Free Bible Commentary
“Genesis 50:7-13”
Categories: Genesis“So Joseph went up to bury his father, and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household and all the elders of the land of Egypt, and all the household of Joseph and his brothers and his father’s household; they left only their little ones and their flocks and their herds in the land of Goshen. There also went up with him both chariots and horsemen; and it was a very great company. When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and sorrowful lamentation; and he observed seven days mourning for his father. Now when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, ‘This is a grievous mourning for the Egyptians.’ Therefore it was named Abel-mizraim, which is beyond the Jordan. Thus his sons did for him as he had charged them; for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah before Mamre, which Abraham had bought along with the field for a burial site from Ephron the Hittite. ”
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“So Joseph went up to bury his father…” (verse 7) Joseph’s entourage must have been quite an impressive sight to behold, and the spectacle of the enormous funeral procession of a caravan left an impression upon all who witnessed it. It consisted of “all the servants of Pharaoh, the elders of his household and all the elders of the land of Egypt,” along with “all the household of Joseph and his brothers and his father’s household” (verse 8). “There also went up with him both chariots and horsemen; and it was a very great company.” (verse 9) It is obvious that, although Joseph was required to make an indirect formal request of Pharaoh to carry the corpse of his father into the land of Canaan for burial (verses 4-5), the great king willingly and eagerly consented, and spared no expense to honor the fallen father of his most celebrated and successful dignitary.
“When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and sorrowful lamentation; and he observed seven days mourning for his father.” (verse 10) “The funeral takes place in two stages. The entire cortege first proceeds to a place at which a great public mourning ceremony is held. Here formal Egyptian participation in the rites is completed. Then, after a week’s stay, the immediate family continues the journey to the cave of Machpelah, where the body is privately interred.” (Nahum Sarna)
The threshing floor of Atad, “Literally, ‘the threshing floor of the bramble’…is mentioned nowhere else and cannot be certainly identified. ‘Beyond the Jordan’ can mean either east or west of the river, depending on the standpoint of the speaker or writer. Here it refers to Canaan (v. 11), and the place most probably lies along the coastal road (the Via Maris), since it would be the shortest route for anyone traveling from Egypt to Canaan, as Exodus 13:17 notes. Another name for the site is Abel-mizraim (v.11).” (Nahum Sarna)
The name Abel-mizraim means “The mourning of Egypt” and it “consists of two elements. The first element Abel…comes from the root group אבל. This element occurs in multiple names, where it usually is translated with meadow or brook. But the word is also identical to the root meaning to mourn (as used in Genesis 50:11), and that seems to serve the context quite well… The second part of the name Abel-mizraim is Mizraim, which is the Hebrew word for Egypt.” (abrim-publications)
“Thus his sons did for him as he had charged them.” (verse 13) The sons of Jacob dutifully fulfilled their father’s final request and “buried him in the cave of the field of Macpelah…” (verse 14). As they were gathered somberly around Jacob’s deathbed, Jacob, “charged them and said to them, ‘I am about to be gathered to my people; bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite, in the cave that is in the field of Machpelah, which is before Mamre, in the land of Canaan, which Abraham bought along with the field from Ephron the Hittite for a burial site.’” (Genesis 49:29-30) We should always do our best to honor the most sacred wishes of our loved ones, whether they be present or departed, as long as they do not run contrary to the will of our heavenly father. “Honor your father and mother (which is the first command with a promise), so that it may be well with you, and that you may live long on the earth.” (Ephesians 6:2-3)
Please read Genesis 50: 14-21 for tomorrow.
Have a blessed day!
-Louie Taylor
