Vayechi
Genesis 47:28 – 50:26
Jacob lives his final seventeen years in Egypt, and as death approaches he summons Joseph and makes him swear to bury him in the Cave of Machpelah. He adopts Joseph's sons Ephraim and Manasseh, deliberately placing his right hand on the younger Ephraim's head. Jacob then gathers all twelve sons for his deathbed blessings — a prophetic poem that defines each tribe's character and destiny. Jacob dies, is embalmed, and is carried back to Canaan for burial. Joseph reassures his brothers, and the book of Genesis closes with Joseph's death at age 110 in Egypt.
Key figures
- Jacob/Israel — Blesses his sons and grandsons on his deathbed, dies at 147
- Joseph — Brings his sons for blessing, buries Jacob in Canaan, dies at 110
- Ephraim — Joseph's younger son, receives the primary blessing over Manasseh
- Manasseh — Joseph's elder son, blessed second despite being the firstborn
- Judah — Receives the royal blessing — 'the scepter shall not depart from Judah'
Famous verses
- 48:16 the angel who has redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named in them, and the name of my fathers Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth."
- 49:10 The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until Shiloh comes; and to him shall the obedience of the peoples be.
- 50:20 And as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Haftarah: {'ref': 'I Kings 2:1-12', 'connection': "David's final charge to Solomon before his death parallels Jacob's deathbed blessings and instructions to his sons, both patriarchs securing their legacy."}
Total gematria: 286,785.