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Genesis 50:6 - Pharaoh honors Jacob's oath

Genesis 50:6 - בראשית 50:6

Hebrew Text

וַיֹּאמֶר פַּרְעֹה עֲלֵה וּקְבֹר אֶת־אָבִיךָ כַּאֲשֶׁר הִשְׁבִּיעֶךָ׃

English Translation

And Par῾o said, Go up, and bury thy father, according as he made thee swear.

Transliteration

Va'yomer Paro aleh u'kvor et-avicha ka'asher hishbi'echa.

Hebrew Leining Text

וַיֹּ֖אמֶר פַּרְעֹ֑ה עֲלֵ֛ה וּקְבֹ֥ר אֶת־אָבִ֖יךָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הִשְׁבִּיעֶֽךָ׃
וַיֹּ֖אמֶר פַּרְעֹ֑ה עֲלֵ֛ה וּקְבֹ֥ר אֶת־אָבִ֖יךָ כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר הִשְׁבִּיעֶֽךָ׃

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Parasha Commentary

Pharaoh's Permission for Burial

The verse (Bereishit 50:6) records Pharaoh granting Yosef permission to bury his father Yaakov in Eretz Canaan, as Yaakov had made Yosef swear to do. This interaction reveals several important insights according to traditional Orthodox Jewish commentators:

Rashi's Explanation

Rashi notes that Pharaoh didn't simply say "bury your father" but used the language "go up" (עֲלֵה), indicating:

  • The journey to Eretz Canaan was considered an ascent geographically and spiritually
  • Pharaoh recognized the special status of Eretz Yisrael as a holy land
  • This language mirrors the terminology used when going to Yerushalayim for aliyah l'regel

Midrashic Insights

The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 100:4) elaborates on this exchange:

  • Pharaoh's respectful response showed the great honor Yosef had earned in Egypt
  • The phrase "as he made you swear" indicates Pharaoh understood the sacredness of an oath to one's father
  • This demonstrated that even gentile rulers recognized the importance of kibud av (honoring one's father)

Halachic Dimensions

Rambam (Hilchos Avel 12:1) derives from this verse:

  • The primacy of fulfilling burial wishes for a parent
  • The obligation to honor a parent continues even after death
  • The importance of keeping one's word, especially regarding sacred matters

Symbolic Meaning

The Kli Yakar offers a deeper interpretation:

  • "Go up" alludes to the spiritual elevation involved in burying a tzaddik
  • Pharaoh's permission represents how even worldly powers must ultimately submit to divine will
  • The oath fulfillment shows how Yosef maintained his Jewish identity despite being viceroy of Egypt

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is not quoted in the Talmud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Pharaoh allow Joseph to bury his father in Canaan?
A: Pharaoh permitted Joseph to bury his father Yaakov (Jacob) in Canaan because Joseph had made an oath to his father to do so (Genesis 47:29-31). In Jewish tradition, honoring one's parents is a fundamental mitzvah (commandment), and fulfilling an oath is taken very seriously. Rashi explains that Pharaoh respected Joseph's commitment to this sacred duty.
Q: What is the significance of burying Yaakov in Canaan?
A: Canaan (later the Land of Israel) was the land promised by Hashem to Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov. Burying Yaakov there connected him to the eternal covenant and showed that despite living in Egypt, the family's ultimate destiny was tied to the Land of Israel. The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah) emphasizes that this burial reaffirmed the Jewish people's future bond with the land.
Q: Why does the verse mention Pharaoh's permission for the burial?
A: The Torah highlights Pharaoh's permission to show that even a foreign ruler recognized the importance of Joseph's oath and the dignity of burying his father. According to Rambam (Hilchos Aveil 14:1), honoring the dead is a universal principle of kindness (chesed), and Pharaoh's compliance demonstrated respect for this value.
Q: What lesson can we learn from Joseph keeping his oath to his father?
A: Joseph's commitment teaches the importance of keeping promises, especially to parents. The Talmud (Kiddushin 31b) states that honoring parents is akin to honoring Hashem. By fulfilling his oath despite being a high-ranking official in Egypt, Joseph showed that spiritual duties take precedence over worldly status.