Genesis 47-50
Day 29: Genesis 47-50 Notes & Takeaways
CHAPTER 47
Joseph came to Pharaoh to request a specific part of the land of Egypt for them to settle in. The Pharaoh allowed them to “settle in the best part of the land. Let them live in Goshen,” he said in Gen 47:6, just as Joseph had requested. We can see here that the favor of the LORD was still on Joseph. It never left him. The Lord had orchestrated his plan in the life of Joseph. Every single part of his life was working towards this ultimate plan: for his family to settle in the best part of Egypt, safe, and in comfort so that they could multiply, just as the Lord had promised Jacob (Gen 46:3-4).
We also see that Jacob blesses Pharaoh, this was a huge feat because in Egypt Pharaoh was known as a god. He was thought to be the physical representation of their god, Ra. So for him to allow Jacob to bless him was a significant moment in history.
As time passed the famine became greater, people used their money to pay for grain that Joseph had stored. When their money ran out, Joseph took livestock in exchange for grain (Gen 47:16). When their livestock was gone, Joseph took land in exchange for grain. We must note here that the NIV translation states in Gen 47:21, “and Joseph reduced the people to servitude, from one end of Egypt to the other.” However this translation may leave us thinking he is the one who enslaved the people. But, the Pentateuch and Septuagint, along with other translations, such as NASB, KJV, and the NKJV better reflects what Joseph did, “And as for the people, he moved them into the cities, from one end of the borders of Egypt to the other end” (NKJV).
Not that the people were transported from one side of the country to the other as a high stroke of policy to complete their subjugation… but that throughout the land they were moved into the nearest cities, as a considerate and even merciful arrangement for the more efficiently supplying them with food. (Pulpit Commentary)
Joseph's object in this measure was most merciful. As the corn was stored up in the cities, the people would be sure of nourishment only if they were in the immediate neighbourhood of the food. As a consequence, possibly, of Joseph's policy, the number of cities in the Valley of the Nile became so enormous that Herodotus computes them at 20,000. (Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers)
Jacob lived in Egypt 17 years and lived to be 147 years old. We see at the end of chapter 47, the ancient custom of a hand under the thigh once again play a role in the book of Genesis. We first saw this in Genesis 24. The oath was an ancient custom that is similar to swearing with our hand on the Bible or a right hand raised in our modern times.
“The thigh was considered the source of posterity in the ancient world. Or, more properly, the “loins” or the testicles. The phrase “under the thigh” could be a euphemism for “on the loins.” There are two reasons why someone would take an oath in this manner: 1) Abraham had been promised a “seed” by God, and this covenantal blessing was passed on to his son and grandson… 2) Abraham had received circumcision as the sign of the covenant (Genesis 17:10). Our custom is to swear on a Bible; the Hebrew custom was to swear on circumcision, the mark of God’s covenant. The idea of swearing on one’s loins is found in other cultures, as well. The English word testify is directly related to the word testicles.
Jewish tradition also offers a different interpretation. According to Rabbi Ibn Ezra, the phrase “under the thigh” means literally that. For someone to allow his hand to be sat on was a sign of submission to authority. If this is the symbolism, then Joseph was showing his obedience to his father by placing his hand under Jacob’s thigh [in Gen 24].” (GotQuestions.org)
Commentator Adam Clarke stated in The Holy Bible, Containing the Old and New Testaments, with A Commentary and Critical Notes,
“The person binding himself put his hand under the thigh of the person to whom he was to be bound; i.e., he put his hand on the part that bore the mark of circumcision, the sign of God’s covenant… Our ideas of delicacy may revolt from the rite used on this occasion; but, when the nature of the covenant is considered, of which circumcision was the sign, we shall at once perceive that this rite could not be used without producing sentiments of reverence and godly fear, as the contracting party must know that the God of this covenant was a consuming fire.”
With this consuming fire oath, Jacob asks Joseph to swear that he would bury him in the land where his fathers were buried, not in Egypt. We see that Joseph is faithful to his promise in Gen 50. He buries him in the cave in the field of Macpelah, where Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Rebekah were buried before as well. This was the cave in the land that Abraham had purchased from Ephron the Hittite in Gen 23:16-20.
CHAPTER 48
Jacob knows his time has come and he calls for Joseph. he tells him that God Almighty appeared to him at Luz, which is another name for Bethel. We remember these instances where God spoke to Joseph (Genesis 28:19, 35:6). He repeats God’s promise to Joseph and then calls Manasseh and Ephraim his own. He claims them as his as though they were born to him like his first and second-born children Reuben and Simeon. Perhaps this was a replacement of sons in the blessing of the Lord as Reuben and Simeon had committed a great sin in Genesis 34:25 when they slaughtered the males of Shechem.
Jacob then blesses Joseph’s children before he passes away. Although the firstborn was placed on his right side and Ephraim was placed on his left, Jacob crosses his arms to put his right hand (which signifies the birthright) on the youngest on his left, and his left hand on the oldest, on his right. Joseph tries to correct his father, “whose eyes were failing because of old age,”(Gen 48:10) but Jacob had done it on purpose. This was not a normal custom, but God had a planned for it all. Unlike Isaac trying to bless the oldest even after God had chosen the youngest (Genesis 27), Jacob would heed exactly what he felt the Lord was leading him to do. Ephraim was not the firstborn, but God chose him to take the position anyway.
“For I am a Father to Israel, and Ephraim is My firstborn” (Jeremiah 31:9).
Once Joseph’s children are blessed, he gives Joseph the the land taken from the Amorites, the inhabitants of the land of Canaan, which he fought with sword and bow with. We do not see anything of this battle in scripture, besides this, but we do know that 400 years later, Jacob’s descendants would take this land back for themselves.
CHAPTER 49
Jacob gathers his sons and blesses them individually. Although, some of the blessings were more like prophecies in nature.
Reuben, the firstborn, lost any blessing he could have had as a birthright when he slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah (the mother of his brothers Dan and Naphtali), which is recorded in Genesis 35:22.
Simeon and Levi did not receive a blessing, but instead a curse for their anger. They allowed their anger to take them over after the rape of their sister Dinah (Genesis 34:25-29). Their anger caused them to slaughter the men in Shechem. We must be wary of anger, see Ephesians 4: 26-31.
See note on #2
Judah was not always the best example of a godly life, but there was a true heart change and we see the change in his character as well when he interceded and offered himself as a substitute for Benjamin (Genesis 44:18-34). He redeems himself and shows us God’s grace to the sinner. Even when we are not worthy of his grace, God gives it to us. Judah takes the leadership position after the first 3 sons lose it. He goes from being a lion cub (Gen 49:9) to being a true lion and patriarch of his family. From him, and his descendants, the Messiah would be born. And, in Revelation 5:5, Jesus is called the Lion of the tribe of Judah.
“The leadership prophecy took some 640 years to fulfill in part with the reign of David, first of Judah’s dynasty of kings. The prophecy took some 1600 years to completely fulfill in Jesus. Jesus is referred to as Shiloh, the name meaning, He whose right it is or to Whom it belongs and a title anciently understood to speak of the Messiah.” (Enduring Word Commentary)
Zebulun’s tribe settles on the piece of land sitting between the Mediterranean Sea and the Sea of Galilee and looks out into the sea. This tribe helps David later on with 50,000 men in 1 Chronicles 12:33.
Issachar’s descendants would have a great land but become slaves. “The meaning seems to be that Issachar was strong, but docile and lazy. He would enjoy the good land assigned him but would not strive for it. Therefore, eventually he would be pressed into servitude and the mere bearing of burdens for his masters.” (Leupold, H.C. Exposition of Genesis, Volumes 1 and 2)
“Dan will provide justice for his people,” Jacob says. And, he will. For from him come a line of judges, Samson being one of the most known (Judges 13:2). But, from his tribe, idolatry will also come to Israel (Amos 8)
Gad will be oppressed by foreign armies in the days of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 49:1) but will be victorious at the end.
Asher’s land wouldn’t just be comfortable, it would later bring royal luxuries as well.
Naphtali would later be the region where much of Jesus’ ministry would take place. Therefore “beautiful words” is a perfect prophecy for him.
Joseph is compared to a fruitful vine near a spring, which reminds us of Jeremiah 17:8, “They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.” It showcases his overflowing relationship with the LORD. Although he had to deal with brothers who had bitterness, hostility, and animosity, he remained steady. God continued to pour blessings upon blessings on him.
Benjamin’s tribe was known for being fierce, see Ehud Judges 3:15-23 and for their cruelty. See Judges 19 and 20 to see how their tribe is cut off from Israel for a while, until they were eventually restored and reunited later.
CHAPTER 50
When Jacob dies all of Egypt mourns him for 70 days. This was a high honor for a very beloved, honored man as the royal mourning period is 72 days. He is embalmed (which takes 40 days). Then, Joseph and his brothers, along with the Pharaoh’s officials, and those belonging to his father’s household go to Canaan to bury him in the cave of Machpelah as he had sworn Joseph to do. This was a truly honorable burial. No other funeral was like this in all of scripture in terms of wealth or honor.
After the death of their father, Joseph’s brothers were afraid that Joseph would hold a grudge against them, so they sent a message asking for forgiveness. Joseph weeps and the brothers confirm the dream he had at mere 17 years of age by bowing down to him once again. Joseph, as a man of great honor, forgives them and tells them not to be afraid, because the harm they intended, God had used for good to save lives. He lived to be 110 and got to see and hold his great, great grandchildren.
Joseph lived a life of great faith (Hebrews 11:22) for he even asked that his bones be carried from this place. He had faith in God’s promise. He knew Egypt was not where his descendants would end up and he trusted God in that. Even in his death, he had trust and faith in the Lord. Although he was placed in a coffin in Egypt, his bones would later make it to Canaan by way of Moses 400 years later (Exodus 13:19).
Tomorrow we will begin a new book: Exodus. We will begin with chapters 1-3. I hope you’re learning a lot and enjoying it all at the same time. I know I am! Make sure to follow RF on Instagram, and join our FB Group to stay up to date for our next weekly zoom sessions!
