And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace 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:
When the time came that Israel was about to die, he called his son Joseph and said to him, 'If I have found favor with you, please put your hand under my thigh and promise to show me kindness and faithfulness. Please don't bury me in Egypt.'
Israel (Jacob) is asking his son Joseph to make a solemn promise that he won't be buried in Egypt, but instead taken back to the land God promised his family.
📚 Historical Context
In the biblical narrative, Jacob, also known as Israel, was living in Egypt with his family during a time of famine, having been reunited with his son Joseph who had risen to a position of power. As Jacob neared death, he called Joseph to make a solemn oath, using the ancient cultural practice of placing a hand under the thigh, which symbolized a binding promise in that era. This request highlighted Jacob's desire to be buried in the Promised Land of Canaan, emphasizing his faith in God's covenant with his ancestors and his rejection of assimilation into Egyptian culture.
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