Summary
In this last portion of the book of Genesis, Jacob gathers his family around his deathbed and speaks to each of his sons. He asks to be buried with his ancestors, and Pharaoh grants them leave to go do so. Joseph also makes his family promise to bring his bones with them out of Egypt for burial.
Aliyah-by-Aliyah Summary
1st Aliyah: Genesis 47:28-48:9
Jacob lives in Egypt for seventeen years and dies at age 147. On his deathbed, Jacob makes Joseph promise that he will not be buried in Egypt, but with his ancestors. Jacob blesses Joseph’s sons, Ephriam and Menashe, who he considers to be like his own sons.
2nd Aliyah: Genesis 48:10-16
Jacob blesses Joseph by blessing his sons, expressing satisfaction that not only did he get to see his son again, but his grandsons as well. He crosses his hands, outside of custom, blessing the younger as if he were the older and vice versa.
3rd Aliyah: Genesis 48:16-22
Jacob crosses his hands as he blesses Ephriam and Menashe, indicating that the younger son will be greater than the older one. Jacob says that Jews will bless one another to be like Ephraim and Menashe and assigns Joseph one more portion of the inheritance than his brothers.
4th Aliyah: Genesis 49:1-18
Jacob calls his sons together and delivers individual messages to each of them. Reuven is reprimanded for having brought disgrace upon the family when he slept with Bilhah. Simeon and Levi are angry. Judah is praised as a leader. Zebulun is associated with boats, and Issachar works hard tilling the land. Dan is a sneaky leader.
5th Aliyah: Genesis 49:19-26
Jacob’s messages to his sons continue. Gad is involved in raids, and Asher is a talented baker. Naphtali is fast. Joseph is the recipient of many blessings.
6th Aliyah: Genesis 49:27-50:20
Completing his messages, Jacob declares that Benjamin is a successful warrior. Jacob reiterates his desire to be buried in the Cave of Machpeleh. Joseph instructs the Egyptian physicians to embalm Jacob. Joseph asks Pharaoh to let him go bury his father, and Pharaoh grants permission for all of Jacob’s relatives and the senior members of the court to go bury him. They mourn for seven days and then return to Egypt. Joseph’s brothers are still concerned that Joseph carries a grudge, so they beg for forgiveness again.
7th Aliyah: Genesis 50:21-26
Joseph speaks kindly and reassures his brothers. Joseph lives to be age 110. (Maftir: Genesis 50:23-26) As he is about to die, Joseph makes the Israelites promise to bring his bones out of Egypt with them when they leave.
Triennial Breakdown
Note: For more information about the tradition of spreading the TorahRefers to the first five books of the Hebrew Bible, the Tanakh, also called the Five Books of Moses, Pentateuch or the Hebrew equivalent, Humash. This is also called the Written Torah. The term may also refer to teachings that expound on Jewish tradition. Read more readings over a 3-year cycle see here.
| Aliyah | Year 1: 47:28-48:22 | Year 2: 49:1-49:26 | Year 3: 49:27-50:26 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 47:28-47:31 | 49:1-49:4 | 49:27-49:30 |
| 2 | 48:1-48:3 | 49:5-49:7 | 49:31-49:33 |
| 3 | 48:4-48:9 | 49:8-49:12 | 50:1-50:6 |
| 4 | 48:10-48:13 | 49:13-49:15 | 50:7-50:9 |
| 5 | 48:14-48:16 | 49:16-49:18 | 50:10-50:14 |
| 6 | 48:17-48:19 | 49:19-49:21 | 50:15-50:20 |
| 7 | 48:20-48:22 | 49:22-49:26 | 50:21-50:26 |
| Maftir | 48:20-48:22 | 49:22-49:26 | 50:23-50:26 |
Triennial Summaries
Year 1: See Aliyot 1-3
Year 2: See Aliyot 4-5
Year 3: See Aliyot 6-7
We have reached the end of the Book of Genesis. Hazak, hazak, v’nithazeik
Haftarah Summary
Haftarah: I Kings 2:1-12
From his deathbed, King David gives Solomon instructions. He reminds Solomon to follow God’s laws and tells him to punish Joab appropriately for murdering two of the army’s commanders during peacetime and Shimi for insulting King David. It is also up to Solomon to deal graciously with Barzellai’s sons. King David reigns for 40 years, and Solomon ascends to the throne when he dies.
See our Haftarah breakdown here.
