In the midst of the powerful description of the first stages of freedom, we are informed that Moses had taken the bones of Joseph with him: “And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him; for he had surely sworn to the children of Israel, saying: 'God will surely remember you; and you shall carry up my bones away with you'.” (Exodus 13:19)
This verse seems misplaced; by this point the people of Israel had already left Egypt and where already on their journey to freedom.
The Midrash in fact specifies the timing of our verse: when all the people where busy taking the gold and silver from the Egyptians, Moses is given praise for not caring for gold and silver, and searching for Joseph’s bones. Though it is true that the people of Israel’s taking the gold and silver was indeed in itself a mitzvah, for they were commanded to do so in order that God’s promise to Abraham would not be in vain (they shall come out with great substance, Moses is praised for he preferred the mitzvah which has no apparent reward over the mitzvah that has.
Since the bones of Joseph were taken earlier when they were all still in Egypt, there must be a reason for it being mentioned here. Joseph was a source of blessing both in his lifetime and after he passed away. In his lifetime he was capable of strengthening the economy of an empire in a time of a terrible famine. After he passed away, the Midrash teaches that the Egyptians buried him in the Nile, recognizing that the Nile is the source for irrigation and water and having Joseph there will increase their blessing.
For The people of Israel, Joseph was a source of inspiration. His personal life story taught that there is hope even in the depth of despair. Furthermore, he is a role model for he was someone who was withstood temptation. Indeed, the Midrash identifies as one of the People of Israel’s merits the fact that husbands and wives remained loyal to one another, despite the Egyptian culture they were in.
Therefore Joseph, unlike his father, does not request to be buried in The Land of Israel immediately, but rather upon the call for redemption. So as long as the people of Israel were in Egypt, Joseph was there with them. In addition, it was Moses who took the bones of Joseph. While all his brothers were taken out by their descendents, Joseph was taken out by Moses (the leader and representative of the whole nation) and later buried in The Land of Israel by all of the people of Israel.
Moses recognized that it was the merit of Joseph that helped the people get this far and will help them get through what awaits them. Chassidut explains links between the word atzamot (bones) andatzmiut (essence). Moses wanted to take the essence of Joseph with them.
The bones of Joseph are mentioned at this point as the people set out on their redemption; it was Joseph who empowered the people to physically and spiritually survive the exile. His merits were also a condition for this specific moment, as the people were heading towards the sea; it was the merit of Joseph which they needed in order for the sea to part. As the Midrash explains, the merit of Joseph’s fleeing the seduction of his master’s wife , “and he fled and went out”, brought about “the sea saw it and fled”; the sea saw the merit of Joseph and the merit of the people who followed in his footsteps and fled.
Finally, returning Joseph to Shechem was yet another condition that allowed The people of Israel to enter The Land of Israel. As long as Joseph who was stolen from Shechem was not returned there, the disunity between the brothers had not fully been settled. Unity was then, as it is now, a crucial factor to enable the return of The people of Israel to The Land of Israel.