The traditional texts give us some fascinating, and sometimes surprising, details.
So, picture this: Jacob, having blessed each of his sons individually, gathers them all together for one final, powerful message. According to Legends of the Jews, as retold by Ginzberg, Jacob tells them, "I've blessed you as best I can, but a prophet, Moses, will come and continue where I left off." It’s like he’s passing the torch, isn't it? He emphasizes that the blessings of each tribe should benefit all – Judah's wheat for Benjamin, Benjamin's barley for Judah. Mutual help, unity, and, crucially, a warning against idolatry and blasphemy.
Then comes the instructions for his funeral procession. It's incredibly specific: Joseph, as king, and Levi, destined to carry the Ark of the Shekinah (the divine presence), are exempt from carrying the bier. The other tribes are assigned sides – Judah, Issachar, and Zebulun at the front, and so on. And this, he says, is the order they should march in the desert, with the Shekinah in their midst. Imagine the symbolism!
Jacob then turns to Joseph, urging him to forgive his brothers and protect them from the Egyptians. He knows the future struggles his descendants will face. "Great suffering will befall your sons," he says, "but if you obey God, He will send a redeemer to lead you out of Egypt." It's a message of hope amidst a somber moment.
And how does Jacob actually die? It’s not the Angel of Death, but the Shekinah itself that takes his soul "with a kiss." A beautiful image, right? Only a select few – Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, Aaron, and Miriam – are said to have passed this way. Ginzberg notes that these six, along with Benjamin, are believed to have bodies that don't decay after death.
Joseph, overcome with grief and respect, orders his father's body to be placed on an elaborate couch – ivory, gold, gems, the works. He pours fragrant wine, burns aromatic spices. Legends of the Jews describes a scene of incredible honor, with heroes of Esau's house, princes of Ishmael's family, and Judah himself surrounding the bier. Judah even proposes planting a giant cedar tree at Jacob's grave, its branches reaching the heavens, its roots the abyss. A powerful symbol of the legacy Jacob leaves behind.
The mourning is intense. The sons of Jacob tear their clothes, cover themselves in dust. Asenath, Joseph's wife, and the women of Egypt join in the weeping. Even the Egyptians mourn, recognizing that Jacob's presence had lessened the severity of the famine they faced.
But here's where it gets… complicated. Joseph orders the physicians to embalm the corpse. And according to Legends of the Jews, this displeases God. "Have I not the power to preserve the corpse of this pious man from corruption?" God asks. The consequence? Joseph is said to be the first of Jacob's sons to die. The Egyptians, however, are rewarded for their veneration. It's a reminder that even acts of respect can be misconstrued, and that God's ways are often mysterious.
The Egyptians spend forty days embalming the body and seventy days mourning. Then, Joseph seeks permission from Pharaoh to carry Jacob's body to Canaan for burial, honoring a solemn oath. He sends others to plead his case, being in too much mourning to do it himself.
At first, Pharaoh refuses! He suggests Joseph seek absolution from the oath. But Joseph retorts that he'll then seek absolution from the oath he swore to Pharaoh himself – an oath to never reveal Pharaoh’s ignorance of Hebrew. This sends Pharaoh into a panic! He remembers that the Egyptian nobles wouldn't let him appoint Joseph as viceroy until he demonstrated mastery of all seventy languages – which Pharaoh couldn't do. The fear of being exposed forces Pharaoh to grant Joseph permission.
Pharaoh even issues a decree, ordering everyone to accompany Joseph to Canaan, creating a massive funeral procession. The bier is elaborate, made of gold, inlaid with precious stones. Joseph places a golden crown on his father's head and a golden scepter in his hand, treating him like a living king.
The procession makes its way to Canaan, stopping at the threshing-floor of Atad for a final, great lamentation. The Canaanites, initially reluctant, join in the mourning when they see the honors bestowed upon Jacob. Even the sons of Esau, Ishmael, and Keturah appear, though some harbor hostile intentions.
And then, the climax: At the Cave of Machpelah, Esau tries to prevent the burial! He claims that Jacob used his share of the tomb for Leah, leaving no space for him. The sons of Jacob know that their father bought Esau's share, but the bill of sale is back in Egypt.
Enter Hushim, the son of Dan, who is deaf. He asks why the burial is delayed, and upon learning the reason, he flies into a rage! He grabs a club and strikes Esau, killing him. Esau's eyes fall onto Jacob's knees, and Jacob, miraculously, opens his eyes and smiles. Talk about dramatic! With Esau out of the way, the burial proceeds.
The Legends of the Jews tells us that the head of Esau rolls into the Cave and falls into the lap of Isaac, who pleads for mercy on his son. But God refuses. "As I live," God says, "he shall not behold the majesty of the Lord."
Wow, right? What a story. It's a reminder that even in death, the complexities of family, obligation, and divine will continue to play out. It leaves you wondering: What kind of legacy will we leave behind? And how will our actions in this world affect not only our own destinies, but the destinies of generations to come?