valley of Atad] The place is so called from the multitude of brambles or thistles, for atad signifieth a bramble or thistle; in after times it was called Bethagla, that is, the house of the wayne or circuit, (as many expound it) for the first part it is Beth, a house, and for the rest, some conceive it is derived from galal which signifieth (among other acceptions) to lead or compasse about, as those that mourned for Jacob went about to bring him to his buriall place, or compassed his corps, or grave, about with great solemnitie. beyond Jordan] If they went the next way from Egypt to the buriall place (which was the cave of Machpelah before Mamre) that was in respect of Egypt on this side Jordan; and then their mourning at Atad or Bethagla was well toward fiftie miles beyond the sepulchre; if so, they buried the corps afterward, and then there were so many miles of lost labour in comming backe to do it, for which no good reason can be rendered. It may be more probable that they went about, though not for feare of the Canaanites, (for the Egyptians at that time were more formidable to the Canaanites, then the Canaanites to them) nor that they mystically went that way, by which the Israelites afterwards were to passe from Egypt into Canaan, yet for more commodious passage for so great a company, which could not conveniently travell in a narrow way, they fetched a compasse about, which occasioned them to passe the river Jordan before they could come to Atad or Machpelah, which was beyond Jordan, not onely in respect of Moses his abode when he wrote this story, but in respect of the locall situation in the order of their journy. Some learned Hebricians make a great difference betwixt begneber and megneber, the former they will have to signifie on this side, the latter beyond; but they make not good their observations by any fit instances, nor will their exposition sort with the situation of places, according to the exact topography of this journey. sore lamentation] The Egyptians made very great shews of much mourning; see the Annot. on 5: 3. They mourned by themselves, and Joseph and his company by themselves; and howsoever that mourning of the Egyptians were full of vanitie and superstition, yet that of Joseph (it is like) was grave, religious, and sincere, with such discourse as so holy an example might minister unto them.