After blessing Ephraim and Manasseh the sons of Joseph, Jacob called his twelve sons to him, and pronounced blessings, chastisements, and prophecies upon them. Once he had done so, Jacob directed his sons not to bury him in Egypt but to bring his body back to Canaan and bury him in the cave of Machpelah which Abraham had purchased centuries before as a burial place for his family. After giving his final wishes to his sons, Jacob died at the age of 147.