5 My father H1 made me swear, H7650 saying, H559 Lo, H2009 I die: H4191 in my grave H6913 which I have digged H3738 for me in the land H776 of Canaan, H3667 there shalt thou bury me. H6912 Now therefore let me go up, H5927 I pray thee, and bury H6912 my father, H1 and I will come again. H7725
And the time H3117 drew nigh H7126 that Israel H3478 must die: H4191 and he called H7121 his son H1121 Joseph, H3130 and said H559 unto him, If now I have found H4672 grace H2580 in thy sight, H5869 put, H7760 I pray thee, thy hand H3027 under my thigh, H3409 and deal H6213 kindly H2617 and truly H571 with me; bury H6912 me not, I pray thee, in Egypt: H4714 But I will lie H7901 with my fathers, H1 and thou shalt carry H5375 me out of Egypt, H4714 and bury H6912 me in their buryingplace. H6900 And he said, H559 I will do H6213 as thou hast said. H1697 And he said, H559 Swear H7650 unto me. And he sware H7650 unto him. And Israel H3478 bowed H7812 himself upon the bed's H4296 head. H7218
And G1161 he said G2036 unto G4314 another, G2087 Follow G190 me. G3427 But G1161 he said, G2036 Lord, G2962 suffer G2010 me G3427 first G4412 to go G565 and bury G2290 my G3450 father. G3962 G1161 Jesus G2424 said G2036 unto him, G846 Let G863 the dead G3498 bury G2290 their G1438 dead: G3498 but G1161 go G565 thou G4771 and preach G1229 the kingdom G932 of God. G2316
And G1161 another G2087 of his G846 disciples G3101 said G2036 unto him, G846 Lord, G2962 suffer G2010 me G3427 first G4412 to go G565 and G2532 bury G2290 my G3450 father. G3962 But G1161 Jesus G2424 said G2036 unto him, G846 Follow G190 me; G3427 and G2532 let G863 the dead G3498 bury G2290 their G1438 dead. G3498
And he charged H6680 them, and said H559 unto them, I am to be gathered H622 unto my people: H5971 bury H6912 me with my fathers H1 in the cave H4631 that is in the field H7704 of Ephron H6085 the Hittite, H2850 In the cave H4631 that is in the field H7704 of Machpelah, H4375 which is before H6440 Mamre, H4471 in the land H776 of Canaan, H3667 which Abraham H85 bought H7069 with the field H7704 of Ephron H6085 the Hittite H2850 for a possession H272 of a buryingplace. H6913
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 50
Commentary on Genesis 50 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 50
Ge 50:1-26. Mourning for Jacob.
1. Joseph fell upon his father's face, &c.—On him, as the principal member of the family, devolved the duty of closing the eyes of his venerable parent (compare Ge 46:4) and imprinting the farewell kiss.
2. Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father, &c.—In ancient Egypt the embalmers were a class by themselves. The process of embalmment consisted in infusing a great quantity of resinous substances into the cavities of the body, after the intestines had been removed, and then a regulated degree of heat was applied to dry up the humors, as well as decompose the tarry materials which had been previously introduced. Thirty days were alloted for the completion of this process; forty more were spent in anointing it with spices; the body, tanned from this operation, being then washed, was wrapped in numerous folds of linen cloth—the joinings of which were fastened with gum, and then it was deposited in a wooden chest made in the form of a human figure.
3. the Egyptians mourned, &c. It was made a period of public mourning, as on the death of a royal personage.
4, 5. Joseph spake unto the house of Pharaoh, &c.—Care was taken to let it be known that the family sepulchre was provided before leaving Canaan and that an oath bound his family to convey the remains thither. Besides, Joseph deemed it right to apply for a special leave of absence; and being unfit, as a mourner, to appear in the royal presence, he made the request through the medium of others.
7-9. Joseph went up to bury his father—a journey of three hundred miles. The funeral cavalcade, composed of the nobility and military, with their equipages, would exhibit an imposing appearance.
10. they came to the threshing-floor of Atad, &c.—"Atad" may be taken as a common noun, signifying "the plain of the thorn bushes." It was on the border between Egypt and Canaan; and as the last opportunity of indulging grief was always the most violent, the Egyptians made a prolonged halt at this spot, while the family of Jacob probably proceeded by themselves to the place of sepulture.
15-21. When Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, &c.—Joseph was deeply affected by this communication. He gave them the strongest assurances of his forgiveness and thereby gave both a beautiful trait of his own pious character, as well as appeared an eminent type of the Saviour.
22, 23. Joseph dwelt in Egypt—He lived eighty years after his elevation to the chief power [see on Ge 41:46] witnessing a great increase in the prosperity of the kingdom, and also of his own family and kindred—the infant Church of God.
24. Joseph said unto his brethren, I die—The national feelings of the Egyptians would have been opposed to his burial in Canaan; but he gave the strongest proof of the strength of his faith and full assurance of the promises, by "the commandment concerning his bones" [Heb 11:22].
26. and they embalmed him—[See on Ge 50:2]. His funeral would be conducted in the highest style of Egyptian magnificence and his mummied corpse carefully preserved till the Exodus.