Forgiven and Comforted

Joseph wept over his father and had him embalmed. The Egyptians mourned for Jacob seventy days. Pharaoh let Joseph go to bury his father, and a great company went with him: Pharaoh's officials, Joseph's household, his brothers, chariots and horsemen. They mourned seven days and buried Jacob in the cave of Machpelah.

When the brothers saw their father was dead, they worried that Joseph would hate them and pay them back. They sent a message asking for forgiveness and bowed before him: We are your servants. Joseph wept. He said, Don't be afraid, for am I in the place of God? As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to save many people alive, as is happening today. He promised to care for them and their little ones. He comforted them and spoke kindly to them.

Joseph lived 110 years and saw his great-grandchildren. Before he died he said, God will surely visit you, and bring you up out of this land to the land which he swore to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob. He made the sons of Israel promise to carry his bones from Egypt. Joseph died and was placed in a coffin in Egypt.