"Swear to me," Jacob said. So Joseph swore to him, and Israel bowed in worship at the head of his bed. “Swear to me,” Jacob said.Jacob, also known as Israel, is nearing the end of his life and is deeply concerned about his burial place. This request for an oath reflects the seriousness of his desire to be buried in the land of Canaan, the land promised to his descendants by God. The act of swearing an oath was a solemn and binding agreement in ancient Near Eastern culture, often invoking the name of God as a witness. This reflects the importance Jacob places on the covenant promises and his desire to be associated with the land of promise even in death. So Joseph swore to him,
Joseph, as the favored son and a man of integrity, honors his father's request. His willingness to swear an oath demonstrates his respect for his father and his commitment to fulfilling Jacob's wishes. This act also signifies Joseph's acknowledgment of the importance of the covenant promises tied to the land of Canaan. Joseph's position in Egypt as a powerful leader does not diminish his connection to his heritage and the promises given to his forefathers. and Israel bowed in worship at the head of his bed.
The name "Israel" is used here, emphasizing Jacob's role as the patriarch of the nation. His act of bowing in worship signifies his deep faith and gratitude towards God for His faithfulness throughout his life. This moment of worship at the end of his life reflects Jacob's acknowledgment of God's sovereignty and the fulfillment of His promises. The phrase "at the head of his bed" indicates Jacob's frailty and impending death, yet even in his weakness, he demonstrates a posture of reverence and trust in God. This act can be seen as a type of Christ, who, in His own death, demonstrated ultimate trust and submission to the Father's will. Persons / Places / Events 1. Jacob (Israel)The patriarch of the Israelites, who is nearing the end of his life. He is concerned about his burial place and makes Joseph swear to bury him in Canaan. 2. JosephJacob's son, who has risen to a position of power in Egypt. He is asked by his father to swear an oath regarding Jacob's burial. 3. EgyptThe land where Jacob and his family are residing due to a severe famine. It is a place of provision but not the promised land. 4. CanaanThe promised land where Jacob desires to be buried, signifying his faith in God's promises to Abraham, Isaac, and himself. 5. OathA solemn promise made by Joseph to Jacob, highlighting the importance of fulfilling one's word and honoring family wishes. Teaching Points Faith in God's PromisesJacob's insistence on being buried in Canaan reflects his unwavering faith in God's promises. Believers are encouraged to hold fast to God's promises, even when circumstances seem contrary. The Importance of Family LegacyJacob's request to Joseph underscores the significance of family legacy and honoring the wishes of our elders. It reminds us to respect and uphold family values and traditions. Worship in All CircumstancesIsrael's act of worship at the head of his bed, even in his frailty, teaches us to maintain a posture of worship and gratitude to God in all stages of life. Integrity and Keeping PromisesJoseph's commitment to his father's request highlights the importance of integrity and keeping our promises, especially to those we love. Bible Study Questions 1. How does Jacob's request to be buried in Canaan demonstrate his faith in God's promises, and how can we apply this faith in our own lives? 2. In what ways does Joseph's response to his father's request reflect the biblical principle of honoring one's parents, and how can we practice this in our daily interactions? 3. How does the act of worship by Jacob at the end of his life inspire us to maintain a heart of worship, regardless of our circumstances? 4. What can we learn from the importance Jacob places on his burial location about the significance of legacy and heritage in our own families? 5. How does the fulfillment of Joseph's oath to Jacob connect to the broader account of God's faithfulness throughout the Bible, and how can this encourage us in our personal walk with God? Connections to Other Scriptures Genesis 50:5-13This passage describes the fulfillment of Joseph's oath to Jacob, as he ensures his father is buried in Canaan, demonstrating the importance of keeping promises. Hebrews 11:21This verse references Jacob's faith as he worships at the end of his life, showing his trust in God's promises even in his final moments. Exodus 13:19Joseph's own bones are later carried to Canaan, reflecting a similar faith in God's promises and the importance of the promised land. People Egyptians, Jacob, Joseph, PharaohPlaces Canaan, Egypt, Goshen, RamesesTopics Bed, Bed's, Bowed, Boweth, Joseph, Leaned, Oath, Staff, Sware, Swear, Sweareth, Swore, Worship, Worshiped, WorshippedDictionary of Bible Themes Genesis 47:31 4512 staff
8626 worship, places Genesis 47:28-31 5430 oaths, human Genesis 47:29-31 5468 promises, human Library Two Retrospects of one Life
'And Jacob said unto Pharaoh, Few and evil have the days of the years of my life been.'--GENESIS xlvii. 9. 'The God which fed me all my life long unto this day; the Angel which redeemed me from all evil.' --GENESIS xlviii. 15,16. These are two strangely different estimates of the same life to be taken by the same man. In the latter Jacob categorically contradicts everything that he had said in the former. 'Few and evil,' he said before Pharaoh. 'All my life long,' 'the Angel which redeemed me from …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy ScriptureGrowth by Transplanting
'Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen. And he took some of his brethren, even five men, and presented them unto Pharaoh. And Pharaoh said unto his brethren, What is your occupation? And they said unto Pharaoh, Thy servants are shepherds, both we, and also our fathers. They said moreover unto Pharaoh, For to sojourn in the land …
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture Seven Sanctified Thoughts and Mournful Sighs of a Sick Man Ready to Die.
Now, forasmuch as God of his infinite mercy doth so temper our pain and sickness, that we are not always oppressed with extremity, but gives us in the midst of our extremities some respite, to ease and refresh ourselves, thou must have an especial care, considering how short a time thou hast either for ever to lose or to obtain heaven, to make use of every breathing time which God affords thee; and during that little time of ease to gather strength against the fits of greater anguish. Therefore, …
Lewis Bayly—The Practice of Piety The Shortness and Misery of Life.
1 Our days, alas! our mortal days Are short and wretched too; "Evil and few," the patriarch says, [1] And well the patriarch knew. 2 'Tis but at best a narrow bound That heaven allows to men, And pains and sins run thro' the round Of threescore years and ten. 3 Well, if ye must be sad and few, Run on, my days, in haste; Moments of sin, and months of woe, Ye cannot fly too fast. 4 Let heavenly love prepare my soul, And call her to the skies, Where years of long salvation roll, And glory never dies. …
Isaac Watts—Hymns and Spiritual Songs A Cloud of Witnesses.
"By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was a-dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was nigh, made mention of the departure of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.... By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they had been compassed about for seven days. By faith Rahab the harlot perished not with them that were disobedient, …
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews Elucidations.
I. (Deadly Sins, cap. ix., p. 356.) To maintain a modern and wholly uncatholic system of Penitence, the schoolmen invented a technical scheme of sins mortal and sins venial, which must not be read into the Fathers, who had no such technicalities in mind. By "deadly sins" they meant all such as St. John recognizes (1 John v. 16-17) and none other; that is to say sins of surprise and infirmity, sins having in them no malice or wilful disobedience, such as an impatient word, or a momentary neglect of …
Tertullian—The Five Books Against Marcion A Believer's Privilege at Death
'For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.' Phil 1:1I. Hope is a Christian's anchor, which he casts within the veil. Rejoicing in hope.' Rom 12:12. A Christian's hope is not in this life, but he hash hope in his death.' Prov 14:42. The best of a saint's comfort begins when his life ends; but the wicked have all their heaven here. Woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation.' Luke 6:64. You may make your acquittance, and write Received in full payment.' Son, remember that …
Thomas Watson—A Body of Divinity 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 Links Genesis 47:31 NIVGenesis 47:31 NLTGenesis 47:31 ESVGenesis 47:31 NASBGenesis 47:31 KJV
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