Sweare unto me] By exacting an oath of Joseph, he doth not so much shew a mistrust of his simple promise if he had not sworne, as expresse his owne serious desire to be buried out of Egypt; and the rather, that Joseph might doe it with lesse offence to the Egyptians, who, though they would not like the carrying away of Jacobs corps, could not but allow of Josephs keeping of his oath. bowed himselfe] Some conceive it was to turne himselfe towards the East, or toward Canaan; others, that he bowed towards Joseph as to a great Lord of the Land of Egypt: but first, whatsoever Joseph was in relation to Pharaoh, in which respect (according to his dreame) his father was to doe homage unto him; yet as Jacobs sonne, and in his fathers family he was more ready to performe such an homage to him, (as appeareth, 5: 12.) then to expect any from him: Secondly, Jacob being very devout, especially drawing neere his end, it is reasonable to take his bowing to be religious, since at this time chiefly he had (no doubt) many things in his mind, which might be matter both of prayer to God, and of prayses of God; and though he were aged and weake, he would not present his devotion to God without an outward expression of humilitie. See Annotat. on Chap. 17. vers. 3. upon his bes head] (1 Kings 1:47.) Or, on the top of his staffe: So the Seventy Jnterpreters turne the Hebrew word; and the Apostle in the Epistle to the Hebrews followeth that Translation, Hebrews 11:21. It seemed the Seventie followed a Copie which had no points, for the same letters varied in one vowell stand for both; for Mittch, is a bed, Mattch, a staffe; the former is preferred, and seemeth the rather to be the right, because the same word is used in the same sense againe, Chap. 48. vers. 2. This difference when it was debated by the Composers of the last Translation of our English Bibles, one of them would have had both readings joyned together thus: Israel bowed himselfe upon his bed-staffe; but that opinion prevailed not: while he thus bowed it was not (for ought appeareth either in this Text, or any part of Jacobs story) with any respect to the East, or towards the Land of Canaan, but his outward gesture with his inward worship were both immediately directed towards God.