Could you clarify what you mean by “Israel worshiped”? Are you referring to:
• How ancient Israel worshiped God in the Old Testament (e.g., sacrifices, festivals)?
• False worship or idolatry by Israel (e.g., Baal worship, golden calf)?
• Modern worship practices in Judaism or in the state of Israel?
• A specific Bible verse or historical period?
Let me know, and I’ll give you a clear and focused explanation.
Ah, you’re referring to Hebrews 11:21, which says:
> “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph's sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.” (NIV)
This verse recalls an event from Genesis 47:31, where Jacob (also called Israel) worshiped while leaning on his staff or cane shortly before his death.
Meaning of "worshiped on his cane":
Physical weakness: Jacob was old and weak, so he leaned on his staff for support.
Spiritual strength: Even in frailty, he bowed in worship—showing reverence and faith in God to the very end.
Testament of faith: The letter to the Hebrews lists this as an example of faith because Jacob blessed his grandchildren and worshiped, trusting in God's promises despite being near death.
Some Bible translations say "staff," others say "bed," depending on how they interpret the Hebrew word "mittah" and its rendering in the Greek Septuagint.
Jacob (also called Israel) died in Egypt at the age of 147 years old.
Timeline and context:
His death is recorded in Genesis 49:33:
> "When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people."
This occurred after he had lived 17 years in Egypt, having moved there during the famine (Genesis 47:28).
Joseph and his brothers then buried Jacob in the cave of Machpelah, in Canaan, where Abraham and Isaac were also buried (Genesis 50:13).
While the exact year isn’t given in modern calendar terms, his death took place during the time when Egypt was a major power, and Joseph held high office under Pharaoh. Many scholars place this broadly around the 19th to 17th century BCE, depending on the dating system used.
The phrase "he drew his feet up into the bed and breathed his last" (Genesis 49:33) is a gentle, poetic description of Jacob’s peaceful death. Here's what it conveys:
1. "Drew his feet up into the bed"
This suggests:
He knew his death was near and prepared himself.
Drawing his feet into the bed shows a settled, intentional posture—not a sudden or violent end.
In ancient customs, lying fully on the bed or curling up the feet could symbolize readiness to die in dignity and peace.
2. "Breathed his last"
This means:
He exhaled for the final time, indicating physical death.
It’s a common biblical phrase for someone’s life ending (also used for Abraham, Moses, Jesus, etc.).
It reflects the view that life is breath, a gift from God (see Genesis 2:7), and that at death, the breath returns to God (Ecclesiastes 12:7).
3. Spiritual overtones
The whole verse reflects a peaceful passing, in faith, surrounded by family, having given blessings and final words.
The phrase “gathered to his people” (same verse) emphasizes reunion with ancestors, not just physical burial, but a deeper spiritual continuity.
In Hebrews 11:21, it says:
> “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.” (NIV)
This is a reference to Genesis 47:31, which in Hebrew says:
> "Then Israel bowed himself upon the head of his bed."
(Hebrew: וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ יִשְׂרָאֵל עַל-רֹאשׁ הַמִּטָּה)
But in the Greek Septuagint, the same verse says "he bowed on the top of his staff"—which is what Hebrews quotes. This difference is due to the Hebrew words mitah (bed) and matteh (staff) being very similar.
So what does “worshiped” mean here?
The Hebrew word is וַיִּשְׁתַּחוּ (vayyishtachu), from שָׁחָה (shachah), which means:
To bow down,
To prostrate oneself,
A gesture of reverence, submission, or worship before God or a king.
In this context:
Jacob’s worship was likely a physical act of bowing or leaning forward in reverence to God. Specifically:
He was acknowledging God’s faithfulness in allowing him to see Joseph again, and Joseph’s sons—despite all the hardships.
It was an act of thanksgiving and trust in God's promises (especially the promises made to Abraham, Isaac, and himself).
He did not perform a ritual sacrifice, sing a song, or pray aloud (at least not recorded)—but rather:
He bowed as an act of deep spiritual acknowledgment—a quiet, final gesture of trust and reverence.
His leaning on the staff may also symbolize that he was weak in body but strong in faith, still blessing and worshiping even in frailty.
SEQUENCE:
Yes, you're asking the right question—the sequence matters for understanding what Jacob (Israel) did in his final moments.
Let’s clarify the timeline by comparing Genesis 47:31, Genesis 48–49, and Genesis 49:33, alongside Hebrews 11:21.
Sequence of Events:
1. Genesis 47:31
“Swear to me,” [Jacob] said. Then Joseph swore to him, and Israel worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff (or “bowed on the head of the bed”).
This was before Jacob's final blessings.
He had just made Joseph promise to bury him in Canaan, not in Egypt.
Moved by this solemn agreement, Jacob bowed in worship, likely thanking God that his covenant heritage would continue.
2. Genesis 48
Later, when Joseph brings his two sons, Jacob blesses Ephraim and Manasseh.
He gives a spiritual inheritance and speaks prophetically over them.
3. Genesis 49
Jacob calls all his sons and speaks over each one individually.
These blessings are also prophetic and full of spiritual insight.
4. Genesis 49:33
> “When Jacob had finished commanding his sons, he drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.”
This marks the final moment of his life.
He had been sitting up or propped up, blessing his sons.
Then he drew his feet into the bed (laying down fully), and died peacefully.
So, to summarize:
He worshiped (bowed on his staff or bed) when Joseph promised to bury him in Canaan — before the blessings.
Then he blessed Joseph’s sons, then his 12 sons.
Only after all this, he lay back in bed and died.
His act of worship in Hebrews 11:21 refers to that earlier moment—showing that even near death, Jacob’s faith was strong, and he gave glory to God.
Cremation?
No, Jacob’s body was not burned—it was embalmed and buried, not cremated. Let’s walk through what happened after Jacob died, according to Genesis 50.
1. Embalming in Egypt
> “Then Joseph directed the physicians in his service to embalm his father Israel. So the physicians embalmed him.”
(Genesis 50:2)
This was a typical Egyptian practice, not Hebrew. Embalming was done to preserve the body for a journey and burial, not for display.
2. Mourning Period
> “They mourned for him seventy days.”
(Genesis 50:3)
This was a long, formal mourning, showing great respect—Jacob was honored as a patriarch and father of Joseph, a high official in Egypt.
3. Journey to Canaan
> “Joseph went up to bury his father… with all Pharaoh’s officials… chariots and horsemen.”
(Genesis 50:7–9)
This was a large funeral procession from Egypt to Canaan.
It stopped at the threshing floor of Atad, beyond the Jordan River, for 7 more days of mourning.
4. Burial in the Cave of Machpelah
> “His sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave in the field of Machpelah… near Mamre, which Abraham bought… as a burial site.”
(Genesis 50:13)
This is the same tomb where Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah were buried.
No cremation occurred—Hebrew tradition favored burial, in line with God’s covenant with Abraham.
In short:
Jacob’s body was embalmed, not burned.
Joseph took him back to Canaan and buried him with his ancestors, in the Cave of Machpelah, near Hebron in southern Canaan.
Direct burial because?
Profound question. Let’s explore this carefully, biblically and theologically.
1. Was Jacob buried because cremation was considered a curse?
No direct verse says cremation is a “curse,” but burial is consistently shown in the Bible as the honored and faithful practice, especially for those in God’s covenant.
Key reasons Jacob was buried:
Family tradition: Abraham, Isaac, and their wives were buried in the Cave of Machpelah. Jacob asked to be buried there too (Genesis 49:29–32).
Faith in the covenant: Jacob believed in God’s promise of the land of Canaan. Burial there expressed his hope that his descendants would return.
Burial showed identity with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, not with Egyptian or pagan practices.
2. Does God promise “direct burial” for Jacob?
There’s no record of a specific divine command to bury Jacob, but God does give a gentle promise to Jacob earlier:
> “I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again.”
(Genesis 46:4)
This is understood as:
“Bring you up again” = Jacob’s body will return to Canaan, the promised land.
Though it’s Joseph who fulfills it physically, it shows God's care for Jacob’s body even after death.
So yes, God affirmed burial in Canaan, though indirectly. It was part of covenant faithfulness.
3. Is cremation a curse in the Bible?
Not exactly, but in the Old Testament:
Cremation is rare among Israelites.
Sometimes it is associated with judgment—e.g., burning of idols (Deut. 7:25), or criminals (Leviticus 20:14), or Saul’s body after disgrace (1 Samuel 31:12).
Hebrew thought valued the return of the body to the earth (Genesis 3:19, Ecclesiastes 12:7).
Summary:
Jacob was buried to express faith in God’s promises, not to avoid a curse.
God didn’t command cremation or burial, but Scripture consistently shows burial as the way of the faithful.
His burial in Canaan was a prophetic act, pointing to Israel’s future return to the promised land and to resurrection hope.
Here is a timeline of Jacob’s final days, death, and burial, based on Genesis 47–50 and Hebrews 11:21:
Timeline of Jacob's Final Days and Burial
1. Jacob blesses Joseph & asks to be buried in Canaan
Genesis 47:29–31
Near death, Jacob makes Joseph promise to bury him in the cave of Machpelah in Canaan, not in Egypt.
He bows in worship (leaning on his staff or bed—Hebrews 11:21).
2. Jacob blesses Ephraim and Manasseh (Joseph's sons)
Genesis 48
Jacob adopts them as his own and blesses the younger (Ephraim) over the elder.
3. Jacob blesses his 12 sons
Genesis 49:1–28
Gives individual blessings/prophecies to each son.
4. Jacob gives burial instructions again
Genesis 49:29–32
Repeats: “Bury me with my fathers… in the cave of Machpelah.”
5. Jacob dies
Genesis 49:33
> “He drew his feet up into the bed, breathed his last, and was gathered to his people.”
6. Joseph orders embalming
Genesis 50:2–3
Egyptian physicians embalm Jacob. Mourning lasts 70 days.
7. Pharaoh grants permission to bury Jacob in Canaan
Genesis 50:4–6
8. Large funeral procession to Canaan
Genesis 50:7–10
Egyptian officials, chariots, and horsemen accompany Jacob’s body.
7 days of mourning at Atad, east of the Jordan.
9. Jacob is buried in the Cave of Machpelah
Genesis 50:13
Same tomb as Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, and Leah.
Why mourning for so long?
1. Why 70 Days of Mourning, Then 7 More?
70 Days (Egyptian Mourning)
Genesis 50:3 says:
> “They mourned for him seventy days.”
This was the formal Egyptian mourning period, often reserved for royalty or high officials.
Joseph was second-in-command in Egypt, and his father Jacob was honored accordingly.
This long period showed deep respect, not just personal grief, but national honor toward Jacob as Joseph’s father.
7 Days (Hebrew Mourning)
Genesis 50:10 says:
> “They lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days.”
This was the traditional Jewish mourning period known as “shiva” (שִׁבְעָה = "seven").
It was practiced at the burial site, near Atad, east of the Jordan.
This seven-day mourning was personal and familial, consistent with later Jewish practice.
So:
70 days = Egyptian, state-level mourning.
7 days = Hebrew, personal/family mourning before the burial.
Does the Dead Know Their Children Are Mourning?
Biblical Perspective:
The Bible does not clearly say whether the dead are aware of mourning on earth. However:
a. “Gathered to his people” (Genesis 49:33)
Suggests continuity of identity after death, but not consciousness of earthly events.
b. Ecclesiastes 9:5
> “The dead know nothing; they have no further reward, and even their name is forgotten.”
This is Solomon’s poetic meditation, expressing that the dead no longer participate in earthly life.
c. Isaiah 63:16
> “Though Abraham does not know us, and Israel does not acknowledge us…”
Indicates departed ancestors are not aware of events on earth.
d. Luke 16:19–31 (Parable of the rich man and Lazarus)
Suggests that in the afterlife, people retain memory—but the story is not meant as doctrine, rather a moral warning.
e. Hebrews 12:1
> “We are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses…”
Sometimes interpreted to mean the faithful departed are cheering us on—but this is metaphorical, referring to their example, not their active observation.
---
Spiritual Reflection
Whether or not the dead are conscious of our mourning, what matters most is:
Mourning honors our love and our faith in resurrection.
God sees the tears of the living and holds them precious (Psalm 56:8).
The dead in Christ are at rest (Revelation 14:13), waiting for the resurrection (John 5:28–29).
Here is a short prayer-poem to honor parents in mourning, inspired by Jacob's burial and the hope of resurrection:
---
"In Honor and in Hope"
O Lord of covenant, strong and kind,
You saw our father’s fading breath,
You numbered all his days with care,
And led him gently into death.
We gather not in hopeless grief,
But with a love that will not fade—
For every tear that we now shed,
Is witness to the life he made.
He walked by faith, not always strong,
But leaning on Your faithful word;
He blessed his sons, he bowed in trust,
And now he sleeps in peace assured.
O God who keeps the living and the dead,
Receive our thanks for love once known;
And teach us, while we mourn below,
To live as those who walk toward home.
Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment