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In the last 17 years of his life, which Jacob had spent in Egypt, he became known and beloved by all Egypt. And now that he died, he was sadly mourned by all. A period of grief and mourning throughout Egypt was proclaimed for seventy days, as though one day for each member of Jacob's family. When this period of mourning ended, the funeral procession began.
The hearse in which Jacob's body was laid was borne shoulder high by the twelve tribes of Israel in the order which Jacob had requested: Judah, Issachar and Zebulun facing east; Reuben, Simeon and Gad on the south; Ephraim, Manasseh and Benjamin on the west; and Dan, Asher and Naphtali on the north. In this order the tribes of Israel were also to march many years later on their way to the Promised Land. Behind the hearse followed Levi and Joseph, and Joseph's crown lay on top of the hearse. Behind them folowed members of the royal family of Pharaoh, princes and nobles and common people, in a procession that seemed to have no end.
Rebeckah's prophecy was fulfilled, for both Jacob and Esau were buried on the same day
Finally the procession reached Hebron and halted at the Cave of Machpelah. But here a tragic occurrence happened which seemed for a time to disrupt the solemnity of the moment. Esau refused to let Jacob be laid to rest in the Cave of Machpelah, claiming that it was his. Jacob's children knew that the Cave of Machpelah was their inheritance when Esau had sold to Jacob his birthright and all claims to the land of Canaan, and that the deed was in Joseph's possession. But in the ensuing fight between Esau's men and Jacob's mourners, forty of Esau's men fell. In the meantime, Jacob's hearse stood by the side, guarded by Jacob's grandsons, among them Chushim, Dan's only son. Chushim was a deaf mute and did not know what all the trouble was about. When it was finaly explained to him, he grabbed a weapon and swung it across Esau's head. The mighty blow severed the head, which rolled into the Cave of Machpelah. Esau's men then took the headless body of their leader, and carried it back with them to Seir. Thus, Rebeckah's prophecy1 was fulfilled, for both Jacob and Esau were buried on the same day.
Jacob was laid to rest in the Cave of Machpelah, and after Shivah (seven days' mourning), Joseph and his brothers returned to Egypt where they had left their small children and all their possessions in the land of Goshen.
Our father Jacob died in the year 2255 after the Creation. After his name Israel, the symbol of the highest human attainment we, his children, are called the Children of Israel, or Israelites, and our holy land is called the Land of Israel, and we proclaim morning and evening, "Hear, O Israel, the Lord our G-d, the Lord is One."
From Talks and Tales, by Kehot Publication Society. Available at www.kehotonline.com
Footnotes
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