Genèse 47:29

29 Lorsqu'Israël approcha du moment de sa mort, il appela son fils Joseph, et lui dit: Si j'ai trouvé grâce à tes yeux, mets, je te prie, ta main sous ma cuisse, et use envers moi de bonté et de fidélité: ne m'enterre pas en Egypte!

Genèse 47:29 Meaning and Commentary

Genesis 47:29

And the time drew nigh that Israel must die
As all men must, by the appointment of God, even good men, the Israel of God; though they shall not die a spiritual death, nor an eternal one, yet a corporeal one, which is for their good, and is a blessing to them; the sting being removed, and so not a penal evil, which is owing to Christ's dying for them, who has abolished death as such; and there is a time fixed for their death, beyond which they must not live, and before which they must not die, but when the time comes there is no avoiding it; the time of Jacob's death was drawing on, as he perceived by the great decline of his natural strength, and perhaps by a divine impulse on his mind:

and he called his son Joseph;
sent for him, by a messenger, to come to him:

and said unto him;
when he was come:

if now I have found grace in thy sight;
which is not spoken in a way of submission, as from an inferior to a superior, as the phrase is sometimes used; or as signifying what would be esteemed as a favour should it be granted, but it is as if he should say, if thou hast any filial affection for me as a parent, and art willing to show love and respect to me, do as follows:

put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh:
a gesture in swearing, as Jarchi observes, ( Genesis 24:2 Genesis 24:3 ) ; adding, for explanation's sake,

and deal kindly and truly with me;
"kindly", by promising and swearing to do what he after desires; and "truly", by observing his oath, and fulfilling his promise:

bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt;
not choosing to lie among idolaters at death, with whom he cared not to have any fellowship in life.

Genèse 47:29 In-Context

27 Israël habita dans le pays d'Egypte, dans le pays de Gosen. Ils eurent des possessions, ils furent féconds et multiplièrent beaucoup.

28 Jacob vécut dix-sept ans dans le pays d'Egypte; et les jours des années de la vie de Jacob furent de cent quarante-sept ans.

29 Lorsqu'Israël approcha du moment de sa mort, il appela son fils Joseph, et lui dit: Si j'ai trouvé grâce à tes yeux, mets, je te prie, ta main sous ma cuisse, et use envers moi de bonté et de fidélité: ne m'enterre pas en Egypte!

30 Quand je serai couché avec mes pères, tu me transporteras hors de l'Egypte, et tu m'enterreras dans leur sépulcre. Joseph répondit: Je ferai selon ta parole.

31 Jacob dit: Jure-le-moi. Et Joseph le lui jura. Puis Israël se prosterna sur le chevet de son lit.