The final chapters of Genesis (46–50) bring the story of Joseph, his family, and the early patriarchs to a close. The overarching themes of God’s providence, forgiveness, and covenant promises are beautifully tied together as Jacob’s family settles in Egypt, blessings are bestowed, and Joseph’s faithfulness shines through. These chapters highlight God’s unwavering commitment to His covenant people and the ongoing journey of the nation of Israel.
Genesis 46: Jacob’s Journey to Egypt
Genesis 46 opens with Jacob (also called Israel) preparing to leave for Egypt after learning that his son Joseph is alive and has risen to power there. Before departing, Jacob seeks God’s guidance by offering sacrifices at Beersheba. In response, God speaks to him in a vision, reassuring Jacob that it is His will for him to go to Egypt. God promises that Jacob’s descendants will become a great nation in Egypt and that He will bring them back to the land of Canaan.
Encouraged by God’s words, Jacob and his entire family—his sons, their wives, and his grandchildren—make the journey to Egypt. The Bible provides a detailed genealogical list of Jacob’s descendants, who number seventy in total. This group represents the foundation of the nation of Israel, which will grow and prosper in Egypt over the coming years.
Upon arriving in Egypt, Jacob is reunited with Joseph, and their emotional reunion after so many years apart is one of the most poignant moments in the Bible. Joseph brings his family to the region of Goshen, where they will be able to live and tend their flocks.
Genesis 47: Joseph’s Stewardship and Jacob’s Blessing of Pharaoh
In Genesis 47, Joseph introduces his family to Pharaoh. Jacob’s sons explain that they are shepherds, and Pharaoh grants them the fertile land of Goshen to settle in. This region provides an ideal environment for them to care for their livestock and grow as a community.
Meanwhile, the famine in Egypt continues to worsen, and Joseph’s leadership becomes crucial to the survival of the nation. As people run out of money to buy grain, Joseph implements a system in which the Egyptians exchange their livestock and eventually their land for food. By the end of the famine, Pharaoh owns all the land and livestock in Egypt, and Joseph has managed the resources so effectively that the nation endures the crisis.
During his time in Egypt, Jacob is brought before Pharaoh and blesses him. Jacob lives for another seventeen years in Egypt, reaching the age of 147. As his death approaches, Jacob calls for Joseph and makes him swear to bury him in Canaan, in the cave of Machpelah where Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Rebekah are buried. Joseph solemnly agrees to fulfill his father’s request.
Genesis 48: Jacob Blesses Joseph’s Sons
In Genesis 48, as Jacob nears the end of his life, he calls for Joseph and his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. Jacob adopts Joseph’s sons as his own, elevating them to the status of his direct heirs. This act ensures that both Manasseh and Ephraim will receive a portion of the inheritance and will be counted among the twelve tribes of Israel.
When Jacob blesses the boys, he crosses his hands, placing his right hand (signifying greater blessing) on Ephraim, the younger son, and his left hand on Manasseh, the elder. Joseph tries to correct his father, thinking that Jacob is making a mistake, but Jacob insists that he knows what he is doing. He declares that while Manasseh will become a great people, Ephraim will become even greater.
This blessing, like others in Genesis, reflects the recurring theme of God choosing the younger over the older, as He did with Isaac over Ishmael and Jacob over Esau. Jacob’s blessing of Ephraim and Manasseh sets the stage for their future roles in the nation of Israel.
Genesis 49: Jacob Blesses His Sons
In Genesis 49, Jacob gathers all his sons together to give them his final blessings, which are prophetic in nature and speak to the future of each tribe. His words to each son vary, reflecting their individual personalities and actions.
- Reuben, the firstborn, loses his preeminent position because of his sin in defiling his father’s bed.
- Simeon and Levi are criticized for their violence in the incident with Shechem, and their descendants will be scattered in Israel.
- Judah receives one of the most significant blessings: Jacob prophesies that the scepter will not depart from Judah, indicating that the royal line (and ultimately the Messiah) will come through him.
- Zebulun, Issachar, Dan, Gad, Asher, Naphtali, and Joseph all receive distinct blessings that speak to their future tribes’ destinies.
- Joseph, Jacob’s beloved son, is blessed abundantly as a fruitful bough, symbolizing his success and prosperity in Egypt.
- Benjamin is described as a ravenous wolf, which speaks to the warlike nature of his descendants.
After giving these blessings, Jacob reiterates his desire to be buried in Canaan and breathes his last, joining his ancestors in death.
Genesis 50: Jacob’s Burial and Joseph’s Forgiveness
Genesis 50 begins with the mourning of Jacob. Joseph weeps over his father’s death and orders the Egyptian physicians to embalm Jacob’s body. A grand funeral procession takes place, as Joseph, his brothers, and a large entourage of Egyptians travel to Canaan to bury Jacob in the cave of Machpelah.
After Jacob’s burial, Joseph’s brothers fear that he will now seek revenge for their past betrayal. They approach Joseph and plead for his forgiveness, claiming that their father left instructions for Joseph to forgive them. Joseph reassures them, declaring one of the most famous lines in Scripture: “But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive” (Genesis 50:20 KJV). Joseph’s statement highlights the central theme of God’s sovereignty and His ability to bring good out of even the most difficult situations.
Joseph forgives his brothers completely and promises to care for them and their families, showing great grace and humility. The chapter concludes with Joseph living to the age of 110, seeing his descendants grow. Before his death, Joseph makes the Israelites swear to carry his bones out of Egypt and bury them in the Promised Land, a final act of faith in God’s promise to return His people to Canaan.
Conclusion
Genesis 46 to 50 brings the Book of Genesis to a powerful conclusion, weaving together themes of forgiveness, divine providence, and the fulfillment of God’s covenant promises. Jacob’s journey to Egypt, his blessings over his sons, and his death mark the end of an era for the patriarchs. At the same time, Joseph’s rise to power, his compassionate forgiveness of his brothers, and his faith in God’s plan demonstrate the importance of trusting in God’s sovereignty, even in the midst of personal trials and betrayals.
These chapters also set the stage for the beginning of Israel’s history as a nation, preparing for the dramatic events that will unfold in the Book of Exodus. Through the lives of Jacob, Joseph, and their descendants, God’s covenant with Abraham continues to unfold, revealing His unwavering faithfulness to His people.
