The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1901-10-31
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
Lesson In the International series
for November 3, 1OO1-Death
of Joseph.
THE LESSON TEXT.
(Oenesis 6O.16-26,l

(0enesls oo.lo-1ob
Is. And when Joseph's brethren saw that
their father was dead, they said. Joseph
will peradventure hate us. and Will certain
Iy reauite us all the evil which we did unto
him.
16. And they sent messenger unto JOS
eph saying, Thy father did command be-
fore he died. saying.
II. SO shall ye say unto Joseph, FORGIVE.
pray thee now, the trespass Of thy breth-
rem, and their sin; for they did unto thee
evil; and now, we pray thee, forgive the
trespass of the servants of the God OF tiny
father And Joseph wept when they spake
unto him.
is And his brethren also went and fell
down before his face; and they SAID, Be
hold. we be thy servants.
10. And Joseph said unto them, Fear not;
for am in the place of GodY
90 But as for you. ye thought evil against
me; but God meant IL unto good. to bring
TO pass. as It is this day. to save much peo-
pie alive.
q. Now therefore fear We not; will nour-
ish you, and your little ones. And he COM
forted them, and spake kindly unto them.
22 And Joseph dwelt In Egypt. he, and
his fathers house; and Joseph lived an
hundred and ten years.
% And Joseph saw Ephraim's children
of the third gcnerat,on: the children also
of Machir the son of Manasseh were
brought up upon Joseph's knees.
"a. And Joseph said unto his brethren.
die: and God will surely visit you. and
bring you out of this land unto the land
which He sware to Abraham, to Isaac, and
to Jacob.
25. And Joseph took an oath of the chill
dren of Israel. saying. God will surely visit
you, and ye shall carry up my bones from
hence.
26 So Joseph died. being an hundred and
ten years old and they embalmed him.
4, ,Nt,ti n In In q nj
GOLDEN TEXT.-so teach rs TO num-
her our days. that we may apply our
henrts unto wisdom.--Ps. OO,12.
NOTES AND COMMENTS.
The lesson to be studied should
include chapters as. 80 and so, thus
bringing us to the conclusion of
Genesis. the first book of the Bible.
The following is an outline of the
history covered in these three chap
ters.
Israel located in Egypt tB. C. i7o5), Gen
46:1-47:l2
Joseph's oath to Jacob (B. C. l6S9). Gen.
47:2S-3l.
Jacob blessing Ephraim and Manasseh (B.
c. l6S9). Gen. iS:1-22.
Jacob blessing the tribes (B. c. l6Sg). Gen.
49:l-33
Jacobs burial (B. C. 16Ss). Gen. 5O;I-lS
Fear of Joseph's brothers (B. C. l6ss), Gen.
50li-2l.
Death OF Joseph tB c. 1ssS). Gen. 5O:22-2s.
Our studies for this quarter have
made it evident that God not only
overrules evil for the good of His
people, but also that He plans their
lives for them. At that time the
Egyptians were equaled in the arts
nj Snia I, .tL IL
God chose Egypt to be the shelter
and nursery of His infant nation
that it might have all the advantages
which that country so preeminently
afforded. When the Israelites went
up out of Egypt, they had among
them their own carpenters, gold
smiths, engravers. wood carvers.
spinners, weavers and artificers of
all sorts (Ex. 35:30-35).
Israel Located.-The mention Of
the occupation of the Israelites was
to insure their assignment to Co.
shen, a district well fitted for pas
turage, and to keep the Israeltes
separate from the Egyptians by
prejudicing the latter against them.
The "abomination'' spoken of was
not religious uncleanness, but a So
cial prejudice.
Last Days of Jacob.-Jacob's loyal
ty to the covenant with Abraham is
indicated by the oath he exacted
from Joseph (47:29:3D. The bless
ing of Ephraim and Manasseh separ-
ately from Jacobs sons carried out
the custom regarding inheritance
whereby Joseph received double
portion. The preference of Ephraim
over Manasseh indicated the future
leadership of Ephraim's descend
ants. The blessing of Joseph's sons
in chapter 40 sets forth the special
characteristics of the tribes of Is
rael. Verse 10 is obscure, but is gen.
orally interpreted as hint that the
Messianic line was to be found in
Judah.
The Fear of Joseph's Brothers.
After the death Of his father, Joseph
was the head of the family. He had
thus great power over his brothers
Then, too, his position in Egypt was
such as to make it possible for him
to do what he pleased. The fear OF
his brothers was therefore natural
1t is uncertain whether the mes.
sage from their father was genuine
or invented. 1t probably expressed
Jacobs real wish. Joseph wept be-
cause the message indicated distrust
of his forgiveness, and because Of
strong emotion caused by the mem
ory of the past.
Death of Joseph.-Verses 22, 2:
give picture of happy old age
Joseph's life had been successful ant
prosperous, and the sight of hi.
grandchildren completed his happi
ness. Joseph's faith in the deliver
ance of his people was remarkabl,
because of his long separation from
his family. Despite Joseph's loyalt,
to his family traditions, his body wa!
treated according to the Egyptian
fashion, but that very treatmen
made it possible to carry out his de
sire, since bodies so treated endured
a long time as mummies. The 'cof
fin" was probably of stone, elabor
ately carved, and very costly.
Grape. and Canister.
q q 81