Jacob made Egypt his home for seventeen years.  He lived to be 147 years old.  When the time grew near for him to die, he called for his son Joseph.  "If I have found favor in your eyes," he said, "take an oath that you will act toward me with sensitivity and truth, and do not bury me in Egypt.  Let me lie with my ancestors.  Carry me out of Egypt, and bury me at their grave." "I will do as you say," replied Joseph.  "Swear to me!" said Jacob.  Joseph swore to him and Israel bowed down from upon the bed.

After this, Joseph was told that his father was sick.  He took his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, with him [to visit his father].  When Jacob was told that Joseph was coming to him, he summoned his strength and sat up in bed.  Jacob said to Joseph, "God once appeared to me in Luz, in the land of Canaan, and made me appreciated; God said to me, 'I will make you fruitful and numerous, and have you give rise to an assembly of peoples.  I will give this land to you and your descendants forever as a holding.'  Now, the two sons who were born to you in Egypt before I came here are considered as mine.  Ephraim and Manasseh will be just like Reuben and Simeon to me.  Any children that you have after them, however, will be considered yours.  They will inherit only through their brothers.  When I was coming from Padan, Rachel died upon me.  It was in Canaan, a short distance before we came to Ephrath.  I buried her there, along the road to Ephrath in Bethlehem."  Israel saw Joseph's sons.  "Who are these?" he asked.  "They are the sons that God gave me here," replied Joseph to his father.  "If you would, bring them to me," said Jacob.  "I will make them appreciated."