The End of an Era

Genesis 46:9 - 50:26

Starting in Genesis 45 we get the end of the Joseph story and the end of the tale of the Patriarchs.
I love God's comment to Jacob (Israel) in 46:3-4
"Don't not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there. I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph's own hand will close you eyes."
The juxtaposition here is cool..."I will make you into a great nation" takes 400 some odd years while "...Joseph's own hand will close your eyes." is 17 years later. This seems like one more example of God sharing His plan without explicitly sharing His time-line.

I think it might be worth studying further the blessing that Jacob gives to Joseph's sons.
He crisscrosses his hands and gives the blessing of the first born to the second born son.
So we get Ishmael and Isaac where the second son is blessed with the greater promises.
Jacob and Esau where it happens again..granted via different means.
And now Ephraim and Manasseh.

The rest of Jacob's blessings on his sons are interesting too.
Reuben is "removed" from his prestigious position as first born because he slept with his father's concubine.( Gen 35:22)
Simeon and Levi fail to inherit the firstborn blessing because of their desecration of Shechem.
(Gen 34:25)
Judah, though referred to as the strongest and the leader and he from whom kings will descend also seems to have had some skeletons in his closet.
The blessing due the firstborn actually goes to Joseph's sons...the firstborn of the first choice wife or something.

I also find it interesting that while it appears the Jacob could not control his sons worth a lick they seem to think that Joseph's wrath was only kept in check by their father being alive. (Gen 50:15)
So, all in all...weird details in the midst of the story, a LOT of superstitious and devious activity, but seems like a happy ending...almost reminds me of my college years.
DOH!