When you think of the Exodus from Egypt, you most likely think of the Exodus from Egypt. You know the one I’m talking about: It involved Moses, twelve plagues, the parting of a massive body of water, and hundreds of thousands of people passing through on dry land.
But did you know there was an exodus before that one? Admittedly, it’s not technically an “exodus” in the sense that people left for good, but it does involve the children of Israel leaving Egypt to head into the desert. And, unlike the other one, when they ask permission to leave Egypt, Pharaoh insists that they leave.
Not only that, but most of the aristocracy from Egypt is going with them. I’m talking about Pharaoh’s servants, the elders of Pharaoh’s household, chariots and horsemen, and what Genesis 50:9 calls a “very great company.”
So, why are they all leaving? Simple: To bury Jacob in Canaan.
Jacob’s death has been a long time coming. After numerous lengthy stops in various places along the way, Jacob spends the last seventeen years of his life in Egypt. He’s the father of the second in command over Egypt, so his life most likely was quite luxurious.
It’s unclear if this is the same pharaoh that Joseph originally met after leaving the prison. Many years have passed since Joseph interpreted that Pharaoh’s dreams and guided the nation through a devastating famine, but even if it isn’t the same Pharaoh, the attitude towards Jacob and his family is just as respectful.
That respect for Jacob carried into his funeral procession. With all those people heading to Canaan to bury the great patriarch, it’s inevitable that the caravan would attract attention. Genesis 50:11 mentions that when the Canaanites saw them, they said “this is a grievous mourning for the Egyptians.” Even if they didn’t recognize who it was, they knew he was important.
The entire period of mourning for Jacob lasted seventy days (Genesis 50:3), plus another seven when they arrived at the threshing floor of Atad (Genesis 50:9). That’s nearly three months of mourning for a man that may or may not have been familiar to most of Egypt.
If we’re being honest, this funeral train says as much about Joseph as it does for Jacob. He’s the one that everyone would’ve known, but Jacob had his own interactions with Pharaoh that would’ve most likely endeared him to the royal family as well (Genesis 47:7-9). The relationship between Pharaoh and Hebrew, at this point at least, remained strong.
Unfortunately, nothing lasts forever. 400 years later, a Pharaoh will arise that “did not know Joseph” (Exodus 1:8). This statement is anti-patriotic. After all that Joseph did for Egypt, can you imagine a leader that doesn’t care about his sacrifice? It’s as if someone today were to desecrate the tombs of the founding fathers or minimize the sacrifices of our fallen soldiers.
But Exodus 1:8 is also foreboding. The very existence of the people of Israel in Egypt is predicated upon his relationship with Pharaoh. If one arises who doesn’t know Joseph – or, just as bad, doesn’t care – then any tension will be magnified. As we’ll find out very soon, that’s exactly when things will start to go wrong.
