7 So Joseph went up to bury his father , and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh , the elders of his household and all the elders of the land of Egypt , 8 and all the household of Joseph and his brothers and his father's household ; they left only their little ones and their flocks and their herds in the land of Goshen . 9 There also went up with him both chariots and horsemen ; and it was a very great company . 10 When they came to the threshing floor of Atad , which is beyond the Jordan , they lamented there with a very great and sorrowful lamentation ; and he observed seven days mourning for his father . 11 Now when the inhabitants of the land , the Canaanites , saw the mourning at the threshing floor of Atad , they said , "This is a grievous mourning for the Egyptians ." Therefore e it was named e Abel-mizraim , which is beyond the Jordan . 12 Thus his sons did for him as he had charged them; 13 for his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah before e Mamre , which Abraham had bought along with the field for a burial site from Ephron the Hittite . 14 After he had buried his father , Joseph returned to Egypt , he and his brothers , and all who had gone up with him to bury his father .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 50:7-14
Commentary on Genesis 50:7-14
(Read Genesis 50:7-14)
Jacob's body was attended, not only by his own family, but by the great men of Egypt. Now that they were better acquainted with the Hebrews, they began to respect them. Professors of religion should endeavour by wisdom and love to remove the prejudices many have against them. Standers-by took notice of it as a grievous mourning. The death of good men is a loss to any place, and ought to be greatly lamented.