Genesis 50:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

After honoring Jacob with final rites at the edge of Canaan alongside the Egyptians, his sons journeyed across the Jordan River and, upon arriving in Hebron, placed their father's remains in the cave of Machpelah. This cave had been purchased by Abraham from a Canaanite specifically for the purpose of establishing a burial site. The Greek translation refers to this cave as 'suguboi,' suggesting that it may be divided into two sections, one designated for the interment of males and the other for females, or that it consists of two chambers: an outer one and an inner one that is part of the outer structure. The Egyptians seemingly did not accompany Jacob’s sons into Canaan, likely out of concern that their numbers and military presence could arouse suspicion among the local inhabitants and lead to conflict.