The Bible & Jacob?

Question

For his sons carried him into the land of Canaan, and buried him [Jacob] in the cave of the field of Machpelah. [Genesis 50:13]
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So Jacob went down into Egypt, and died, he, and our fathers, and were carried over into Shechem, and laid in the sepulchre. [Acts 7:15-16]
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So where WAS he buried? And why two locations in the same Scripture?

Answer 1

Part of the issue is that you are going from the Old Testament to the New Testament, that can cause some problems. I would trust the verse in Genesis if I were you since the forefathers were all burried in Machpelah according to the Old Testament.

Answer 2

Jacob died in Egypt and was carried into Shechem in the land of Canaan, where he was buried in the sepulchre in the cave of the field of Machpelah.

No mention is made of his burial place in Egypt.

Answer 3

When Joseph...one of Jacob's sons was made governor in egypt during a great famine. Jacob and the rest of his sons moved to egypt. There he died and was buried. When Moses came along and led Isreal out of the bondage of Egypt... the bones of Jacob were dug up and carried back to the new promise land from where he had come from to be reburied there.

Answer 4

I have no idea where those two places are, but I am inspired to look it up.

As for the discrepency. I assume that the passage in Acts was based on the author's knowledge of Jewish history, passed down from his parents and grandparents. The stuff from Genesis was literary tradition.

Answer 5

The remains were typically stored in stone boxes for easy transport and relocation. This would not be illogical for a nomadic type of people.

For the detals on the final resting place of many of Abraham's descendants, go here:

http://www.bibleplaces.com/hebron.htm

Answer 6

The children of Israel carried his remains with them when they left Egypt. There were several burial sites.

Answer 7

I think they buried him and then moved him later.