John Calvin Commentary Genesis 50:2

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

And Joseph commanded his servants. Although previously more labor was spent on funerals, even without superstition, than has been deemed right after the proof of the resurrection demonstrated by Christ, yet we know that among the Egyptians there was greater expense and pomp than among the Jews.

Even the ancient historians record this among the most memorable customs of that nation. Indeed, undoubtedly (as we have said elsewhere), the sacred rite of burial descended from the holy fathers as a kind of mirror of the future resurrection. But since hypocrites are always more diligent in performing ceremonies than those who possess the solid substance of things, it happens that those who have departed from the true faith assume a far more ostentatious appearance than the faithful, to whom the truth and the right use of the symbol pertain.

If we compare the Jews with ourselves, these shadowy ceremonies, with which God required them to be occupied, would, today, appear intolerable, though compared with those of other nations, they were moderate and easy to bear. But the Gentiles hardly knew why they incurred so much labor and expense.

Therefore, we infer how empty and trivial a matter it is to attend only to external signs when the pure doctrine that shows their true origin and their legitimate end does not flourish. It is an act of piety to bury the dead. To embalm corpses with aromatic spices was, in former times, no fault, since it was done as a public symbol of future incorruption.

For the sight of a dead man inevitably affects us grievously, as if one common end, without distinction, awaited both us and the beasts that perish. Today, the resurrection of Christ is a sufficient support for us against yielding to this temptation.

But the ancients, on whom the full light of day had not yet shone, were aided by symbols. Those, however, whose minds were not raised to the hope of a better life did nothing but trifle and foolishly imitate the holy fathers. Finally, where faith has not so breathed its fragrance as to make people know that something remains for them after death, all embalming will be meaningless.

Indeed, if death is to them the eternal destruction of the body, it would be an impious profanation of a sacred and useful ceremony to attempt to place what had perished under such costly custody.

It is probable that Joseph, in conforming to the Egyptians—whose excessive care was not free from absurdity—acted more from fear than from judgment or approval of their method. Perhaps he improperly imitated the Egyptians so that his father’s condition would not be worse than that of other men. But it would have been better if he had confined himself to the frugal practice of his fathers.

Nevertheless, although he might be excusable, the same practice is not lawful for us now. For unless we wish to undermine the glory of Christ, we must cultivate greater moderation.