Verse

Genesis 50:10

ESV When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they lamented there with a very great and grievous lamentation, and he made a mourning for his father seven days.
NIV When they reached the threshing floor of Atad, near the Jordan, they lamented loudly and bitterly; and there Joseph observed a seven-day period of mourning for his father.
NASB When they came to the threshing floor of Atad, which is beyond the Jordan, they mourned there with a very great and sorrowful lamentation; and he observed seven days of mourning for his father.
CSB When they reached the threshing floor of Atad, which is across the Jordan, they lamented and wept loudly, and Joseph mourned seven days for his father.
NLT When they arrived at the threshing floor of Atad, near the Jordan River, they held a very great and solemn memorial service, with a seven-day period of mourning for Joseph’s father.
KJV And they came to the threshingfloor of Atad, which is beyond Jordan, and there they mourned with a great and very sore lamentation: and he made a mourning for his father seven days.

What does Genesis 50:10 mean?

Most of Jacob's household (Genesis 46:27; 50:8) are traveling to bury their father (Genesis 49:33). Their destination is the family tomb in Mamre in Canaan (Genesis 23:17–20). Traveling with them is an enormous company of Egyptian officials, dignitaries, servants, and an armed escort of chariots and horsemen (Genesis 50:6–7, 9). Jacob's funeral has become an Egyptian state-sponsored event and a grand production.

Extravagant though it may be, this is still a funeral procession. The company stops along the way and camps at a local landmark known as the "threshing floor of Atad." Threshing is the process of knocking grain seeds from stems, before separating out the edible parts. This was probably a large, flat, open area. The funeral party spends seven days there joining together in the custom of loud and vigorous mourning. As is still practiced in many cultures today, this could include shouting, crying, and tearing of clothing. Joseph himself participated in this week-long mourning event.
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