Genesis 47:27-31

Israel lived in the land of Egypt, in the land of Goshen; and they got themselves possessions therein, and were fruitful, and multiplied exceedingly. Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years. So the days of Jacob, the years of his life, were one hundred forty-seven years. The time drew near that Israel must die, and he called his son Joseph, and said to him, “If now I have found favor in your sight, please put your hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me. Please don’t bury me in Egypt, but when I sleep with my fathers, you shall carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their burying place.”

He said, “I will do as you have said.”

He said, “Swear to me,” and he swore to him. Israel bowed himself on the bed’s head.

God continued to live up to his promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as the Hebrews vastly grew in number. We see here that, although Jacob came to Egypt only two years into the famine, he ended up staying in Egypt for several years after as he watched his family get very large.

The land of Israel is obviously important in the Bible. We read here that Jacob made his son Joseph swear that he would be buried back in the land of his fathers. It is important that we understand the importance of the land of Israel because it directly relates to what is in the news today. It should not be a surprise that the Israelis think that all of the Biblical land of Israel is very important. God gave the land to the Jews. We should honor God and obey His word in this matter. No matter what we do, God will reclaim the land someday. It would be best for us to honor His will now and be on God’s good side.

Putting one’s hand under the thigh of another was a way of taking an oath at that time. It probably would not have been any stranger to them than raising our right hand is to us today.