Roberts, David; Croly, George: The Holy Land: Syria, Idumea, Arabia, Egypt, and Nubia (Band 1) (London, 1842)

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Among the relics associated with Biblical history at Nablous, the Tomb of Joseph is an object of great
veneration. The Artist describes it as standing nearly in the centre of a small inclosure, at the eastern
entrance to the valley which lies between the Mounts Gerizim and Ebal, and not far from the ruins of
the early Christian Church now covering the Well of Jacob. The Tomb is plain, and plastered over,
with a small recess at the foot, in which he observed that some small lamps were placed, probably by
pious Jews, by whom also the walls were covered with writing in the Hebrew character. The people
hold this spot in deep reverence. At the head and foot of the Tomb are two rude altars, which the
guides pointed out as the Tombs of Ephraim and Manasseh, the sons of Joseph.1

Joseph died in the faith, that the Land of Canaan was to be the inheritance of his people. And,
on his death-bed, he directed the children of Israel " to carry up his bones" from Egypt; " and they
embalmed him, and he was put in a coffin in Egypt."2 " And the bones of Joseph, which the children
of Israel brought up out of Egypt, buried they in Shechem, in a parcel of ground which Jacob bought
of the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, for an hundred pieces of silver; and it became the
inheritance of the children of Joseph."3

The reverence with which the resting-place of the great protector of his people has been so long
regarded, leaves but little doubt of its actual identity. It is now, and has been for ages, pointed out
as the spot of his sepulture; and in this belief in the tradition, Jews and Samaritans, Christians and
Mahommedans agree.4

Roberts's Journal.

2 Gen. 1. 26.

1 Joshua xxiv. 32.

* Heb. xi. 22. Acts vii. 16.