Genesis 50:13
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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It's easy to overlook that this wasn't just a family burial, but a public procession involving Pharaoh's officials, highlighting Jacob's significant status and the growing respect for his family in Egypt. This grand funeral journey to Canaan served as a public declaration and a tangible reminder of God's covenant promise of that land to Abraham's descendants.
This verse marks the final act of Joseph's loyalty to his father, Jacob, fulfilling his dying wish to be buried in the ancestral land of Canaan. It follows the elaborate mourning and procession from Egypt, emphasizing the deep respect shown to Jacob by both his family and the Egyptians. The verse also grounds this burial in the history of Abraham's purchase of the burial site, linking this event to the covenant promises made to the patriarchs.
Why was it so important for Jacob to be buried in Canaan, and what does this act reveal about Abraham's faith?
The burial of Jacob in the cave of Machpelah wasn't just a final resting place; it was a profound act of faith and a physical manifestation of God's promises. Abraham's purchase of this land from Ephron the Hittite, recorded here and in Genesis 23, was significant.
Jacob's dying wish was specific and deeply meaningful. What does it reveal about his heart and his trust in God?
Jacob's insistence on being buried with his fathers in Canaan, as detailed in Genesis 47:29-31, was more than just a personal preference. It was a crucial act of faith in the midst of their exile in Egypt.
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.
The burial of Jacob at Machpelah by his sons, particularly Joseph, serves as a powerful act of remembrance and faithfulness to ancestral promises, reinforcing their connection to Canaan even as they lived in Egypt.
c. 1800 BC
Abraham Purchases Cave of Machpelah
Abraham buys a burial cave and surrounding field from Ephron the Hittite, establishing it as a family resting place.
c. 1700 BC
Jacob's Family Settles in Goshen
Jacob and his entire family migrate to the land of Goshen in Egypt, where they are given land to live and farm.
c. 1670 BC
Death of Jacob
Jacob dies in Egypt after a long life. He had made Joseph and his brothers promise to bury him in Canaan.
c. 1670 BC— this verse
Jacob's Funeral Procession to Canaan
Joseph leads a large and impressive funeral procession, including many Egyptian officials, from Egypt to Canaan for Jacob's burial.
c. 1670 BC
This verse highlights the continuation of the burial practices of the patriarchs, mentioning that Joseph's bones were also buried in Shechem, connecting to the theme of ancestral burial grounds and fulfillment of promises.
Hebrews 11:22This passage speaks of Joseph by faith, commanding his bones to be carried out of Egypt, which directly relates to the act of burial and the hope of the promised land that motivated this specific act.
Genesis 23:16-20This section describes Abraham's purchase of the cave of Machpelah from Ephron the Hittite, providing the historical context and legal precedent for Jacob's burial in the same significant location.
Genesis 47:29-31These verses detail Jacob's request to be buried in the cave of Machpelah with his fathers, showing the deep personal significance and divine instruction behind Joseph's actions in fulfilling this final wish.
Genesis 50:25-26This passage records Joseph's dying command to carry his bones out of Egypt, echoing his earlier actions for Jacob and reinforcing the theme of faith and the future redemption that the burial place represented.
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…
gillGenesis 50:13: "For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a buryingplace of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre."
For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan,.... That is, they took care that he was carried there, as he desired to be; for it cannot be thought that they carried him on their shoulders thither, in like manner as the devout men carried Stephen to his burial, Acts…
It's easy to overlook that this wasn't just a family burial, but a public procession involving Pharaoh's officials, highlighting Jacob's significant status and the growing respect for his family in Egypt. This grand funeral journey to Canaan served as a public declaration and a tangible reminder of God's covenant promise of that land to Abraham's descendants.
This verse marks the final act of Joseph's loyalty to his father, Jacob, fulfilling his dying wish to be buried in the ancestral land of Canaan. It follows the elaborate mourning and procession from Egypt, emphasizing the deep respect shown to Jacob by both his family and the Egyptians. The verse also grounds this burial in the history of Abraham's purchase of the burial site, linking this event to the covenant promises made to the patriarchs.
This verse marks the final act of Joseph's loyalty to his father, Jacob, fulfilling his dying wish to be buried in the ancestral land of Canaan. It follows the elaborate mourning and procession from Egypt, emphasizing the deep respect shown to Jacob by both his family and the Egyptians. The verse also grounds this burial in the history of Abraham's purchase of the burial site, linking this event to the covenant promises made to the patriarchs.
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Burial of Jacob at Machpelah
Jacob is buried in the cave of Machpelah, fulfilling his dying wish and reinforcing the ancestral connection to the land of Canaan.
c. 1670 BC
Joseph and Brothers Return to Egypt
After burying their father, Joseph and his brothers, along with the rest of the funeral party, return to Egypt.
"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." — It's easy to overlook that this wasn't just a family burial, but a public procession involving Pharaoh's officials, highlighting Jacob's significant status and the growing respect for his family in E…
