Exodus 13:20

"Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the children of Israel swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones away from here with you.”"

Key Reflection

This passage symbolizes the enduring covenant between God and His people, emphasizing that even in death, Joseph's legacy and the promise of his return to Canaan remained integral to their faith and identity. Moses' action ensures that this promise is upheld, linking the present journey with the future hope of reuniting with ancestors in the promised land.

From the Scholars: Barnes' Notes

Etham -The house or “sanctuary of Tum” (the Sun God worshipped especially by that name in Lower Egypt), was in the immediate vicinity of Heliopolis, called by the Egyptians the fortress of Zar, or Zalu (i. e. of foreigners); the frontier city where the Pharaohs of the 18th dynasty reviewed their forces when about to enter upon a campaign on Syria. The name Pithom (seeExodus 1:11) has precisely the same meaning with Etham, and may possibly be identified with it.

More from Exodus 13

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