Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does Genesis 50:12 mean when it says 'his sons did to him according as he had commanded them'?
A: This verse refers to how Jacob's sons faithfully carried out his burial instructions exactly as he had requested before his death. According to Rashi, this shows their great respect for their father and their commitment to fulfilling his final wishes.
Q: Why is Genesis 50:12 important in Judaism?
A: This verse teaches the important Jewish value of kibud av (honoring one's father), showing that even after a parent's passing, children must respect their wishes. The Talmud (Kiddushin 31b) emphasizes that honoring parents continues after their death through proper burial and fulfilling their last requests.
Q: What can we learn from how Jacob's sons treated him after his death?
A: We learn the importance of honoring parents' final requests and treating them with dignity even after death. The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 100:12) notes that the brothers' exact fulfillment of Jacob's burial instructions demonstrated their complete devotion and respect.
Q: How does Genesis 50:12 apply to Jewish burial practices today?
A: This verse establishes the Jewish tradition of carefully following a person's burial instructions. Jewish law (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah 348) requires honoring the deceased's wishes regarding burial, just as Jacob's sons honored his request to be buried in the Cave of Machpelah.
Q: What was Jacob's burial command that his sons fulfilled?
A: Jacob had commanded his sons to bury him in the Cave of Machpelah with his ancestors (Genesis 49:29-32). As Rashi explains, this was the burial place of Adam and Eve, Abraham and Sarah, and Isaac and Rebekah, making it particularly significant in Jewish tradition.
Context of the Verse
The verse "וַיַּעֲשׂוּ בָנָיו לוֹ כֵּן כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּם" (And his sons did to him according as he had commanded them) appears in Bereishit 50:12, describing how Yaakov's sons fulfilled his final instructions regarding his burial in the Cave of Machpelah. This act demonstrates their unwavering commitment to honoring their father's wishes, a central value in Jewish tradition.
Rashi's Commentary
Rashi explains that the phrase "כַּאֲשֶׁר צִוָּם" (as he had commanded them) refers to Yaakov's detailed instructions in Bereishit 49:29-32, where he explicitly asked to be buried with his forefathers in the Cave of Machpelah. Rashi emphasizes that the sons carried out the burial with precision, adhering to both the letter and spirit of Yaakov's request, reflecting the mitzvah of kibud av (honoring one's father).
Midrashic Insights
Halachic Perspective (Rambam)
The Rambam (Hilchos Avel 14:1) derives from this verse that fulfilling a deceased parent's burial instructions is a binding obligation, part of the broader mitzvah of honoring parents. He notes that this applies even if the request involves significant effort or expense, as demonstrated by Yaakov's sons traveling to Chevron for the burial.
Moral Lesson
This verse teaches the importance of filial piety and the enduring nature of parental respect. The sons' compliance—despite the logistical challenges of transporting Yaakov's body from Egypt to Eretz Yisrael—serves as a model for commitment to mitzvos bein adam l'chaveiro (interpersonal commandments).