On the possuk (Braishis 47/29), "And (Yaakov) called for his son for Yosef..." the Medrash comments, "Why didn't he call for Reuvain or Yehuda; Reuvain was the first born and Yehuda was the king? Rather Yaakov called for Yosef because it was in the hands of Yosef to execute Yaakov's request to be buried in Mearas HaMachpaila. Therefore, "And he called for his son for Yosef" and also because Yosef was famous and prestigious. (lit. because the hour belonged to Yosef).
Zera Shimshon asks; the wording in the Medrash seems repetitious. The Medrash opens with the possuk, "And Yaakov called for his son for Yosef..." Why did Yaakov call for Yosef instead of Reuvain or Yehudah? The Medrash answers that it was because he had the ability to carry out Yaakov's request. Seemingly the Medrash should have ended there, since the Medrash asked a question and gave an answer. Why, then, did the Medrash continue and re-quote the opening possuk, “Therefore, "And he called for his son for Yosef"?
Another question the Zera Shimshon has, is why did the Medrash give two reasons; he had the ability to carry out the request and because he was famous and prestigious?
Zera Shimshon explains, there are two reasons someone is appointed to an important position. One reason is that he can "get the job done". There is nothing special about him, only that he can do the job better than anyone else. The second reason is in order to honor him. Even if there was someone else also qualified for the position, he still got the position because for some reason he deserves the honor.
According to this Zera Shimshon explains the question of the Medrash was, why did Yaakov choose Yosef to supervise his burial? Since this occurred at the end of Yaakov’s life, to appoint Yosef to take care of his burial seems to indicate that he was honoring him and making him the head of the family. The Medrash was bothered why Yaakov wanted to make Yosef the head of the family over Reuvain, who was still the first born, and Yehuda who was destined to be the king.
The Medrash answers that Yaakov didn't appoint Yosef for this task to honor him or because there was something wrong with the brothers. Rather Yaakov chose Yosef for this task because he was the only brother who had the ability to carry out his desire to be buried in Eretz Yisroel in Mearas HaMachpaila.
On the other hand, if Yaakov would have appointed Reuvain or Yehuda it would imply that Yaakov wanted to honor these two and he didn't want the other brothers to have anything to do with his burial.
The Medrash re-quotes the possuk at the end to prove this point. There seems to be a problem with the wording of this possuk. Why didn't it just write, "And Yaakov called for Yosef...” without the words "for his son" preceding "for Yosef"? We already know that Yosef was his son!
The answer is that the possuk is teaching us that Yaakov didn't call Yosef to honor him because there was something special about him. Rather Yaakov called for "his son" who was just like all of his sons. If there would have been a different son who would have been able to bring him to Eretz Yisroel then he would have called him. Yosef was chosen only because he was the only one who was able to make sure that Yaakov would not remain in Mitzrayim and be buried in Mearas HaMachpaila.
What still has to be explained is, if the only reason Yaakov chose Yosef to bury him was because he had the ability to carry out the request the possuk should have written, "he called for his son Yosef" in one phrase which would imply that in essence Yosef was "just another son". However, in truth it is written in two phrases; (1) he called for his son, (2) for Yosef. What is the reason for this?
Zera Shimshon explains that the possuk is split up into two phrases because Yaakov saw with Ruach HaKodesh that Yosef was the one who would deal with his burial with the full agreement of the brothers. The reason they gave up this merit so easily was not to honor Yosef, but to honor Yaakov, like we find that all of Mitzrayim came to pay their final respect to Yaakov. This was most probably only because of the high position of Yosef. Therefore, the possuk is split into two phrases; to his son to Yosef which implies that the brothers agreed to and were pleased with this arrangement and this also explains why the Medrash adds the second reason "that he was successful and prestigious".
