Why Jacob's Days Drew Near and His Oath to Joseph on Circumcision

"And the days of Israel drew near, etc." Our Sages of blessed memory said: Of everyone concerning whom "drawing near" is stated, it means he did not reach the years of his fathers. The years of Boaz, Obed, and Jesse were four hundred years their lifetimes, yet David lived only seventy years and did not reach the days of his fathers; therefore "drawing near" is stated of him, "And the days of David drew near to die" (1 Kings 2:1). Amram lived a hundred and thirty-seven, yet Moses our teacher, peace be upon him, lived only a hundred and twenty years; therefore "drawing near" is stated of him, as it is said, "Behold, your days draw near to die" (Deuteronomy 31:14). And of Jacob "drawing near" is stated because he did not reach the days of his fathers, for Isaac lived a hundred and eighty years, yet Jacob lived only a hundred and forty-seven years; therefore "drawing near" is stated of him. "And he called his son Joseph." And why did he not call Reuben or Judah, for they were his sons—Reuben the firstborn, Judah the king? Yet he set them aside and called Joseph. And why did he do so? Because the capacity to act lay in his hand; therefore he called only Joseph, who had the ability in his hand to do it: "and you shall deal kindly and truly with me." And Jacob said to Joseph: If you do kindness and truth with me today, then after my death too do it. "Bury me not, I pray you, in Egypt." Because he foresaw by the Holy Spirit that the Egyptians were destined to be smitten with lice, and they would be swarming about beneath his bed. Another interpretation: Why did he not request to be buried in Egypt? So that they would not make him into idolatry, for just as punishment is exacted from the worshippers, so punishment is exacted from the one worshipped, as it is said, "and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments, etc." (Exodus 12:12). "Bury me not, I pray you"—but rather in the cave of my fathers; for if you do not wish to bury me there, against your will I shall lie there, as it is said, "and I shall lie with my fathers" (verse 30); and even if I be buried in another place, my soul shall go with my fathers. "Put, I pray you, your hand under my thigh." And he made him swear by the circumcision, upon which the six hundred and thirteen commandments depend—the covenant being [six hundred and twelve], and the body of circumcision completes the count of the six hundred and thirteen commandments.