102. Egyptian Coffins

Narrator: Chris Genthree
Genesis 50:26  •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 9
Genesis 50:2626So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt. (Genesis 50:26). So Joseph died, being an hundred and ten years old: and they embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt.
Though so much care was taken in ancient Egypt to embalm the body, there were many who were buried without coffins. The mention of the fact here that “Joseph was put in a coffin,” shows the high rank to which he had attained. His coffin was probably the outside receptacle or sarcophagus described in the note on Genesis 50:2-32And Joseph commanded his servants the physicians to embalm his father: and the physicians embalmed Israel. 3And forty days were fulfilled for him; for so are fulfilled the days of those which are embalmed: and the Egyptians mourned for him threescore and ten days. (Genesis 50:2‑3). Whether it was of wood or of stone we have no means of knowing; the latter material would more probably be used for so exalted a personage.