Mourning and Burial for Jacob

1Then Joseph (YHWH has added) fell upon his father’s face, wept over him, and kissed him.

2And Joseph (YHWH has added) directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel (he wrestles with God). So they embalmed him, 3taking the forty days required to complete the embalming. And the Egyptians (double straits) mourned for him seventy days.

4When the days of mourning had passed, Joseph (YHWH has added) said to Pharaoh’s (great house) court, “If I have found favor in your⁺ eyes, please tell Pharaoh that 5my father made me swear an oath when he said, ‘I am about to die. You must bury me in the tomb that I dug for myself in the land of Canaan (lowland).’ Now let me go and bury my father, and then return.”

6Pharaoh (great house) replied, “Go up and bury your father, as he made you swear to do.”

7Then Joseph (YHWH has added) went to bury his father, and all the servants of Pharaoh (great house) accompanied him—the elders of Pharaoh’s household and all the elders of the land of Egypt (land of bondage)— 8along with all of Joseph’s (YHWH has added) household, and his brothers, and his father’s household. Only their children and flocks and herds were left in Goshen (drawing near).

9Chariots and horsemen alike went up with him, and it was an exceedingly large procession. 10When they reached the threshing floor of Atad, which is across the Jordan (flowing down), they lamented and wailed loudly, and Joseph mourned for his father seven days.

11When the Canaanites (merchants) of the land saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, “This is a solemn ceremony of mourning by the Egyptians (land of bondage).” Thus the place across the Jordan (flowing down) is called Abel-mizraim (mourning of the Egyptians).a

12So Jacob’s sons did as he had charged them. 13They carried him to the land of Canaan (lowland) and buried him in the cave at Machpelah (double) in the field near Mamre (strength / fatness), which Abraham (father of many) had purchased from Ephron (fawn-like) the Hittite as a burial site.

14After Joseph (YHWH has added) had buried his father, he returned to Egypt (land of bondage) with his brothers and all who had gone with him to bury his father.

Joseph Comforts His Brothers

15When Joseph’s (YHWH has added) brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph bears a grudge? Then he will surely repay us for all the evil that we did to him.”

16So they sent word to Joseph (YHWH has added), saying, “Before he died, your father commanded, 17‘This is what you⁺ are to say to Joseph (YHWH has added): I beg you, please forgive the transgression and sin of your brothers, for they did you wrong.’ So now, Joseph, please forgive the transgression of the servants of the God {Elohe} of your father.”

When their message came to him, Joseph wept. 18His brothers also came to him, bowed down before him, and said, “We are your slaves!”

19But Joseph (YHWH has added) replied, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God {Elohim}? 20As for you⁺, what you⁺ intended against me for evil, God {Elohim} intended for good, in order to accomplish a day like this—to preserve the lives of many people. 21Therefore do not be afraid. I will provide for you⁺ and your⁺ little ones.” So Joseph reassured his brothers and spoke kindly to them.

The Death of Joseph

22Now Joseph (YHWH has added) and his father’s household remained in Egypt (land of bondage), and Joseph lived to the age of 110. 23He (YHWH has added) saw Ephraim’s (doubly fruitful) sons to the third generation, and indeed the sons of Machir (sold) son of Manasseh (causing to forget) were brought up (were born)b on Joseph’s knees.

24Then Joseph (YHWH has added) said to his brothers, “I am about to die, but God {Elohim} will surely visit you⁺ and bring you⁺ up from this land to the land He promised on oath to Abraham (father of many), Isaac (he laughs), and Jacob (he grasps the heel).” 25And Joseph (YHWH has added) made the sons of Israel (he wrestles with God) take an oath and said, “God {Elohim} will surely attend to you⁺, and then you⁺ must carry my bones up from this place.”

26So Joseph (YHWH has added) died at the age of 110. And they embalmed his body and placed it in a coffin in Egypt (land of bondage).