John Calvin Commentary Genesis 47:29

"And the time drew near that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found favor in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me: bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt;" — Genesis 47:29 (ASV)

And he called his son Joseph. From this we conclude not only Jacob's anxiety but also his unconquerable greatness of spirit. It is a proof of great courage that none of the wealth or pleasures of Egypt could so attract him as to prevent him from longing for the land of Canaan, where he had always lived a painful and laborious life.

But the steadfastness of his faith appeared even more excellent when, by commanding his dead body to be carried back to Canaan, he encouraged his sons to hope for deliverance. Thus it happened that he, though dead, inspired those who were alive and remained, as if with the sound of a trumpet.

For what purpose was this great concern for his burial, except that God's promise might be confirmed to his descendants? Therefore, though his faith was tossed as if on the waves, it was so far from being shipwrecked that it led others into the harbor. Furthermore, he demanded an oath from his son Joseph, not so much out of distrust, as to show that a matter of the greatest importance was being addressed.

Certainly, he would not profane God's name by swearing lightly; but the more sacred and solemn the promise was, the more all his sons ought to remember that it was of great importance for his body to be carried to the tomb of his fathers. It is also probable that he prudently considered how to lessen any hostility that might be aroused against his son Joseph.

For he knew that this choice of his burial place would be by no means pleasing to the Egyptians, since it seemed like casting a reproach upon their whole kingdom. This stranger, indeed, as if he could find no suitable place for his body in this splendid and noble country, wishes to be buried in the land of Canaan.

Therefore, so that Joseph might more freely dare to ask, and might more easily obtain, this favor from the king, Jacob bound him by an oath. And Joseph certainly made use of this justification afterwards to avoid giving offense.

This was also the reason he required Joseph to perform this final duty for him, a duty that fell to the brothers jointly; for such a favor would hardly have been granted to the others, and they would not have dared to undertake the act unless permission had been obtained. But, as strangers and men of low status, they had neither favor nor authority.

Besides, it was especially necessary for Joseph to be on his guard, lest, becoming ensnared by the attractions of Egypt, he should gradually abandon his own relatives.

It must be understood, however, that the solemnity of an oath was deliberately introduced by Jacob to show that he did not desire a tomb for himself in vain in the land where he had received an unfavorable reception, where he had endured many sufferings, and from which, finally, being expelled by hunger, he had become an exile.

As for his command to put the hand under his thigh, we have explained what this symbol means in Genesis 24:2.