“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.”
This verse concludes the account of Joseph’s actions following the death of his father, Jacob, also known as Israel. To understand the significance of this verse, it is helpful to review the events leading up to it.
In Genesis 50, we find that Jacob had passed away in the land of Egypt, where he had lived with his family due to the severe famine in Canaan. Prior to his death, Jacob had given specific instructions to his son Joseph and his other sons concerning his burial. Jacob desired to be buried in the burial site of his ancestors, in the cave of Machpelah in the field of Ephron the Hittite, in the land of Canaan (Genesis 49:29-32).
After Jacob’s death, Joseph and his brothers, along with a great company of people, including Egyptian officials and elders of Pharaoh’s house, embarked on a journey to fulfill their father’s request. They traveled from Egypt to Canaan, a distance of several hundred miles. Upon reaching Canaan, they observed a period of mourning and lamentation for Jacob at the threshing floor of Atad, a place located beyond the Jordan River (Genesis 50:10-11).
The mourning was so profound that the Canaanite inhabitants of the land took notice and named the place Abel-Mizraim, which means “the mourning of the Egyptians.” This highlights the respect and influence that Joseph had acquired in Egypt, as even the local people recognized and acknowledged the grief of this powerful Egyptian ruler and his family.
After mourning for Jacob, Joseph and his brothers proceeded to bury their father in the cave of Machpelah, in the field of Ephron the Hittite, just as Jacob had instructed. This was a significant act because it demonstrated Joseph’s obedience and faithfulness to his father’s wishes, even in the midst of his high position in Egypt. It also signified the importance of honoring and respecting one’s parents, a principle emphasized throughout the Bible.
Following the burial, Joseph and his brothers returned to Egypt along with all who had accompanied them to Canaan. This verse, Genesis 50:14, simply states that Joseph, his brothers, and all the people who had gone with them to bury Jacob went back to Egypt. The verse serves as a conclusion to the chapter and highlights the completion of their journey and the fulfillment of their duty to their father.
In summary, Genesis 50:14 underscores the fulfilment of Jacob’s burial request, the significance of honouring parents’ wishes, and the obedience and faithfulness of Joseph and his brothers. It also showcases Joseph’s influence in Egypt, as the mourning for his father was widely recognised. This verse concludes the account of Joseph’s actions surrounding his father’s death and burial, setting the stage for the subsequent events in the narrative of the book of Genesis.
