Genesis 50 · a question people ask
Did Jacob really ask Joseph to forgive his brothers?
The brothers send word: "Your father commanded before he died, saying, 'You shall tell Joseph, "Now please forgive the disobedience of your brothers, and their sin, because they did evil to you"'" (50:16-17). Genesis doesn't record Jacob saying this anywhere else, and it doesn't say whether he did. Readers take it two ways.
How Christians read it
Where Christians differ, Favor sets out the main views side by side and doesn't pick one.
The brothers' own words
Those who hold this view note that the message comes right after the brothers say, "It may be that Joseph will hate us" (50:15), and that Jacob's recorded last words to his sons don't include it (49:1-33). They read it as the brothers speaking out of fear in their father's name.
Genesis 50:15 · Genesis 49:1-33
Jacob's real request
Those who hold this view note that Genesis doesn't record everything Jacob said, and that Joseph doesn't question the message; he weeps and answers with kindness (50:17-21). They take the brothers at their word.
Genesis 50:17-21
The verses
“When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “It may be that Joseph will hate us, and will fully pay us back for all the evil which we did to him.” They sent a message to Joseph, saying, “Your father commanded before he died, saying, ‘You shall tell Joseph, “Now please forgive the disobedience of your brothers, and their sin, because they did evil to you.”’ Now, please forgive the disobedience of the servants of the God of your father.” Joseph wept when they spoke to him.”