The Death of Joseph

Joseph remained in Egypt along with his father’s household, living to the age of one hundred and ten years (Genesis 50:22). During this time, Joseph saw Ephraim’s children to the third generation. The text also notes that the children of Machir, the son of Manasseh, were brought up on Joseph’s knees (Genesis 50:23). As he approached death, Joseph spoke to his brothers, stating that he was dying but that God would surely visit them and bring them out of the land of Egypt into the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Joseph required the children of Israel to swear an oath regarding his remains. He told them that when God visited them, they were to carry his bones up from the location where they were currently residing (Genesis 50:25). The text does not say which specific brothers were present for this oath, nor does it record their verbal response to his request. The instructions were centered solely on the eventual departure from Egypt to the land of promise.

Following these instructions, Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten. The text states that he was embalmed and placed in a coffin in Egypt (Genesis 50:26). The text does not say who performed the embalming or provide details regarding the specific location of the coffin within the land. This event concluded his life and established the condition for his eventual burial elsewhere as specified in the oath taken by his kin.