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The Antiquities of the Jews - Table of Contents
The Antiquities of the Jews
Written by Flavius Josephus
Translated by William Whiston
Book Two
Chapter 8
Of The Death Of Jacob And Joseph
1. Now when Jacob had lived seventeen years in Egypt, he fell
into a disease, and died in the presence of his sons; but not
till he made his prayers for their enjoying prosperity, and till
he had foretold to them prophetically how every one of them was
to dwell in the land of Canaan. But this happened many years
afterward. He also enlarged upon the praises of Joseph (15) how
he had not remembered the evil doings of his brethren to their
disadvantage; nay, on the contrary, was kind to them, bestowing
upon them so many benefits, as seldom are bestowed on men's own
benefactors. He then commanded his own sons that they should
admit Joseph's sons, Ephraim and Manasses, into their number,
and divide the land of Canaan in common with them; concerning
whom we shall treat hereafter. However, he made it his request
that he might be buried at Hebron. So he died, when he had lived
full a hundred and fifty years, three only abated, having not
been behind any of his ancestors in piety towards God, and
having such a recompense for it, as it was fit those should have
who were so good as these were. But Joseph, by the king's
permission, carried his father's dead body to Hebron, and there
buried it, at a great expense. Now his brethren were at first
unwilling to return back with him, because they were afraid
lest, now their father was dead, he should punish them for their
secret practices against him; since he was now gone, for whose
sake he had been so gracious to them. But he persuaded them to
fear no harm, and to entertain no suspicions of him: so he
brought them along with him, and gave them great possessions,
and never left off his particular concern for them.
2. Joseph also died when he had lived a hundred and ten years;
having been a man of admirable virtue, and conducting all his
affairs by the rules of reason; and used his authority with
moderation, which was the cause of his so great felicity among
the Egyptians, even when he came from another country, and that
in such ill circumstances also, as we have already described. At
length his brethren died, after they had lived happily in Egypt.
Now the posterity and sons of these men, after some time,
carried their bodies, and buried them at Hebron: but as to the
bones of Joseph, they carried them into the land of Canaan
afterward, when the Hebrews went out of Egypt, for so had Joseph
made them promise him upon oath. But what became of every one of
these men, and by what toils they got the possession of the land
of Canaan, shall be shown hereafter, when I have first explained
upon what account it was that they left Egypt.
Continue on to
Book
Two,
Chapter 9,
The Antiquities of the Jews
by
Flavius Josephus
Return to
The Antiquities of the Jews - Table of Contents
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