Study Desk

Joseph saw that his father put his right hand on Ephraim's head. This didn't make Joseph happy. Joseph took his father's hand because he wanted to move it from Ephraim's head and put it on Manasseh's head.

Joseph said to his father, "You have your right hand on the wrong boy. Manasseh is the firstborn. Put your right hand on him."

But his father refused and said, "I know, son. I know. Manasseh is the firstborn. He will be great and will be the father of many people. But his younger brother will be greater than he is. And the younger brother's family will be much larger."

Then Jacob called all his sons to him. He said, "My sons, come here to me. I will tell you what will happen in the future.

But your passion was like a flood you couldn't control. So you will not remain my most honored son. You climbed into your father's bed and slept with one of his wives. You brought shame to my bed, to the bed you lay on.

Men from Judah's family will be kings. The sign that his family rules will not leave his family before the real king comes. Then many people will obey and serve him.

He ties his donkeys to the best grapevines. He washes his clothes in the best wine.

His eyes are red from drinking wine. His teeth are white from drinking milk.

"Zebulun will live near the sea. His seacoast will be a safe place for ships. His land will continue as far as the city of Sidon.

"Issachar is like a donkey that has worked too hard. He will lie down under his heavy load.

He will see his land is pleasant and that his resting place is good. But he will agree to carry heavy loads; he will agree to work as a slave.

"Dan will rule his people as one of the tribes of Israel.

"Naphtali is like a deer running free, and his words are beautiful.

People attacked him and made life hard for him. Men with arrows became his enemies.

But he won the fight with his mighty bow and his skillful arms. He gets power from the Mighty One of Jacob, from the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel,

Abraham and his wife Sarah are buried in that cave. Isaac and his wife Rebekah are buried in that cave. I buried my wife Leah in that cave.

After Jacob finished talking to his sons, he lay down, put his feet back on the bed, and died.

When Israel died, Joseph was very sad. He hugged his father and cried over him and kissed him.

Joseph commanded his servants to prepare his father's body. (These servants were doctors.) The doctors prepared Jacob's body to be buried. They prepared the body in the special way of the Egyptians.

So Joseph went to bury his father. All of Pharaoh's officials, personal advisors, and all the older leaders of Egypt went with Joseph.