Today's Scripture Reading (September 16, 2021): Genesis 49
Pyramids are often viewed as ancient relics from another time. If you have never
been to Egypt, it may surprise you how many there are. Sometimes
we think that there are just the three we see pictured in movies, but there are
dozens that we have discovered and explored. Essentially, most kings, but not
all, who ruled over Egypt during the Old and Middle Kingdoms (2675-1630 B.C.E.)
built the pyramids as tombs. These tombs were supposed to house the king, or
Pharaoh, his entourage, and any other significant people in his life. By the time that Joseph came to Egypt, pyramids already dotted the
landscape as the resting place of the Pharaohs that had reigned before.
The Bible doesn't specify which Pharaoh was the one who reigned during the Joseph saga, but one of the likely suspects is Senusret III.
Senusret III reigned (1878-1839 B.C.E.) during an era when Egypt experienced great power and prosperity. He
is remembered as the Pharaoh who weakened the power of regional rulers and other aristocracies in the country, matching well with the tale of Joseph, famine, and a Pharaoh who bought all of the land and power from the people, and the neighboring nations, in exchange for food. Senusret
III has his pyramid complex in Egypt, although experts believe that, in his case, it might serve more as a cenotaph than as the personal tomb of the king. Senusret III might
have been buried in some place other than the pyramid complex built for
him.
In popular culture, we like to think that the
Israelites were put
to work building the pyramids during the time of Moses, but that is unlikely. The Egyptian practice of building pyramids
had been over for a few hundred years by the time of Moses. But during Joseph's era, pyramids were still being built.
Jacob is about to die. And as he speaks to his sons,
he has one last request. Please don't bury me here. Even if Senusret III wants to honor
me and bury me in his pyramid, politely refuse. It is not my desire to have
even an opulent burial site in Egypt. I want to be buried in an obscure cave in
a field that my grandfather, Abraham, bought from Ephron the Hittite. There
Abraham had buried Sarah, and then Isaac and Ishmael buried him in that same
cave. It was in that cave that Isaac had buried Rebekah and then was buried there
himself. And there Jacob had buried Leah. Interestingly, Rachel was not buried in the cave that Abraham had
bought from Ephron
the Hittite. She was buried just outside
Bethlehem.
But when the time came, Jacob wanted to be reunited
with Leah, his parents, and his grandparents. It was his final request. "When Jacob had finished giving instructions to his sons, he drew
his feet up into the bed, breathed his last and was gathered to his people" (Genesis 49: 33).
So Joseph went up to bury his father.
All Pharaoh's officials accompanied him—the dignitaries of his
court and all the dignitaries of Egypt— besides all the members of Joseph's
household and his brothers and those belonging to his father's
household. Only their children and their flocks and herds were left in
Goshen. Chariots and horsemen also went
up with him. It was a very large company (Genesis 50:7-9).
Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Genesis 50
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