GENESIS 47
23 Then Joseph said to the people, “Behold, I have this day bought you and your land for Pharaoh. Now here is seed for you, and you shall sow the land. 24 And at the harvests you shall give a fifth to Pharaoh, and four fifths shall be your own, as seed for the field and as food for yourselves and your households, and as food for your little ones.” 25 And they said, “You have saved our lives; may it please my lord, we will be servants to Pharaoh.” 26 So Joseph made it a statute concerning the land of Egypt, and it stands to this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth; the land of the priests alone did not become Pharaoh’s.27 Thus Israel settled in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen. And they gained possessions in it, and were fruitful and multiplied greatly. 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were 147 years.
29 And when the time drew near that Israel must die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, put your hand under my thigh and promise to deal kindly and truly with me. Do not bury me in Egypt, 30 but let me lie with my fathers. Carry me out of Egypt and bury me in their burying place.” He answered, “I will do as you have said.” 31 And he said, “Swear to me”; and he swore to him. Then Israel bowed himself upon the head of his bed. – Genesis 47:23-31
GENESIS 47 JACOB’S REQUEST TO BE BURIED IN CANAAN
A poem by ILMA inspired by these verses
During the famine years that Joseph prospered Pharaoh
He required Pharaoh’s servant to give a fifth of their harvest
Those servants willingly complied, so Joseph made a decree of it
At this time, Jacob was 147 years old and requested Joseph
He didn’t want to be buried in Egypt but in his father’s land
He made Joseph promise that he will do as he requested.
Jacob lived in Egypt for seventeen years and he was generously provided for by his beloved Joseph. Although Pharaoh treated him well and his entire family, he still wanted to be buried in his father’s land. It was the promised land to Abraham and to his offspring.
Even though that promise wasn’t yet fulfilled, it was the land that God promised to his ancestors. Joseph will comply and arrange when he dies to be buried in Canaan.
REFLECTION
- Why do you think it was significant for Jacob to be buried in Canaan?
