Embalming was practiced in Egypt on very important people when they died. They removed the liquids from the body then wrapped it in an attempt to preserve the body from decay.
Joseph's character was so upright that Pharaoh's officials went with him to Canaan to bury Jacob. This was a very large funeral procession. He also learned lessons from earlier in his life and unified his family. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tw?section=kt#righteous)
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The term "he collapsed" is an idiom for being overcome. Alternate translation: "that he fell on his father in grief" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
"his servants who took care of dead bodies"
To "embalm" is a special way of preserving a dead body before it is buried. Alternate translation: "to prepare his father's body for burial" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-euphemism)
"They took 40 days" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)
"70 days" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)
A three-level quotation is introduced with the words "Joseph spoke ... saying." The second level begins with the words "If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak to Pharaoh, saying."
"days of mourning him" or "days of weeping for him"
Here "house of Pharaoh" stands for the officials that make up Pharaoh's royal court. Alternate translation: "Joseph spoke to Pharaoh's officials" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
The phrase "find favor" is an idiom which means to be approved of by someone. Also, the eyes represent seeing, and seeing represents thoughts or judgment. Alternate translation: "If I have found favor with you" or "If you are pleased with me" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
The three-level quotation that began with the words "Joseph spoke ... saying" in verse 4 continues. The second level of that quotation, which began with the words "If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak to Pharaoh, saying" in verse 4 continues.
This is the second level of the three-level quotation that begins with the words "If now I have" in verse 4. It contains a quote within it. This embedded quote can be translated as an indirect quote. "My father made me swear, saying that he was about to die and that I was to bury him in his tomb that he dug for himself in the land of Canaan. I was to bury him there. Now let me go up ... I will return." The entire second-level quotation can also be translated as an indirect quote. "If now I have found favor in your eyes, please speak to Pharaoh and tell him that my father made me swear, saying that he was about to die and that I was to bury him in his tomb that he dug for himself in the land of Canaan. I was to bury him there. Now let me go up ... I will return." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotesinquotes and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotations)
This is the third level of the three-level quotation that begins with the words "If now I have" in verse 4.
"See, I am dying"
It was common to use the phrase "go up" when speaking of traveling from Egypt to Canaan.
It is implied that the members of the court spoke to Pharaoh, and now Pharaoh is replying to Joseph. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-explicit)
"as you swore to him"
It was common to use the phrase "went up" when speaking of traveling from Egypt to Canaan.
All of Pharaoh's most important leaders attended the burial procession.
These were probably government officials, not household servants.
Here "household" refers to Pharaoh's royal court.
This can be translated as a new sentence: "Joseph's household, his brothers, and his father's household also went with him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-events)
Here this stands for the men riding in the chariots. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
"It was a very large gathering"
The word "they" refers to the participants in the burial procession.
Possible meanings are 1) the word "Atad" means "thorn" and it may refer to a place where large amounts of thorns grew, or 2) it may be the name of the person who owns the threshing floor. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
"they were extremely sad and they mourned very much"
"a 7-day" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)
Possible meanings are 1) "on the threshing floor that belonged to a man named Atad" or "in the threshing floor at a place called Atad" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
"The mourning of the Egyptians is very great"
The translator can add a footnote that says: "The name Abel Mizraim means "the mourning of Egypt.'" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
"So Jacob's sons"
"just as he had directed them"
"His sons took his body"
Machpela was the name of an area or region. See how you translated this in Genesis 23:9. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
This was another name for the city of Hebron. It may have been named after Mamre, the friend of Abraham who lived there. See how you translated this in Genesis 13:18. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
This is the name of a man. "Hittite" means "descendent of Heth." See how you translated this in Genesis 23:8. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
"Joseph returned to Egypt"
"all who had come with him"
Here anger is spoken of as if it was something physical that Joseph could hold in his hands. Alternate translation: "What if Joseph is actually still angry with us" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
Avenging oneself against someone who harmed him is spoken of as if the person were paying they other person what they are owed. Alternate translation: "wants revenge for the evil thing we did to him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metaphor)
A three-level quotation begins with the words "Your father gave."
Jacob was the father of all the brothers. Here they say "your father" to emphasize that Joseph needs to pay attention to what his father said. Alternate translation: "Before our father died he said"
The three-level quotation that begins with the words "Your father gave" in verse 16 ends here.
The three-level quotation that begins with the words "Your father gave" in verse 16 ends here. This is the second-level quotation, and it contains a third-level quotation that can be stated as an indirect quotation. "Tell Joseph to please forgive your transgression and your sin when you did evil to him." Both the second-level and third-level quotations can be translated as indirect quotations. "Your father instructed us before he died to tell you to please forgive our transgression and our sin when we did evil to you." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotesinquotes and /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-quotations)
"for the wicked things they did to you"
This does not mean "at this moment," but is used to draw attention to the important point that follows.
The brothers are referring to themselves as "the servants of the God of your father." This can be stated in first person. Alternate translation: "please forgive us, the servants of the God of our father" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-123person)
"Joseph wept when he heard this message"
They lay down with their faces toward the ground. This is a sign of humility and respect for Joseph. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-symaction)
Joseph uses a question to comfort his brothers. Alternate translation: "I am not in the place of God." or "I am not God." (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-rquestion)
"you intended to do evil against me"
"God intended it for good"
"So do not fear me"
"I will always make sure you and your children have enough to eat"
Here "hearts" refers to the brothers. Alternate translation: "He comforted them by speaking kindly to them" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-synecdoche)
"110 years" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)
"Ephraim's children and grandchildren"
This is the name of Joseph's grandson. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-names)
This expression means that Joseph adopted these children of Machir as his own children. This means they would have special inheritance rights from Joseph. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-idiom)
In Genesis 50:24/26 the word "you" refers to Joseph's brothers, but it also stands for their descendants. (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-metonymy)
It was common to use the word "up" when speaking of traveling from Egypt to Canaan. Alternate translation: "bring you out of this land and take you to the land" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-events)
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"one hundred and ten years" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#translate-numbers)
To "embalm" is a special way of preserving a dead body before it is buried. See how you translated "embalmed" in Genesis 50:1.
This can be stated in active form. Alternate translation: "they placed him" (See: /WA-Catalog/en_tm?section=jit#figs-activepassive)
"in a chest" or "in a case." This is a box a dead person is placed in.