How Did Joseph Bury Jacob According to His Wishes?
The burial of Jacob is one of the most solemn and honorable events recorded in the book of Genesis. Joseph—once a slave and prisoner, now the second most powerful man in Egypt—carried out his father’s final instructions with great care, reverence, and determination. Jacob had made Joseph swear an oath that he would not bury him in Egypt but in the promised land (Genesis 47:29–31). Joseph fulfilled this oath meticulously.
The account reveals Joseph as a devoted son, a wise leader, and a man committed to the covenant promises handed down from Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
1. Joseph Honored Jacob with Deep Personal Grief
After Jacob died, Scripture describes Joseph’s emotional response:
“Joseph fell on his father’s face, wept over him, and kissed him.”
—Genesis 50:1
This moment shows:
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Joseph’s profound love for Jacob
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Natural grief after decades of separation and restoration
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Tender affection as he said his final goodbye
Joseph’s mourning sets the tone for the honor he gives his father in the events that follow.
2. Joseph Ordered Jacob’s Body to Be Embalmed
To prepare for a long journey back to Canaan, Joseph commanded:
“Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father.”
—Genesis 50:2
Important details:
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Joseph used physicians, not pagan embalmers—maintaining dignity
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Embalming took forty days, the standard process
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Egypt mourned Jacob for seventy days, a period almost equal to mourning for Pharaoh himself
This showed the national respect Egypt had for Jacob and Joseph.
3. Joseph Requested Pharaoh’s Permission to Fulfill the Oath
Because Jacob’s burial place was outside Egypt, Joseph had to ask Pharaoh for permission:
“My father made me swear, saying, ‘Bury me in my grave… in Canaan.’ Let me go up now and bury my father.”
—Genesis 50:5
Pharaoh immediately agreed, showing:
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Respect for Jacob as the father of a great Egyptian leader
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Trust in Joseph
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Recognition of Joseph’s family’s importance
Joseph’s faithfulness to his father was recognized at the highest level of government.
4. Joseph Led a Grand Funeral Procession to Canaan
The funeral procession described in Genesis 50 is one of the most elaborate in the Bible.
Those who traveled with Joseph included:
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Egyptian elders and officials
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Court leaders
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Chariots and horsemen
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All of Joseph’s brothers
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Members of Jacob’s extended household
Scripture describes it as:
“A very great company.”
This was not merely a family trip—it was a state funeral, signifying honor, dignity, and recognition.
The procession traveled from Egypt to Canaan, demonstrating:
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Joseph’s deep respect for Jacob
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Egypt’s recognition of Jacob’s significance
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The fulfillment of Jacob’s final wish
5. Joseph Observed Seven Days of Mourning at Atad
Before entering Canaan, Joseph stopped at the threshing floor of Atad, just east of the Jordan River.
There, the entire company observed:
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Seven days of intense mourning
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Public lamentation
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A ceremony so significant that the Canaanites renamed the place Abel-mizraim, meaning “the mourning of Egypt”
This ceremony honored Jacob as a patriarch and spiritual leader, not only among Hebrews but also in the eyes of neighboring nations.
6. Joseph Buried Jacob in the Cave of Machpelah
Joseph then fulfilled Jacob’s exact instructions:
“He buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah… facing Mamre… which Abraham bought as a burial place.”
—Genesis 50:13
This cave was profoundly important:
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Abraham purchased it from Ephron the Hittite (Genesis 23)
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Abraham and Sarah were buried there
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Isaac and Rebekah were buried there
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Leah was also buried there
By burying Jacob here, Joseph:
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Affirmed Jacob’s identity as part of the covenant line
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Honored his father’s spiritual legacy
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Reconnected the family to the land God promised Abraham
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Ensured that Jacob rested among the patriarchs
This was the heart of Jacob’s final request.
7. Joseph Returned to Egypt After Completing the Burial
After fulfilling the oath, Joseph returned to Egypt with:
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His brothers
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The Egyptian officials
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All who had traveled with him
This emphasizes:
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Joseph’s loyalty to Pharaoh
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His ongoing responsibilities in Egypt
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His commitment to family unity even after Jacob’s death
Conclusion: Joseph Fulfilled Jacob’s Wishes with Honor, Faith, and Love
Joseph’s fulfillment of Jacob’s burial request shows:
1. Deep Love and Honor
He grieved openly and sincerely.
2. Faithfulness to a Sacred Oath
He made sure Jacob was buried exactly where he wished.
3. Leadership and Respect
He organized and led a massive, honorable funeral procession.
4. Devotion to God’s Covenant
He returned Jacob to the land promised to their forefathers.
5. Balanced Loyalty
He honored both his father and Pharaoh, demonstrating wisdom and integrity.
Through Joseph’s actions, the burial of Jacob becomes more than a family duty—it becomes a powerful declaration of faith in God’s promises and a display of remarkable filial devotion.