Hebrews 11:21 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, &c.— He blessed each of them particularly. Moses tells us, that he strengthened himself and sat upon the bed on that occasion, Genesis 47:31; Genesis 48:2. When Jacob was sick, it was told Joseph, and he went to him, and carried his two sons with him; and Jacob exerted himself, and sat upon the bed, and blessed the children, and made them his own. It was, no doubt, in this last illness that he laid the obligation upon his son Joseph not to bury him in Egypt, and even made him swear not to do it. And upon this occasion it is said, that Israel bowed himself upon his bed's head: supposing him lying along, with his head on his pillow, in this recumbent posture, when Joseph brought his children to him, he raised himself up, and laid his hands upon them, leaning upon the top of his staff. It may be observed here, that the same Hebrew word, without the vowels, signifies a bed, and a staff. See the note on Genesis 47:31.