Joseph was the only brother interred in Egypt. He was the last to die and he left instructions for his descendants to carry his bones back to Canaan when they left. Isn’t it funny that the brother who lived as a slave for 13 years lived the longest?
Genesis 50:26, “So, Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten years old, and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.” Modern English Version
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“Joseph’s body remained in Egypt until the exodus to the promised land of Canaan about 200 years later. Its final resting-place was Shechem, near Samaria, “in the parcel of ground which Jacob bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem” (Joshua 24:32). Here each of his brothers was also buried (Acts 7:15, 16).” Amplified Bible Notes
At least 12 times the Hebrews returned to Canaan to bury Jacob and the 11 brothers. Why didn’t they just move back?
One answer was found in Exodus 1:7, “…the sons of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly and multiplied, and became exceedingly mighty…” Modern English Version
“They had risen to great prosperity – as during the lifetimes of Joseph and his royal patron, they had, probably, enjoyed a free grant of the land…Having first obliged them, it is thought, to pay a ruinous rent, and involved them in difficulties, that new government…degraded them to the condition of serfs.” Critical and Explanatory Commentary, Vol. I
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