Genesis 50:13
They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave at Machpelah in the field near Mamre, which Abraham had purchased from Ephron the Hittite as a burial site.
They carried him to the land of Canaan
This phrase refers to the journey Joseph and his brothers undertook to fulfill Jacob's dying wish to be buried in Canaan. Canaan is the land promised by God to Abraham and his descendants (Genesis 12:7). This act signifies the importance of the Promised Land in the patriarchal narratives and the faithfulness of the family to God's covenant promises.

and buried him in the cave at Machpelah
The cave of Machpelah is a significant burial site for the patriarchs. It is the same location where Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah were buried (Genesis 49:31). This burial site underscores the continuity of God's covenant with Abraham's descendants and the importance of family heritage and legacy.

in the field near Mamre
Mamre is located near Hebron, a significant location in the patriarchal narratives. It is where Abraham settled and built an altar to the Lord (Genesis 13:18). The mention of Mamre ties Jacob's burial to the broader narrative of God's interactions with the patriarchs in this region.

which Abraham had purchased from Ephron the Hittite
This purchase is recorded in Genesis 23, where Abraham buys the field and cave from Ephron the Hittite as a family burial site. This transaction is one of the few instances of land ownership by the patriarchs in Canaan, symbolizing a tangible claim to the Promised Land and the fulfillment of God's promises.

as a burial site
The burial of Jacob in this location emphasizes the faith of the patriarchs in God's promises. It also foreshadows the eventual return of the Israelites to Canaan, as Jacob's burial in the Promised Land is a precursor to the Exodus and the conquest of Canaan under Joshua. This act of burial is a testament to the hope in God's future fulfillment of His covenant.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Joseph
The son of Jacob who, along with his brothers, fulfills his father's burial wishes.

2. Jacob (Israel)
The patriarch whose body is being carried to Canaan for burial.

3. Canaan
The Promised Land where Jacob is to be buried, signifying the fulfillment of God's promise to Abraham.

4. Cave at Machpelah
The burial site purchased by Abraham, serving as a family tomb.

5. Ephron the Hittite
The original owner of the field and cave, from whom Abraham purchased the burial site.
Teaching Points
Faith in God's Promises
Jacob's burial in Canaan underscores the importance of trusting in God's promises, even beyond one's lifetime.

Family Legacy and Heritage
The burial at Machpelah highlights the significance of family heritage and the continuity of faith across generations.

Obedience to Parental Wishes
Joseph and his brothers' fulfillment of Jacob's burial request demonstrates the importance of honoring and obeying parental wishes.

The Significance of Place in Faith
The return to Canaan for burial signifies the deep connection between faith and the physical places associated with God's promises.

The Hope of Resurrection
The burial in the Promised Land points to the hope of resurrection and eternal life, a theme that runs throughout Scripture.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the burial of Jacob in Canaan reflect his faith in God's promises, and how can we apply this faith in our own lives?

2. What significance does the cave at Machpelah hold for the patriarchs, and how does this relate to the concept of a spiritual heritage in our families today?

3. In what ways can we honor the wishes of our parents or elders, and how does this align with biblical teachings on obedience and respect?

4. How does the connection between faith and physical places manifest in our own spiritual journeys, and what places hold special significance for our faith?

5. How does the hope of resurrection and eternal life influence our understanding of death and burial, and how can this hope be a source of comfort and encouragement in times of loss?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 23
Details the purchase of the cave at Machpelah by Abraham, establishing it as a family burial site.

Genesis 49:29-32
Jacob's instructions to his sons to bury him in the cave at Machpelah, emphasizing the importance of the family burial site.

Hebrews 11:13-16
Reflects on the faith of the patriarchs, including their desire to be buried in the Promised Land as a testament to their faith in God's promises.

Acts 7:15-16
Stephen's speech references the burial of Jacob, highlighting the significance of the patriarchs' connection to the land of Canaan.
Ceremonies After DeathM. M. Kalisch, Ph. D.Genesis 50:1-13
The Honour Paid to the Departed JacobT. H. Leale.Genesis 50:1-13
Three Modes of EmbalmingM. M. Kalisch, Ph. D.Genesis 50:1-13
Retrospect and ProspectR.A. Redford Genesis 50
People
Abel, Canaanites, Egyptians, Ephron, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Machir, Mamre, Manasseh, Mizraim, Pharaoh
Places
Canaan, Egypt, Goshen, Jordan River, Machpelah, Mamre, Rameses
Topics
Along, Bear, Bought, Burial, Buried, Bury, Burying, Buryingplace, Burying-place, Canaan, Carried, Cave, East, Ephron, Field, Front, Got, Hittite, Hollow, Machpelah, Mach-pe'lah, Mamre, Opposite, Possess, Possession, Rest, Resting-place, Rock, Sepulchre, Site, Sons
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Genesis 50:13

     4218   cave
     5241   burial
     5305   empires

Genesis 50:12-13

     5095   Jacob, life

Library
Joseph's Faith
'Joseph took an oath of the children of Israel, saying, God will surely visit you, and ye shall carry up my bones from hence.'--GENESIS l. 25. This is the one act of Joseph's life which the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews selects as the sign that he too lived by faith. 'By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.' It was at once a proof of how entirely he believed God's promise, and of how earnestly he longed
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Coffin in Egypt
'They embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.' --GENESIS l. 26. So closes the book of Genesis. All its recorded dealings of God with Israel, and all the promises and the glories of the patriarchal line, end with 'a coffin in Egypt'. Such an ending is the more striking, when we remember that a space of three hundred years intervenes between the last events in Genesis and the first in Exodus, or almost as long a time as parts the Old Testament from the New. And, during all that period, Israel
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

A Calm Evening, Promising a Bright Morning
'And Joseph returned into Egypt, he, and his brethren, and all that went up with him to bury his father, after he had buried his father. And when Joseph's brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Joseph will peradventure hate us, and will certainly requite us all the evil which we did unto him. And they sent a messenger unto Joseph, saying, Thy father did command before he died, saying, So shall ye say unto Joseph, Forgive, I pray thee now, the trespass of thy brethren, and their sin;
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Worst Things Work for Good to the Godly
DO not mistake me, I do not say that of their own nature the worst things are good, for they are a fruit of the curse; but though they are naturally evil, yet the wise overruling hand of God disposing and sanctifying them, they are morally good. As the elements, though of contrary qualities, yet God has so tempered them, that they all work in a harmonious manner for the good of the universe. Or as in a watch, the wheels seem to move contrary one to another, but all carry on the motions of the watch:
Thomas Watson—A Divine Cordial

Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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