It’s a theme that runs deep in Jewish tradition, and it surfaces in the story of Joseph, the favored son of Jacob, who rose to prominence in Egypt.
We find ourselves at the end of the Book of Genesis. Joseph is on his deathbed. Genesis 50:25 tells us, "Joseph administered an oath to the children of Israel, saying: God will remember you, and you shall carry up my bones from here."
It’s a simple sentence, but packed with meaning. Joseph, even in his final moments, is thinking about the future, about the promise God made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob – the promise of the land of Israel. He wants to be part of that future, even in death.
Now, when Joseph says, "You shall carry up my bones from here," one might assume he meant right away. But Bereshit Rabbah, a classical rabbinic commentary on Genesis, asks a crucial question: When exactly should they take his bones? The answer, the commentary points out, lies in Exodus 13:19: “[You shall bring my bones up from here] with you." That little phrase "with you" is key. It implies the bones would be brought up "when you ascend" – meaning, when the entire Israelite nation leaves Egypt.
But what about the other brothers, the heads of the tribes? Did Joseph only care about his own remains? According to Bereshit Rabbah, the phrase "with you" teaches us something more profound. It suggests that the Israelites took up the bones of all the tribes with them, not just Joseph's. It’s a beautiful idea, a testament to the unity of the tribes even in death, and their shared destiny in the promised land.
The verse concludes in Genesis 50:26, "Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten years. They embalmed him, and he was placed in a coffin in Egypt." Who exactly embalmed him? The text just says "they embalmed him." Who are "they"?
Here, the Rabbis debate. Rabbi Pinḥas and Rabbi Yehuda, citing Rabbi Neḥemya, offer different opinions. Rabbi Yehuda suggests the physicians embalmed him, as was the custom in Egypt. But Rabbi Pinḥas has a different take. He says the tribes embalmed him. Bereshit Rabbah then connects this back to Exodus 1:1: "These are the names of the children of Israel who came to Egypt." "They" – the ones who embalmed Joseph – are the very same children of Israel who came down to Egypt.
What’s so significant about this detail? It emphasizes the honor and respect the entire nation had for Joseph. It wasn’t just a professional service; it was a communal act of love and remembrance. It underscores the deep connection between Joseph and his people.
This whole passage, though seemingly about burial arrangements, is really about hope, memory, and the unbreakable bonds of community. Joseph's oath, and the actions taken by the Israelites generations later, remind us that even in exile, the dream of return can stay alive. And that sometimes, the smallest words – like "with you" – can carry the weight of generations.
It makes you wonder, doesn't it? What promises are we making today that will shape the future for those who come after us? And what acts of remembrance will bind us together as a community, even across time and distance?