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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.comKeil and Delitzsch Commentary - Genesis 50:24 - 50:24
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When Joseph saw his death approaching, he expressed to his brethren his firm belief in the fulfilment of the divine promise (Gen 46:4-5, cf. Gen 15:16, Gen 15:18.), and made them take an oath, that if God should bring them into the promised land, they would carry his bones with them from Egypt. This last desire of his was carried out. When he died, they embalmed him, and laid him (וַיִּישֶׂם from יָשַׂם, like Gen 24:33 in the chethib) “in the coffin,” i.e., the ordinary coffin, constructed of sycamore-wood (see Hengstenberg, pp. 71, 72), which was then deposited in a room, according to Egyptian custom (Herod. 2, 86), and remained in Egypt for 360 years, until they carried it away with them at the time of the exodus, when it was eventually buried in Shechem, in the piece of land which had been bought by Jacob there (Gen 33:19; Jos 24:32).
Thus the account of the pilgrim-life of the patriarchs terminates with an act of faith on the part of the dying Joseph; and after his death, in consequence of his instructions, the coffin with his bones became a standing exhortation to Israel, to turn its eyes away from Egypt to Canaan, the land promised to its fathers, and to wait in the patience of faith for the fulfilment of the promise.
Chronological Survey of the Leading Events
of the Patriarchal History
Arranged according to the Hebrew Text, as a continuation of the Chronological Tables at p. 77, with an additional calculation of the year before Christ.
The Events Year of Migration to Egypt Year of Entrance into Canaan Year from the Creation Year Before Christ
Abram's entrance into Canaan 1 2021 2137
Birth of Ishmael 11 2032 2126
Institution of Circumcision 24 2045 2113
Birth of Isaac 25 2046 2112
Death of Sarah 62 2083 2075
Marriage of Isaac 65 2086 2072
Birth of Esau and Jacob 85 2106 2052
Death of Abraham 100 2121 2037
Marriage of Esau 125 2146 2012
Death of Ishmael 148 2169 1989
Flight of Jacob to Padan Aram 162 2183 1975
Jacob's Marriage 169 2190 1968
Birth of Joseph 176 2197 1961
Jacob's return from Padan Aram 182 2203 1951
Jacob's arrival at Shechem in Canaan ? 187 ? 2208 ? 1950
Jacob's return home to Hebron 192 2213 1945
Sale of Joseph 193 2214 1944
Death of Isaac 205 2226 1932
Promotion of Joseph in Egypt 206 2227 1931
Removal of Israel to Egypt 1 215 2236 1922
Death of Jacob 17 232 2253 1905
Death of Joseph 71 286 2307 1851
Birth of Moses 350 565 2586 1572
Exodus of Israel from Egypt 430 645 2666 1492
The calculation of the years b.c. is based upon the fact, that the termination of the 70 years' captivity coincided with the first year of the sole government of Cyrus, and fell in the year 536 b.c.; consequently the captivity commenced in the year 606 B. C.