The burial procession of Jacob, also known as Israel, is a significant event recorded in the Book of Genesis, specifically in Genesis 50:1-14. This event marks the fulfillment of Jacob's request to be buried in the land of Canaan, in the cave of Machpelah, where his ancestors were laid to rest. The procession is notable for its grandeur and the participation of both Jacob's family and Egyptian dignitaries, reflecting Jacob's esteemed status in Egypt and the deep respect held for him by his descendants and the Egyptians alike.

Context and Background

Jacob, the patriarch of the Israelites, spent the final years of his life in Egypt, where he and his family were invited to live by his son Joseph, who had risen to a position of power as Pharaoh's vizier. Before his death, Jacob made Joseph swear to bury him in the ancestral burial site in Canaan, rather than in Egypt. This request is recorded in Genesis 49:29-32, where Jacob instructs his sons to bury him in the cave of Machpelah, which Abraham had purchased as a family burial site.

The Mourning Period

Upon Jacob's death, Joseph ordered his father's body to be embalmed, a process that took forty days, as was customary in Egypt. The Egyptians mourned for Jacob for seventy days, a period that underscores the high regard in which he was held. Genesis 50:3 states, "The Egyptians mourned for him seventy days."

The Procession to Canaan

After the mourning period, Joseph sought and received Pharaoh's permission to fulfill his father's burial wishes. Joseph's request is recorded in Genesis 50:4-6, where he explains the oath he made to his father. Pharaoh's response was favorable, allowing Joseph to proceed with the burial.

The procession to Canaan was a grand affair, involving not only Jacob's immediate family but also a significant contingent of Egyptian officials. Genesis 50:7-9 describes the procession: "So Joseph went to bury his father, and all Pharaoh’s officials went with him—the dignitaries of his court and all the dignitaries of Egypt—besides all the members of Joseph’s household and his brothers and those belonging to his father’s household. Only their children and their flocks and herds were left in Goshen. Both chariots and horsemen went up with him, and it was a very large company."

The Mourning at the Threshing Floor of Atad

Upon reaching the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, the procession halted for a seven-day period of mourning. This event is detailed in Genesis 50:10-11: "When they reached the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented loudly and bitterly; and there Joseph observed a seven-day period of mourning for his father. When the Canaanites who lived there saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad, they said, 'The Egyptians are holding a solemn ceremony of mourning.' That is why that place near the Jordan is called Abel Mizraim."

Burial in the Cave of Machpelah

Following the mourning at Atad, Jacob's sons carried out his burial in the cave of Machpelah, as he had commanded. Genesis 50:12-13 records the fulfillment of Jacob's wishes: "So Jacob’s sons did as he had commanded them. They carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah, near Mamre, which Abraham had bought along with the field as a burial place from Ephron the Hittite."

Return to Egypt

After the burial, Joseph and all who had accompanied him returned to Egypt. Genesis 50:14 states, "After burying his father, Joseph returned to Egypt, together with his brothers and all the others who had gone with him to bury his father."

The burial procession of Jacob is a profound testament to the patriarch's enduring legacy and the unity of his family, even amidst the foreign land of Egypt. It highlights the fulfillment of God's promises to the patriarchs and the deep respect and honor accorded to Jacob by both his family and the Egyptians.