What does Genesis 49:31 mean?
After a long and often-difficult life (Genesis 47:9), Jacob is making final statements to his sons (Genesis 49:28–30). These last commands involve his burial. He is using his last breath to urgently command his gathered sons to lay his body to rest in the Promised Land of Canaan, not in Egypt. The intended spot is the family tomb, purchased by Abraham for this very purpose (Genesis 23:3–20).Here, Jacob drives home the importance of this location. Both Abraham and Sarah are buried there, as are his own parents Isaac and Rebekah. In addition, Leah—Jacob's wife and the mother of six of the sons gathered around him—is buried in the cave as well. Now the time has come for Jacob's body to join theirs.