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.