Study Desk

As I was returning from Paddan, to my sorrow Rachel died in the land of Canaan while we were still on the way, a little distance from Ephrath. So I buried her there beside the road to Ephrath" (that is, Bethlehem).

"They are the sons God has given me here," Joseph said to his father. Then Israel said, "Bring them to me so I may bless them."

Now Israel's eyes were failing because of old age, and he could hardly see. So Joseph brought his sons close to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them.

When Joseph saw his father placing his right hand on Ephraim's head he was displeased; so he took hold of his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head.

He blessed them that day and said, "In your name will Israel pronounce this blessing: ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.'" So he put Ephraim ahead of Manasseh.

Then Jacob called for his sons and said: "Gather around so I can tell you what will happen to you in days to come.

Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel.

Dan will be a snake by the roadside, a viper along the path, that bites the horse's heels so that its rider tumbles backward.

Then Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So the physicians embalmed him,

So Joseph went up to bury his father. All Pharaoh's officials accompanied him—the dignitaries of his court and all the dignitaries of Egypt—

So Jacob's sons did as he had commanded them:

So they sent word to Joseph, saying, "Your father left these instructions before he died:

‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.' Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father." When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.

but the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them.

So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.

But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites

So God was kind to the midwives and the people increased and became even more numerous.

"Yes, go," she answered. So the girl went and got the baby's mother.