tooke an oath] As his father tooke an oath of him, vers. 5. so did he of his brethren, and kinsmen, though not for his buriall, yet for the bringing of his bones into the promised Land upon their deliverance from the Egyptian Tyranny, which was not to beginne untill Josephs person were out of sight, and his good deeds out of mind, Exodus 1:8. This deliverance was accomplished about one hundred and fourtie years after his death, which fell out in the yeare of the world (as some reckon) 2309. as others, 2399. the reason of which difference ariseth from the divers account of the birth of Abraham; which some referre to the seventieth yeare of Terah some to the one hundred and thirty, and some place Cainan in the genealogie, and allow thirty yeares to his age, whom others omit. of the children of Israel] It is not said, of his brethren, because they might all of them be dead before the Israelites departure out of Egypt, and it is like were so, for all of them (but Benjamin) being elder then Joseph, it is not probable that they, or any of them, outlived him one hundred and fourty yeares; of Levi we find that he lived one hundred thirty seven yeares, Exodus 6:16. the Scripture being silent of the age and time of the rest; therefore it is most like that this oath concerning the translation of Josephs bones, was so often renued and taken againe, or at least remembred and reported by the parents and their children, that it might be surely performed by that generation, in whose tim their deliverance was brought to passe. ye shall carry] After God hath visited you in mercy, you shall depart hence, and take possession of the promised Land; in the meane time he desired not his body to be carried out of Egypt, as his fathers was, for the Egyptians would have taken it ill from him, though from his father they did not: besides, it was some comfort to his surviving kindred, that he was (though but in his body, and at last, but in his bones) remaining with them; whereby his memoriall was had in more honour with the Egyptians; and the Israelites might expect the more favour from them while Joseph their brother was remembred among them. my bones from hence] From Egypt, which was accordingly done, Exodus 13:19 and the place whither they were brought was the Land of Canaan, which was the Land promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, as is said in this place, 5: 24. and they were not carried thither, or kept here, for reliques to be worshipped, but to be buied, and so they were, Joshua 24:32. Nor were they brought to Canaan as by way of restitution, because Joseph was sold thence, for that had been but as if he that had stollen a bagge of gold, should restore the empty bagge, when the gold is gone; besides he was sold from Dothan, Genesis 37:17, &c. and the remainders of him were buried at Shechm, Joshua 24:32. Nor did h desire to be removed into the Land of Canaan, because (as some Jewes have conceived) there will be a readier resurrection from that soyle, then from any other, for that is but a vaine fancie, which Josephs wisdome could not imagine: But to testifie his assured beliefe that God would make good his promise for the Israelites deliverance from Egypt, and their settlement in the Land of Canaan; and his love to his Progenitors, with whom he desired communion both living and dead; and to stirre up the memories and meditations of his brethren and kindred, concerning the promises that God had made to their Progenitors for the possession of the Land of Canaan.