Genesis 50:11

11 The people of Canaan who were living there saw how sad all of them were at the threshing floor of Atad. They said, "The Egyptians are having a very special service for the dead." That's why that place near the Jordan River is called Abel of the Egyptians.

Genesis 50:11 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 50:11

And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites
Who were at this time in the possession of the country where the threshingfloor of Atad was: when they saw the mourning in the floor of Atad;
for so large a company of people, and such a grand funeral procession, brought multitudes from all the neighbouring parts to see the sight; and when they observed the lamentation that was made, saw their mournful gestures and actions, and heard their doleful moan: they said, this is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians;
they concluded they must have lost some great man, to make such a lamentation for him: wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim, which is beyond
Jordan;
they changed the name of the place, and gave it another upon this occasion, which signifies the mourning of Egypt or of the Egyptians, they being the principal persons that used the outward and more affecting tokens of mourning; though the whole company might be taken for Egyptians by the Canaanites, because they came out of Egypt.

Genesis 50:11 In-Context

9 Chariots and horsemen also went up with him. It was a very large group.

10 They came to the threshing floor of Atad. It was near the Jordan River. There they sobbed loudly and bitterly. Joseph set apart seven days of sadness to honor his father's memory.

11 The people of Canaan who were living there saw how sad all of them were at the threshing floor of Atad. They said, "The Egyptians are having a very special service for the dead." That's why that place near the Jordan River is called Abel of the Egyptians.

12 So Jacob's sons did exactly as he had commanded them.

13 They carried his body to the land of Canaan. They buried it in the cave in the field of Machpelah near Mamre. Abraham had bought the cave as a place where he could bury his wife's body. He had bought it from Ephron the Hittite, along with the field.