The mourning period of 70 days. This was very long and significant because the royal mourning period in Egypt was possibly only 72 days long, so Jacob (via Joseph) was given a high honor.

“Luther remarks that there is no burial recorded in the Scriptures quite as honorable as this or with such wealth of detail.” (Leupold)

Jacob was 147 years old when he died. According to the genealogies in Genesis, Abraham would have been alive with Noah's sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth.

Though Jacob's sons often disappointed him in life they obeyed and honored him in death.

Jacob was buried in the same cave purchased by Abraham in Genesis 23:9. Also buried here are Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah and Leah.

• Joseph's brothers thought that he would exact his revenge now that Jacob was dead. In Genesis 27:4, Esau vowed to take revenge on Jacob once Isaac was dead.
• The brothers admit that what they did to Joseph was evil.
• His brothers' story that Jacob commanded forgiveness from Joseph was likely made up.
• Joseph may have wept because his brothers thought Joseph would not have given them mercy if they had simply asked themselves.
• Joseph tells them that since he is not God, it is not his place to take revenge.
• Joseph does not relieve his brothers of their guilt but says that God turned their evil to good.
  • God can turn all evil to good.
  • Our lives are in the hands of God who can overturn all evil, not men.
  • By bringing the Israelites to Egypt, God saved them from dying to the famine or having the survivors being assimilated in the Canaanites. This ultimately allows the coming of the Messiah to save all mankind.

• Joseph may never have been buried but rather sat in a coffin above ground as a reminder that the Israelites would eventually be led to the promised land.