Jacob had even been a man of deep and ardent affection; his love for his sons was strong and tender, and his dying testimony to them was not the utterance of partiality or resentment. He had forgiven them all, and he loved them to the last. His paternal tenderness would have found expression only in words of encouragement and hope; but the power of God rested upon him, and under the influence of Inspiration he was constrained to declare the truth, however painful.

Da Jakob mærkede døden nærme sig, sendte han bud efter Josef. Han holdt stadig fast ved Guds løfte om Kanaans land og sagde: "Lov mig at vise mig den kærlighed og trofasthed ikke at jorde mig i Ægypten. Når jeg har lagt mig til hvile hos mine fædre, skal du føre mig fra Ægypten og jorde mig i deres grav!" Josef lovede at gøre dette, men Jakob var ikke tilfreds. Han krævede en højtidelig ed på, at han ville blive lagt ved siden af sine fædre i Makpelas hule.