And were carried over into Sychem, and laid in the sepulchre that Abraham bought for a sum of money of the sons of Emmor the father of Sychem.
Stephen says the patriarchs were carried into Canaan after death, but Moses mentions only Joseph's bones. Moses may have spoken of Joseph for honor's sake, or these may be cenotaphs erected to the rest. What troubles me more is that Stephen attributes to Abraham a purchase that was plainly Jacob's doing with the sons of Hamor; the text must be amended, for Abraham bought Ephron's cave, not the field where Joseph lay.
AI summary
The high priest speaks with a show of fairness, yet his tone is haughty and his prejudgment plain: if Stephen has spoken such words, he shall be condemned as a blasphemer. But Stephen's answer proves him a man mighty in Scripture, filled with the Holy Ghost not to reveal new secrets, but to bring the Old Testament writings to remembrance and convict his gainsayers.
AI summary
Commenting on Acts 7:1-16
Joseph's burial in Shechem stands unquestioned in Joshua 24:32; the rest of the patriarchs must rest there as well, for only four couples lie in the Hebron cave. The children of Israel naturally brought all their fathers' bones out of Egypt and buried them where Joseph was laid, which explains why the Samaritans preserve this memory when Jewish writers do not.
AI summary