Jacob's Death and Egyptian Burial Rites
The making of iBIBLE goes beyond reading the text of Scripture and creating beautiful, compelling animations. It also involves exciting and fascinating research on archaeology and the historical context in which the events of the Bible took place.
Today’s behind-the-scenes look into the production of iBIBLE involves an interesting piece of context regarding the request Joseph made to Pharaoh about burying his father back in the land of Canaan. Here is an early rendering from iBIBLE Genesis episode 42 of Jacob’s body undergoing the 40-day process of embalming, according to Egyptian custom.
In Egypt during the time of Joseph, burial was more than just an event that happened after a person’s death. Egyptians prepared for burial by building their own tombs, designing special jars, and undergoing a lengthy embalming process. Egypt’s burial rites held deep cultural significance.
In iBIBLE Genesis episode 42, taken from Genesis 50, Joseph asked Pharaoh if he could return to his homeland and bury his father, Jacob. It was a direct and simple request, but the way Joseph phrased the question was significant, and was most likely instrumental in persuading Pharaoh to approve his request. In Genesis 50:5, Joseph addressed Pharaoh through his servants, saying:
“My father made me swear, saying, ‘I am about to die: in my tomb that I hewed out for myself in the land of Canaan, there shall you bury me.” Now therefore, let me please go up and bury my father.”
Joseph phrased the request in a way that would appeal specifically to the Egyptian method of burial. This distinctly Egyptian use of dialogue enhances the story’s legitimacy. Pharaoh would likely not have wanted to bar someone from a proper burial, since in Egyptian culture, this paved the way to the afterlife. So, he allowed Joseph to return to the land of Canaan to bury his father, just as Jacob had made him promise.
Below is a photograph of an Egyptian coffin and an artistic rendering of an Egyptian tomb from iBIBLE Genesis episode 42.
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