John Calvin Commentary Genesis 49:29

"And he charged them, and said unto them, I am to be gathered unto my people: bury me with my fathers in the cave that is in the field of Ephron the Hittite," — Genesis 49:29 (ASV)

And he charged them. We have seen before that Jacob especially commanded his son Joseph to take care that his body should be buried in the land of Canaan. Moses now repeats that the same command was given to all his sons, so that they might go to that country with one accord and mutually assist each other in performing this task.

We have stated elsewhere why he made his burial such a matter of conscience, which we must always remember, so that the example of the holy man is not injudiciously used as a precedent for superstition. Indeed, he did not wish to be carried into the land of Canaan as if he would be nearer to heaven for being buried there; but it was so that, being dead, he might claim possession of a land which he had held during his life only by a precarious hold.

Not that any private advantage would therefore accrue to him, since he had already fulfilled his course; rather, it was because it was profitable that the memory of the promise should be renewed by this symbol among his surviving sons, so that they might aspire to it.

Meanwhile, we gather that his mind did not cling to the earth, because if he had not been an heir of heaven, he would never have hoped that God, for the sake of one who was dead, would be so bountiful toward his children.

Now, to give greater weight to his command, Jacob declares that this had not first entered his own mind, but that he had been taught this by his forefathers. Abraham, he says, bought that burial place for himself and his family; until now, we have sacredly kept the law delivered to us by him. Therefore, you must take care not to violate it, so that even after my death, some sign of God's favor may continue with us.