Thank you for the biblical question, “Hebrews 11:22 tells of of a Biblical character living in faith. “When his end was near, [he] spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones.” Who is this person?”
In Hebrews 11:22, the text says this, “By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones” (NIV). Citations are from in the NIV.
As one reads the verse, there is a main subject and verb. The subject or speaker of the verse is Joseph and the two verbs are spoke and gave. Thus, the “who” of this verse is Joseph.
If the implied question is asking about, “Who is Joseph?” in verse 22, the answer is given in the preceding verse. The text says this, “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.” There is the assumption that the listeners of this letter know the history of Abraham. This “Joseph” that is referred to is one of the 12 sons of Jacob. See Genesis 30:22 of Rachel having her firstborn son, Joseph and Exodus 1:1–6 states that Joseph and all his brothers and all that generation died. Thus, this Jospeh is one of the 12 sons of Jacob.
If the question seeks to probe deeper, “How did Joseph know about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt?” The answer is found in Genesis 48:21–22 which says this, “Then Israel said to Joseph, “I am about to die, but God will be with you[d] and take you[e] back to the land of your[f] fathers. 22 And to you I give one more ridge of land[g] than to your brothers, the ridge I took from the Amorites with my sword and my bow.”
It is likely that Jacob declared more in the conversation between Jacob and Joseph, but Jacob reveals to Joseph that he will return to the land of your fathers and that he is given a territorial grant. Joseph buried his father in the Promised Land, but he didn’t dwell there. Upon his death, he asked that his bones be returned to the Promise Land. Genesis 50 says this, “Joseph stayed in Egypt, along with all his father’s family. He lived a hundred and ten years 23 and saw the third generation of Ephraim’s children. Also the children of Makir son of Manasseh were placed at birth on Joseph’s knees.[c] 24 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am about to die. But God will surely come to your aid and take you up out of this land to the land he promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.” 25 And Joseph made the Israelites swear an oath and said, “God will surely come to your aid, and then you must carry my bones up from this place.” 26 So Joseph died at the age of a hundred and ten. And after they embalmed him, he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.”
Summary: Joseph, one of the 12 sons of Jacob, is the subject of the verse in Hebrews 11:22.
-Kingston