Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 50:11
And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This [is] a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abel-mizraim, which [is] beyond Jordan.
11. Abel-mizraim ] This was popularly rendered “Egypt mourns,” cf. LXX ; Lat. planctus Egypti, but its true meaning would be “the meadow of Egypt, or “of the Egyptians.” In all probability, this name recalled some incident in the days of the Egyptian sovereignty over Palestine; and, when that had faded out of recollection, the name was popularly connected with the traditional mourning of the Egyptians for Jacob, on account of the similarity in sound between ’bl = “field” and ’bel = “mourning.” For other place-names beginning with Abel, cf. Abel-cheramim (Jdg 11:33), Abel of Beth-maacah (2Sa 20:15).
beyond Jordan ] The place was identified by Jerome with “Beth-Hoglah,” the modern Ain Haglah, south of Jericho. But the identification rests on no proof. The mention of the trans-Jordanic region presents the same difficulty here as in Gen 50:10.
12, 13 (P). And his sons ] The account of Jacob’s burial, according to P, is given in these two verses. They are quite distinct from the preceding narrative, and follow directly upon Gen 49:33. Observe that, in P, no Egyptians, but only Jacob’s sons, carried him to the burying-place of Machpelah.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites,…. Who were at this time in the possession of the country where the threshingfloor of Atad was: when they
saw the mourning in the floor of Atad; for so large a company of people, and such a grand funeral procession, brought multitudes from all the neighbouring parts to see the sight; and when they observed the lamentation that was made, saw their mournful gestures and actions, and heard their doleful moan:
they said, this is a grievous mourning to the Egyptians; they concluded they must have lost some great man, to make such a lamentation for him:
wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim, which is beyond Jordan; they changed the name of the place, and gave it another upon this occasion, which signifies the mourning of Egypt or of the Egyptians, they being the principal persons that used the outward and more affecting tokens of mourning; though the whole company might be taken for Egyptians by the Canaanites, because they came out of Egypt.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(11) Abel-mizraim.There is here an example of that play upon words that is always dear to Orientals. The word for mourning is bel, while abel means a meadow, and is often found prefixed to the names of towns. When the Versions were made no vowel points were as yet affixed to the Hebrew consonants, and they all read Ebel-mizraim, the mourning of Egypt. The Hebrew text alone, as at present pointed, has Abel-mizraim, the meadow of Egypt.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
11. Abel-mizraim That is, the mourning of the Egyptians . The Canaanites, who witnessed the unusual spectacle of lamentation, gave a new name to the place . They had never before seen such violence of mourning . Herodotus in describing the habits of the Egyptians observes, ( Herod . , 2: 85,) that when a distinguished individual died the females of the family besmear their heads and faces with mud, and wander about beating themselves and exposing their breasts . The men, also, having their clothes girt about them, beat themselves and indulge in excessive lamentation . See also Wilkinson’s full account of Egyptian funeral rites, Ancient Egyptians, vol . ii, p . 366 .
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Abel-mizraim, that is, the mourning of the Egyptians.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 50:11 And when the inhabitants of the land, the Canaanites, saw the mourning in the floor of Atad, they said, This [is] a grievous mourning to the Egyptians: wherefore the name of it was called Abelmizraim, which [is] beyond Jordan.
Ver. 11. Abelmizraim, which is beyond Jordan. ] A gracious providence of God, as Piscator well observeth, that for the confirmation of the Israelites’ faith, when they were to pass over Jordan, and afterwards, there should be a standing monument there of the transportation of Jacob’s body out of Egypt into Canaan, for burial’s sake. Thus, “all things work together for good to God’s beloved.” Rom 8:28
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Atad. Probably named after the owner, as 2Sa 6:6, “Nachon’s”; 2Sa 24:16, “Araunah’s”.
Abel-mizraim = the mourning of the Egyptians.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
the Canaanites: Gen 10:15-19, Gen 13:7, Gen 24:6, Gen 34:30
Abelmizraim: i.e. The mourning of the Egyptians, 1Sa 6:18
beyond Jordan: Gen 50:10, Deu 3:25, Deu 3:27, Deu 11:30
Reciprocal: Gen 27:41 – The days Exo 2:19 – an Egyptian 1Sa 25:1 – lamented 2Sa 1:17 – lamented 2Ch 32:33 – did him Act 8:2 – made