Study Desk

And Joseph said to his father, "Not so, my father; because this one is the firstborn. Put your right hand upon his head."

But his father refused and said, "I know, my son; I know. He also shall become a people, and he also shall be great, but his younger brother shall be greater than him, and his offspring shall become a multitude of nations."

Then Jacob called his sons and said, "Gather together so that I can tell you what will happen with you in days to come.

The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff between his feet, until Shiloh comes. And to him shall be the obedience of nations.

Binding his donkey to the vine and his donkey's colt to the choice vine, he washes his clothing in the wine and his garment in the blood of grapes.

Zebulun shall settle by the shore of the sea. He shall become a haven for ships, and his border shall be at Sidon.

He saw a resting place that was good, and land that was pleasant. So he bowed his shoulder to the burden and became a servant of forced labor.

Dan shall judge his people as one of the tribes of Israel.

Joseph is the bough of a fruitful vine, a fruitful bough by a spring. His branches climb over the wall.

But his bow remained in a steady position; his arms were made agile by the hands of the Mighty One of Jacob. From there is the Shepherd, the Rock of Israel.

The blessings of your father are superior to the blessings of my ancestors, to the bounty of the everlasting hills. May they be on the head of Joseph, and on the forehead of the prince of his brothers.

There they buried Abraham and Sarah his wife. There they buried Isaac and Rebekah his wife. And there I buried Leah—

When Jacob finished instructing his sons he drew his feet up to the bed. Then he took his last breath and was gathered to his people.

Then Joseph fell on the face of his father and wept upon him and kissed him.

And Joseph instructed his servants the physicians to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Israel.

When the days of his weeping had passed, Joseph spoke to the household of Pharaoh, saying, "If I have found favor in your eyes, please speak in the hearing of Pharaoh, saying,

So Joseph went up to bury his father. And all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household, and all the elders of the land of Egypt, went up with him,

with all the household of Joseph, his brothers, and the household of his father. They left only their little children and their flocks and their herds in the land of Goshen.

When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which was beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and sorrowful wailing. And he made a mourning ceremony for his father seven days.

Thus his sons did to him just as he had instructed them.