Study Desk

Joseph said to his father, "They are the sons God has given me in this place." His father said, "Bring them to me so I may bless them."

Now Israel's eyes were failing because of his age; he was not able to see well. So Joseph brought his sons near to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them.

So Joseph moved them from Israel's knees and bowed down with his face to the ground.

When Joseph saw that his father placed his right hand on Ephraim's head, it displeased him. So he took his father's hand to move it from Ephraim's head to Manasseh's head.

Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father, for this is the firstborn. Put your right hand on his head."

So he blessed them that day, saying, "By you will Israel bless, saying, ‘May God make you like Ephraim and Manasseh.'" So he put Ephraim before Manasseh.

Jacob called for his sons and said, "Gather together so I can tell you what will happen to you in the future.

May Dan be a snake beside the road, a viper by the path, that bites the heels of the horse so that its rider falls backward.

Joseph instructed the physicians in his service to embalm his father, so the physicians embalmed Israel.

So Pharaoh said, "Go and bury your father, just as he made you swear to do."

So Joseph went up to bury his father; all Pharaoh's officials went with him—the senior courtiers of his household, all the senior officials of the land of Egypt,

Chariots and horsemen also went up with him, so it was a very large entourage.

So the sons of Jacob did for him just as he had instructed them.

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

‘Tell Joseph this: Please forgive the sin of your brothers and the wrong they did when they treated you so badly.' Now please forgive the sin of the servants of the God of your father." When this message was reported to him, Joseph wept.

As for you, you meant to harm me, but God intended it for a good purpose, so he could preserve the lives of many people, as you can see this day.

So now, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your little children." Then he consoled them and spoke kindly to them.

So Joseph died at the age of 110. After they embalmed him, his body was placed in a coffin in Egypt.

The Israelites, however, were fruitful, increased greatly, multiplied, and became extremely strong, so that the land was filled with them.

So they put foremen over the Israelites to oppress them with hard labor. As a result they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh.