At first glance, the pasuk seems to downplay the performance of this mitzvah, by implying that the incentive was purely a result of a previous promise made to Yosef. The Talmud (Sota 9b) states, however, that because of Moshe’s preoccupation with this mitzvah he merited that Hashem Himself would engage in his burial. Therefore, we must deduce that the Torah is , in fact, teaching us the reason that Moshe merited Hashem’s personal engagement in this endeavor. Obviously, it wasn’t necessary for Yosef to exact a promise from Bnei Yisrael to take his bones out of Egypt. There were many reasons for their indebtedness to Yosef, which should have motivated their reciprocity to him.
This pasuk reveals Yosef’s great humility. Because of this trait, Yosef did not perceive Bnei Yisrael to be in debt to him. Hashem’s plan mandated that he be in Egypt, in order to have the opportunity to save his brothers. His humility earned for Yosef the involvement in the burial of another great tzaddik who exemplified this same attribute. Moshe understood the true essence of righteousness. He emulated Yosef’s behavior thereby meriting himself that Hashem personally engage in his burial. Greatness is not always indicated by how much a person personally benefits from an individual’s actions, but rather by a person’s innate character traits. Moshe was involved in Yosef’s burial as a symbolic eulogy, indicating respect for a great tzaddik. An individual who guides and influences others can ultimately be replaced, but his unique personal attributes can never be duplicated.
