A sceptical reading of the Bible – Genesis. 48-49-50

Chapter 48

Joseph is summoned again to see his dying father, Israel, who gives Joseph a summary of his life and the prophecies made by God concerning the way his sons would rule nations. Israel is delighted thatthis is visibly coming to pass.

Israel now meets Josephs’ own children, Ephram and Menasheh, and blesses each in turn. When Israel treats Ephram as an equal to the first-born Menasheh, Joseph tries to correct him assuming his father is in error, but Israel has an agenda. He prophesises that while both boys will lead great nations, it is the younger boy who will father the greater state.

On the brink of death, Israel has one last surprise for Joseph. He took a mountain kingdom from the Amorites by force, and rather than share it with all the brothers, he has saved it for Joseph alone.

Here is an odd scene, as we are not told when this conquest happened. By the time Israel is told Joseph lives and prospers he is too old for such military leadership, so did he capture the mountain in his younger days? If so, why keep it from everyone? Did he know all along that Joseph lived? If so he gave no indication of it, and behaved as if ignorant all along.

Chapter 49

Israel gathers his sons to tell them of their futures after his own pending death.

It is clear that he talks not just of the immediate fate of his sons, but cryptically of their nations (each named after them) too. This is a move from straight narrative to complex poetic literature of some strength, and mystique.

Reuben has taken lovers in his father’s bed, so he gains no prominent role.

Simeon & Levi are violent men who must not be trusted with peaceful negotiations given their killer instincts and tendency to butcher an enemy’s cattle.

Judah fares better, and his brothers are to respect him, as best able to crush their enemies. But he will go red eyed with his addiction to wine.

Zebulon will become a peaceful harbourmaster of a city on the coast.

Isachar shall lower his guard and become enslaved.

Dan will be a judge, and a viper, setting his people back and causing failure (compared to making them fall from their horses). The phrase ‘A snake in the grass may derive from these lines).

Gad will be tied up in raid and counter raid with surrounding kingdoms.

Asher’s people will eat well

Naphali will face a population explosion, suggesting great promiscuity.

Not surprisingly Joseph fares best of all, with a promise of being a tree of many branches, growing over the borders of his own lands. Israel praises the strengths Joseph gas shown so far in life.

Given his doting on him to date, Israel is quite bitter about the fate of Benjamin, calling him a ravenous wolf, and .killing by day and sharing the spoils with his allies at night. – a political warrior, cruel and ruthless.

I can imagine the brothers hearing this roll call, wondering if their fate is to be spelt out as harshly or kindly as the ones before it. They are after all, except Joseph, attempted murderers and willing to enslave a brother. Their mixed fortunes will largely be played out in future scriptures.

Israel requests burial beside Abraham, Isaac, and Rebecca. Bizarrely, the narrator, author of the chapter, if not of Genesis itself, claims to have personally buried Leah there too. Verse 31 “and there I buried Leah –“

Some theologians claim the whole Pentateuch (first five books of the Bible) was penned by Moses though most scholars realize this is impossible. It’s highly unlikely that the unborn as yet Moses could have buried Leah anywhere.

His requests and speech to his sons completed, Israel, who was Jacob, dies.

Chapter 50

The last chapter of Genesis. Joseph has Israel embalmed, which takes 40 days. The Egyptians mourn his passing for 70 days. The Egyptians now accompany Joseph and his brothers in taking Israel to the burial cave at Hesh, where Joseph leads a further seven days of intense mourning.

Joseph’s brothers begin to worry that without their late father’s protection, Joseph might get embittered enough to seek revenge for the injustices they did him in his youth. They tell him that his Father begged them to seek his (Joseph’s forgiveness). Joseph freely offers his forgiveness. He is grateful for the position it has given him as second in command over all Egypt.

Joseph stays true to his word and looks after his brothers well financially. Dying at 110, he requests burial in Egypt, not with his father and the Patriarchs. His wishes are granted, and Genesis ends.

Text studied - http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/r/rsv/rsv-idx?type=DIV1&byte=1801

Arthur Chappell

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