That Joseph’s bones were in an ark [arca], and [were] honorably carried by certain bearers [baiuli], some relate: but [it] is asked (ch. 3 of this book; Abulensis, q. 10): did those bearers contract any legal uncleanness [immunditia]? And [Abulensis] answers [that they] did contract [it]. But [the bones] were translated because, as I said, Joseph himself, dying, had adjured the Israelites (Gen. 50). And [he] adjured for various causes, concerning which [it was] said elsewhere — not because [those] who were buried in that land would rise first, as, among R. Jacob, in [his] alkath rocel, the Jews trifle [nugantur]; but on account of the promise concerning entering the land of Chanaan, [to be fulfilled] for showing the certitude of divine [promises]; and on account of the mysteries — of CHRIST’s nativity and passion — to be [fulfilled] in that land.
But why Joseph was buried in Sichem — the cause Radak [David Kimhi] assigns [to be] Joseph’s precept and will, because [he] had chosen that place of burial for himself, and had commanded [it]. But other Rabbis, in the Talmud (tract. Sotah), say [it was] done because there [in Shechem, on the way] into Egypt, [he] had been sold by [his] brothers. But [he] had rather been sold from Dothan [Dothaim] (Gen. 37:17). Either, therefore, the former cause [is] to be held; or [it is] to be thought [that] it seemed to the Israelites [that] that place of burial [was] most convenient, which was given to him [Joseph] specially by [his] parent
(col. 1297)
[…which had been given to him specially by [his] parent as] an estate [praedium]. But [as to] why other [patriarchs] too [were] entombed and buried in that same place — the cause perhaps is, so that the monuments of the Fathers of all the tribes might be beheld; and [so that those] who had received from Joseph [their] life, and the supports of life, and a place of habitation, in Egypt, might also receive from him a place of burial [when] dead. Perhaps too account was had of the tabernacle, which was in the same field nearby. For, since [they] could not be [buried] in it — because a certain contamination [would arise] from the dead — [they] were at least situated nearest [to it]: just as even today [there] is burial of saints, [and] of other great men, sometimes in temples [churches] — as [is] to be seen in St. Augustine (bk. On the care for the dead [De cura pro mortuis gerenda]), & in several councils.