Genesis 50:2

And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.

And Joseph {H3130} commanded {H6680} his servants {H5650} the physicians {H7495} to embalm {H2590} his father {H1}: and the physicians {H7495} embalmed {H2590} Israel {H3478}.

Then Yosef ordered the physicians in his service to embalm his father. So the physicians embalmed Isra'el.

And Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So they embalmed him,

And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel.

Commentary

Context

Genesis 50:2 immediately follows the account of Jacob's death in Egypt. Joseph, who had become the second most powerful man in Egypt (Genesis 41:40), takes charge of his father's funeral arrangements. This verse highlights Joseph's adherence to certain Egyptian customs, reflecting his high status and the deep integration of Jacob's family into Egyptian society during this period.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Filial Devotion and Honor: Joseph's command to embalm his father demonstrates profound respect and love for Jacob. Embalming was a lengthy and expensive process, reserved for individuals of high standing, signifying Joseph's desire to give his father the most honorable burial possible according to the customs of the land where they resided.
  • Egyptian Influence and Adaptation: The act of embalming was a distinct Egyptian practice, not a customary Israelite one. This verse illustrates how Joseph, and by extension, the Israelite family, adopted certain cultural practices of their host nation. This adaptation allowed for the preservation of Jacob's body for the long journey back to the land of Canaan for burial, fulfilling Jacob's dying wish.
  • Joseph's Authority: The fact that Joseph "commanded his servants the physicians" underscores his immense authority and access to specialized services within Egyptian society. It shows his power to direct even highly skilled professionals for personal family matters.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for 'physicians' here is rofe' (ืจึนืคึถื), which literally means 'healer' or 'doctor'. In ancient Egypt, these individuals were skilled in various medical practices, including the complex process of mummification. The term 'embalm' is from the Hebrew chanat (ื—ึธื ึทื˜), which specifically refers to the process of preserving a body, often through the use of spices and resins, consistent with Egyptian mummification techniques.

Practical Application

This verse offers several insights for believers today:

  • Honoring Parents: Joseph's meticulous care for his deceased father serves as a powerful example of honoring one's parents, even after their passing. This aligns with the biblical command to honor your father and mother.
  • Navigating Culture: Joseph lived faithfully within a foreign culture, adopting certain practices that did not compromise his core faith or the family's covenant identity. This provides a model for how believers can engage with and function within diverse cultural contexts while maintaining their distinct spiritual convictions.
  • Foresight and Preparation: The embalming was a practical step to preserve Jacob's body for the journey to Canaan. This highlights the importance of thoughtful preparation and planning, especially when fulfilling promises or facing significant transitions. Significantly, Joseph himself would later be embalmed in Egypt, awaiting the exodus of his people.
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Cross-References

  • 2 Chronicles 16:14 (5 votes)

    And they buried him in his own sepulchres, which he had made for himself in the city of David, and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours and divers kinds [of spices] prepared by the apothecaries' art: and they made a very great burning for him.

  • Genesis 50:26 (5 votes)

    So Joseph died, [being] an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.

  • Mark 16:1 (4 votes)

    ยถ And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the [mother] of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

  • John 19:39 (4 votes)

    And there came also Nicodemus, which at the first came to Jesus by night, and brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about an hundred pound [weight].

  • John 19:40 (4 votes)

    Then took they the body of Jesus, and wound it in linen clothes with the spices, as the manner of the Jews is to bury.

  • Matthew 26:12 (3 votes)

    For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did [it] for my burial.

  • Luke 24:1 (2 votes)

    ยถ Now upon the first [day] of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain [others] with them.