob is nearing death and Joseph and his two sons are summoned. Word of Joseph's arrival strengthens Jacob to actually sit up. It probably took all he had to do it. His announcement that Ephraim and Manasseh would be equal to his own sons is confusing. Why would Jacob make such a move? Certainly the two each became fathers of "half-tribes" so the number 12 is unchanged. And Jacob switches the first born and the second born, to Joseph's displeasure. We aren't told why, except that in the blessing Jacob declares that Ephraim will be the greater of the two. Is it that Jacob still has to have some sense of control? Was he working through God?

Interesting that Jacob makes a big deal of seeing Ephraim and Manasseh in 48:11, as if he has never seen them. Could it be that Joseph never brought the boys to meet their grandfather before this time?

I hadn't really thought about it before, but Jacob tells Joseph to be sure he is buried in the tomb with Abraham and Sarah, and Isaac and Rebekah and with Leah. Rachel was buried along the road, but Jacob chooses to be buried with the "other" wife -- probably simply because his parents and grandparents were there and because of the historical significance.

Jacob's blessing of his sons begins with three bad blessings -- Reuben will no longer excel because of his sin with his step-mother in Genesis 35:22. Simeon and Levi will be scattered and dispersed because of their murderous revenging of Dinah in Genesis 34. Judah's exploits with Tamar (Genesis 38) are not mentioned by the patriarch. In fact the best blessing of all is saved for Judah. His tribe is to be the ruling tribe, in the person of the Messiah. Zebulun will be on the sea, Issachar will get good land, but will become slaves. Dan and Gad are each described as biting and striking heels. Asher will make rich food. (?!) Naphtali is set free? Joseph became strong because of God, who blesses him. He inherits all Jacob's blessings and is called the prince among his brothers. That dream of everyone bowing down to Joseph makes even more sense now. Benjamin is a wolf and a scavenger.

Then Jacob dies some time after telling Pharoah he is 130. We're not given his exact age. Joseph has his father embalmed and petitions Pharoah to allow him to take Jacob back to Canaan for burial. The Egyptians mourned for 70 days. Joseph observed a seven day mourning while near the Jordan. The burial party looked to be mostly Egyptian to the locals, calling the spot where Joseph and company stayed in mourning, "mourning of the Egyptians."

After Dad was gone, the brothers feared Joseph's retribution, but Joseph reassures them once again in 50:20, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good..." One might think that the brothers would realize their family line was safe after Jacob's blessing, but fear can make a person believe most anything.

Finally Joseph dies, after getting his brothers to swear that his bones would be buried in the promised land. Joseph was the first of the twelve brothers to die, at the age of 110. That would have to have put Reuben somewhere near 130 at that time.