death the same fragrance was spread abroad by his bones,
enabling Moses to distinguish Joseph's remains from all
others, and keep the oath of the children of Israel, to inter
them in the Holy Land.[58]

When Joseph learned that the Ishmaelites were carrying
him to Egypt, he began to weep bitterly at the thought of
being removed so far from Canaan and from his father.
One of the Ishmaelites noticed Joseph's weeping and crying,
and thinking that he found riding uncomfortable, he lifted
him from the back of the camel, and permitted him to
walk on foot. But Joseph continued to weep and sob,
crying incessantly, "O father, father!" Another one of the
caravan, tired of his lamentations, beat him, causing only
the more tears and wails, until the youth, exhausted by his
grief, was unable to move on. Now all the Ishmaelites in
the company dealt out blows to him. They treated him with
relentless cruelty, and tried to silence him by threats. God
saw Joseph's distress, and He sent darkness and terror upon
the Ishmaelites, and their hands grew rigid when they
raised them to inflict a blow. Astonished, they asked themselves
why God did thus unto them upon the road. They
did not know that it was for the sake of Joseph.

The journey was continued until they came to Ephrath,
the place of Rachel's sepulchre. Joseph hastened to his
mother's grave, and throwing himself across it, he groaned
and cried, saying: "O mother, mother, that didst bear me,
arise, come forth and see how thy son hath been sold into
slavery, with none to take pity upon him. Arise, see thy