Topical Encyclopedia Background and ContextEgypt holds a significant place in the biblical narrative, particularly during the time of Jacob's death and burial. This period is a pivotal moment in the history of Israel, as it marks the transition from the patriarchal era to the eventual enslavement and exodus of the Israelites. The events surrounding Jacob's death and burial are recorded in Genesis 49:29-50:14, providing insight into the customs, familial relationships, and divine promises that shaped the early Israelite identity. Jacob's Final Instructions As Jacob approached the end of his life, he gathered his sons to impart blessings and prophecies concerning their futures (Genesis 49). After blessing his sons, Jacob gave explicit instructions regarding his burial. He charged them to bury him in the cave of Machpelah, in the land of Canaan, where his ancestors Abraham and Isaac were laid to rest. This request underscored Jacob's deep connection to the Promised Land and his desire to be united with his forefathers in death. Genesis 49:29-30 : "Then Jacob instructed them, 'I am about to be gathered to my people. Bury me with my fathers in the cave in the field of Ephron the Hittite. This is the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought as a burial site from Ephron the Hittite.'" The Mourning in Egypt Upon Jacob's death, Joseph, his favored son and a high-ranking official in Egypt, ordered the embalming of his father, a process that took forty days. The Egyptians mourned Jacob for seventy days, reflecting the respect and honor accorded to him due to Joseph's esteemed position (Genesis 50:1-3). This period of mourning highlights the integration of Israel's patriarchal family into Egyptian society, albeit temporarily, and the influence Joseph wielded in Pharaoh's court. Genesis 50:2-3 : "Then Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So they embalmed him, taking the forty days required to complete the embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days." The Journey to Canaan Following the mourning period, Joseph sought Pharaoh's permission to fulfill his father's burial wishes. Pharaoh granted Joseph leave, and a grand procession, including Egyptian dignitaries and Jacob's family, journeyed to Canaan. This procession was a testament to Joseph's status and the respect Jacob commanded, even in death (Genesis 50:4-9). Genesis 50:7-9 : "So Joseph went to bury his father. All Pharaoh’s officials accompanied him—the dignitaries of his court and all the dignitaries of Egypt—besides all the members of Joseph’s household and his brothers and those belonging to his father’s household. Only their children and flocks and herds were left in Goshen. Both chariots and horsemen went up with him. It was a very large company." The Burial at Machpelah Upon reaching the threshing floor of Atad, beyond the Jordan, the company observed a seven-day period of mourning, which was so profound that the Canaanites named the place Abel-mizraim, meaning "mourning of the Egyptians" (Genesis 50:10-11). Jacob was then buried in the cave of Machpelah, fulfilling his final wish and reaffirming the family's connection to the land promised by God. Genesis 50:12-13 : "So Jacob’s sons did as he had commanded them. They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre, which Abraham had bought as a burial site from Ephron the Hittite, along with the field." Return to Egypt After the burial, Joseph and his brothers returned to Egypt, marking the continuation of their sojourn in a foreign land. This return set the stage for the subsequent enslavement of the Israelites, as foretold by God to Abraham, and the eventual exodus led by Moses. Genesis 50:14 : "After Joseph had buried his father, he returned to Egypt with his brothers and all who had gone with him to bury his father." The narrative of Jacob's death and burial in Egypt serves as a bridge between the patriarchal promises and the unfolding account of Israel's deliverance, highlighting themes of faith, family, and divine providence. Torrey's Topical Textbook Genesis 49:33And when Jacob had made an end of commanding his sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered to his people. Torrey's Topical Textbook Genesis 50:1-13 Library A Calm Evening, Promising a Bright Morning Introduction The Pentateuch. Chapter xxxv Chapter l Jesus at the Well. Chapter xxxiv Chapter xlvi The Book of Jubilees Chapter xlvii Resources Who is the king of the North in Daniel 11? | GotQuestions.orgIs there any evidence of the exodus? | GotQuestions.org Who is the king of the South in Daniel 11? | GotQuestions.org Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus Subtopics Egypt: A Small Stream Flowing Into the Mediterranean Sea Egypt: As a Power Was: Ambitious of Conquests Egypt: As a Power Was: Pompous Egypt: As a Power Was: Proud and Arrogant Egypt: As a Power Was: Treacherous Egypt: Called: House of Bondmen Egypt: Called: The Land of Ham Egypt: Celebrated For: Commerce Egypt: Celebrated For: Fertility Egypt: Celebrated For: Fine Horses Egypt: Celebrated For: Fine Linen Egypt: Celebrated For: Literature Egypt: had Princes and Counsellors Egypt: Idolatry of, Followed by Israel Egypt: Inhabitants of Abhorred Shepherds Egypt: Inhabitants of Abhorred the Sacrifice of Oxen Egypt: Inhabitants of Hospitable Egypt: Inhabitants of Might be Received Into the Congregation in the Third Egypt: Inhabitants of not to be Abhorred by Israel Egypt: Inhabitants of Often Intermarried With Strangers Egypt: Inhabitants of Superstitious Egypt: Inundations of, Alluded To Egypt: Israel in Benjamin Brought Egypt: Israel in Date of the Exodus Egypt: Israel in Destruction of the First-Born Egypt: Israel in Egypt is Plagued for Pharaoh's Obstinacy Egypt: Israel in Israel Driven out of Egypt: Israel in Israel Increases and are Oppressed Egypt: Israel in Israel Placed in the Land of Goshen Egypt: Israel in Israel Spoils the Egyptians Egypt: Israel in Jacob Presented to Pharaoh Egypt: Israel in Jacob's Death and Burial Egypt: Israel in Jacob's Journey Egypt: Israel in Joseph Counsels Pharaoh Egypt: Israel in Joseph Enriches the King Egypt: Israel in Joseph Interprets Pharaoh's Dreams Egypt: Israel in Joseph Interprets the Chief Baker's and the Chief Butler's Egypt: Israel in Joseph Made Governor Egypt: Israel in Joseph Makes Himself Known to his Brethren Egypt: Israel in Joseph Recognizes his Brethren Egypt: Israel in Joseph Sends for his Father Egypt: Israel in Joseph Sold Into Egypt: Israel in Joseph Unjustly Cast Into Prison Egypt: Israel in Joseph's Successful Provision Against the Years of Famine Egypt: Israel in Joseph's Ten Brethren Arrive Egypt: Israel in Male Children Destroyed Egypt: Israel in Moses Adopted and Brought up by Pharaoh's Daughter Egypt: Israel in Moses Born and Hid for Three Months Egypt: Israel in Moses Exposed on the Nile Egypt: Israel in Moses Flies to Midian Egypt: Israel in Moses Proves his Divine Mission by Miracles Egypt: Israel in Moses Sent to Pharaoh Egypt: Israel in Moses Slays an Egyptian Egypt: Israel in Pharaoh Increases Their Affliction Egypt: Israel in Pharaoh Invites Jacob Into Egypt: Israel in Pharaoh Pursues Israel and is Miraculously Destroyed Egypt: Israel in Potiphar Blessed for Joseph's Sake Egypt: Israel in The Passover Instituted Egypt: Israel in Their Sojourn in It, Foretold Egypt: Mode of Entertaining In Egypt: Often a Refuge to Strangers Egypt: Peopled by Mizraim's Posterity Egypt: Prophecies Respecting: Allies to Share Its Misfortunes Egypt: Prophecies Respecting: Armies Destroyed by Babylon Egypt: Prophecies Respecting: Captivity of Its People Egypt: Prophecies Respecting: Christ to be Called out of Egypt: Prophecies Respecting: Civil War and Domestic Strife Egypt: Prophecies Respecting: Conversion of Egypt: Prophecies Respecting: Destruction of Its Cities Egypt: Prophecies Respecting: Destruction of Its Idols Egypt: Prophecies Respecting: Destruction of Its Power Egypt: Prophecies Respecting: Dismay of Its Inhabitants Egypt: Prophecies Respecting: Ever to be a Base Kingdom Egypt: Prophecies Respecting: Failure of Internal Resources Egypt: Prophecies Respecting: Infatuation of Its Princes Egypt: Prophecies Respecting: Invasion by Babylon Egypt: Prophecies Respecting: Prophetic Illustration of Its Destruction Egypt: Prophecies Respecting: Spoil of, a Reward to Babylon for Services Against Tyre Egypt: Prophecies Respecting: Terror Occasioned by Its Fall Egypt: Prophecies Respecting: The Jews Who Practised Its Idolatry to Share Its Egypt: Prophecies Respecting: To be Numbered and Blessed Along With Israel Egypt: Prophecies Respecting: Utter Desolation of, for Forty Years Egypt: Religion of, Idolatrous Egypt: Ruled by Kings Who Assumed the Name of Pharaoh Egypt: Sometimes Visited by Famine Egypt: The Armies of Assistance of, Sought by Judah Against the Chaldees Egypt: The Armies of Besieged and Plundered Jerusalem in Rehoboam's Time Egypt: The Armies of Captured and Burned Gezer Egypt: The Armies of Deposed Jehoahaz and Made Judea Tributary Egypt: The Armies of Described Egypt: The Armies of Destroyed in the Red Sea Egypt: The Armies of Invaded Assyria and Killed Josiah Who Assisted It Egypt: The Country of: Abraham Lives In Egypt: The Country of: Armies of Egypt: The Country of: Army of Destroyed in the Red Sea Egypt: The Country of: Called Rahab Egypt: The Country of: Civil War In Egypt: The Country of: Exports of Egypt: The Country of: Famine In Egypt: The Country of: Fertility of Egypt: The Country of: Idols of Egypt: The Country of: Imports of Egypt: The Country of: Irrigation Employed In Egypt: The Country of: Joseph Takes Jesus To Egypt: The Country of: Land of Ham Egypt: The Country of: Limits of Egypt: The Country of: Magi of Egypt: The Country of: of Horses Egypt: The Country of: Overflowed by the Nile River Egypt: The Country of: Priests of Egypt: The Country of: Productions of Egypt: The Country of: Prophecies Against Egypt: The Country of: Symbolical Egypt: The Country of: The King Acquires Title to Land of Related Terms Chushanrishathaim (2 Occurrences) Chushan-rishathaim (2 Occurrences) |