Genesis 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.

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