Charles Ellicott Commentary Genesis 50:2

"And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel." — Genesis 50:2 (ASV)

The physicians embalmed Israel. — The command first given by Jacob to Joseph (Genesis 47:29–30), and then earnestly urged on all his sons—along with the reminder that the cave of Machpelah had been purchased and rightfully belonged to him (Genesis 49:29–32)—made it especially necessary that the patriarch’s body be prepared for such a long journey.

It was also customary at that time to embalm the dead. During the many centuries this custom lasted, from 2000 B.C. to A.D. 700, it is estimated that no fewer than 420,000,000 bodies were preserved in this way.

For the process, which was very expensive if done in the best manner, see Rawlinson, Egypt, volume 1, page 511 and following. The embalmers are not generally called physicians. However, it is probable that the embalming of Jacob’s body was overseen by the physicians attached to Joseph’s household.

Egypt was famous for its physicians, who were more advanced than those in other countries. They were subdivided into classes, each specializing in a particular disease (see Rawlinson, volume 1, page 305 and following).

Maspero suggests that their actual knowledge was limited, with specialists existing only for eye conditions and one or two similar diseases (Hist. Anc., page 82). Ophthalmia remains one of the most common diseases in Egypt.