Genesis 50:12-13
Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them, for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to possess as a burying place.
English Standard Version (ESV)
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This verse highlights the fulfillment of a father's final instructions, showing that obedience isn't just about the grand gestures, but also about faithfully carrying out the seemingly simple commands that reflect deep love and respect. It’s a quiet testament to familial duty and the enduring impact of a parent's last wishes.
This verse concludes the account of Jacob's funeral procession. After a significant mourning period in Egypt and a solemn journey to Canaan, Jacob's sons fulfill his final wishes to bury him in the ancestral burial place at Machpelah. Following this burial, Joseph and his brothers, along with the Egyptian delegation, return to Egypt, signaling the end of this chapter of their lives and the beginning of a new era.
Jacob's funeral was a grand affair, marked by Egyptian customs and Hebrew filial duty. But what truly honors the departed?
Jacob's death triggers a significant event: his funeral procession and burial. While the Egyptians observed their customary mourning period of seventy days, a display of respect and societal custom, Joseph and his brothers fulfilled Jacob's specific wishes.
The dual nature of mourning:
True honor for the deceased, especially a righteous person, extends beyond mere ritual. It involves remembering their faith, their teachings, and carrying forward their legacy. The text points to this deeper dimension, contrasting the outward spectacle with the inward commitment of family.
Jacob's burial wasn't just an end; it was a powerful statement of faith and a pivotal moment for God's promises.
The burial of Jacob in the land of Canaan, specifically in the cave of Machpelah, was far more than just a final resting place. It was a deliberate act that reinforced the covenant promises God had made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
Canaan as a symbol of God's promise:
Understand the original words
qabar · Hebrew Verb
In a biblical context, it refers to the act of laying a body to rest in the earth, symbolizing the return of the body to dust and expressing honor for the deceased while asserting a claim to the land of promise.
me‘arah · Hebrew Noun
A natural cavern used for internment, holding theological significance as a testament to the patriarchs' faith in God’s promise to give them the land of Canaan as an eternal possession.
Mamre · Hebrew Proper Noun
An ancient city or region associated with Abraham, serving as a site of divine revelation and a central geographical marker for the inheritance of the patriarchs.
This event marks the fulfillment of Jacob's wishes and the continuation of the patriarchal burial traditions, highlighting the family's unique place within Egyptian society and their enduring hope for the Promised Land.
c. 1805 BC— this verse
Jacob's Death in Egypt
Jacob, the patriarch of Israel, dies in Egypt after a long life spent there with his son Joseph and the rest of his family.
c. 1805 BC
Mourning for Jacob
Joseph and his brothers, accompanied by high-ranking Egyptian officials and elders, participate in a solemn mourning period for Jacob, lasting seventy days according to Egyptian custom.
c. 1805 BC
Funeral Procession to Canaan
Joseph leads a grand funeral procession from Egypt to the land of Canaan, likely passing through areas east of the Jordan River, before reaching Hebron.
c. 1805 BC
Burial at Machpelah
Jacob is buried in the Cave of Machpelah, the ancestral burial site purchased by Abraham from the Hittites, fulfilling Jacob's dying wish.
This verse echoes the obedience of Joseph's sons, showing a pattern of honoring ancestors and their wishes by carrying their bones to the promised land, a direct fulfillment of Joseph's command.
Hebrews 11:22This passage highlights the faith of Jacob and Joseph, specifically mentioning their instruction regarding their bones, which underscores the significance of obedience to their final commands for the future of Israel.
Genesis 47:29This verse immediately precedes the burial account and shows Jacob's command to Joseph to bury him in Canaan, setting the stage for the obedience of his sons described in Genesis 50:12.
Genesis 49:29-32Jacob himself commands his sons where to bury him, making Genesis 50:12 a direct testament to their faithfulness in carrying out his specific, deeply important instructions.
calvinGenesis 50:1-26: "And Joseph fell upon his father's face, and wept upon him, and kissed him."
- Et viderunt habitatores terrae Chenaaneaei luctum in area Atad, et dixerunt, Luctus gravis est iste Aegyptiis: idcirco vocatum fuit nomen ejus Abel -- Misraim, (id est luctus Aegyptorum,) qui est trand Jordanem.
12 And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them:
- Fecerunt ergo filii ejus ei sic, quemadmodum praeceperat eis.
13 For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and bu…
clarkeGenesis 50:12: "And his sons did unto him according as he commanded them:"
And his sons did unto him - This and the thirteenth verse have been supposed by Mr. Locke and others to belong to the conclusion of the preceding chapter, in which connection they certainly read more consistently than they do here.
This verse highlights the fulfillment of a father's final instructions, showing that obedience isn't just about the grand gestures, but also about faithfully carrying out the seemingly simple commands that reflect deep love and respect. It’s a quiet testament to familial duty and the enduring impact of a parent's last wishes.
This verse concludes the account of Jacob's funeral procession. After a significant mourning period in Egypt and a solemn journey to Canaan, Jacob's sons fulfill his final wishes to bury him in the ancestral burial place at Machpelah. Following this burial, Joseph and his brothers, along with the Egyptian delegation, return to Egypt, signaling the end of this chapter of their lives and the beginning of a new era.
This verse concludes the account of Jacob's funeral procession. After a significant mourning period in Egypt and a solemn journey to Canaan, Jacob's sons fulfill his final wishes to bury him in the ancestral burial place at Machpelah. Following this burial, Joseph and his brothers, along with the Egyptian delegation, return to Egypt, signaling the end of this chapter of their lives and the beginning of a new era.
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This burial anchors the family's identity and future in God's faithfulness, preparing them for the long journey of waiting and eventual return.
c. 1805 BC
Return to Egypt
Joseph, his brothers, and the Egyptian entourage return to Egypt after the burial, resuming their lives there.
c. 1805 BC
Joseph's Final Instructions
Before his own death years later, Joseph makes his brothers swear to carry his bones out of Egypt when God leads them to the promised land, reinforcing the hope of future deliverance.
"Thus his sons did for him as he had commanded them, for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field at Machpelah, to the east of Mamre, which Abraham bought with the field from Ephron the Hittite to p…" — This verse highlights the fulfillment of a father's final instructions, showing that obedience isn't just about the grand gestures, but also about faithfully carrying out the seemingly simple command…
