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Genesis Chapter Twenty-three Preface The ostensible revelation of this chapter is the death and burial of Sarah, Abraham’s wife. But the spiritual lesson surrounding these historical events for the child of God is found in Abraham’s transaction with the Hittites and Ephron in specific. Genesis 23:1-9 Sarah lived one hundred and twenty-seven years; these were the years of the life of Sarah. So Sarah died in Kirjath Arba (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan, and Abraham came to mourn for Sarah and to weep for her. Then Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, “I am a foreigner and a visitor among you. Give me property for a burial place among you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.” And the sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, “Hear us, my lord: You are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places. None of us will withhold from you his burial place, that you may bury your dead.” Then Abraham stood up and bowed himself to the people of the land, the sons of Heth. And he spoke with them, saying, “If it is your wish that I bury my dead out of my sight, hear me, and meet with Ephron the son of Zohar for me, that he may give me the cave of Machpelah which he has, which is at the end of his field. Let him give it to me at the full price, as property for a burial place among you.” At the age of 127 years Sarah died in Kirjath Arab, which name was later changed to Hebron—a city 19 miles south-southwest of Jerusalem on the road to Beer-sheba by way of Bethlehem. It is the highest city in Palestine, some 3,040 feet above sea level. The chief fame of Hebron rests in the fact that Abram dwelt much of the time at Mamre in its environs (Gen 13:18). He was living here when the confederacy of kings overthrew the cities of the plain and captured Lot (Gen 14:1-13). At Hebron his name was changed to Abraham. Here too he entertained the celestial visitors who spoke of the birth of Isaac (Gen 18:1-15). Sarah died at Hebron (Gen 23:2) and Abraham bought the cave of Machpelah nearby as a burial place (Gen 23:9). . . . Isaac lived at Hebron (Gen 35:27). Later, Joseph was sent to his brethren by Jacob from that region (Gen 37:14). Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob and Leah (Gen 49:31; 50:13) were all buried in the cave which Abraham had purchased near Hebron. The 12 Heb. spies saw Hebron (Num 13:22). Joshua slew the king of the town during the period of conquest (Josh 10:3-27). Caleb claimed it as his inheritance and drove out the Anakim (Josh 14:12-15; 15:13-14). Hebron was assigned to be a city of refuge (Josh 20:7). David was well received by the Hebronites (1 Sam 30:31) and reigned as king there for seven and one-half years (2 Sam 5:5). Absalom’s revolt began in Hebron (2 Sam 15:7-12). Rehoboam fortified it as one of the bastion cities to protest his S and W frontier against Egyptian invasion such as that of Shishak (2 Chr 11:5, 10; 12:2-4). (Wycliffe Bible Dictionary, Hendrickson Publishers, 1975, William Culbertson, D.D., President Emeritus and Chancellor, Moody Bible Institute, Chicago, Illinois; and John Rea, Th.D., Theological Lecturer and Editor) The Bible student can easily see that Hebron has a significant place in Bible history and events, as does the burial cave that Abraham purchased from Ephron the Hittite. Today there is a Moslem mosque built over the traditional site of this cave, and it is considered by Islam as one of the three most holy sites in the world—all Moslems trace their lineage back to Abraham. After a period of grieving for his wife Sarah, Abraham sought to purchase a burial site for her from the Hittites. Why? It is because Abraham knew from his direct communication with God that God had a definite plan and purpose for this land of Canaan and that it involved his descendants, now known as the Israelites. A study of Bible prophecy reveals that one day God will enable His people the Jews to truly occupy this land (Revelation 20:4), as He promised, while those who are saved in the Age of Grace will occupy the New Jerusalem (John 14:1-3; Revelation 21). And because of this he wanted Sarah to be there at the time that God would resurrect the dead. Even though God had promised Abraham and his descendants (Israel) this land, it had not been given over to him or them at this time; therefore, he considered himself a “foreigner and visitor” to the Hittite domain. The Hittites were very gracious to Abraham, and they offered to him a place of burial for Sarah of his choice and without charge. And in Abraham’s reaction to this offer and the subsequent offer by Ephron is the spiritual lesson the child of God may take from this brief chapter in the Book of Beginnings. Genesis 23:10-20 Now Ephron dwelt among the sons of Heth; and Ephron the Hittite answered Abraham in the presence of the sons of Heth, all who entered at the gate of his city, saying, “No, my lord, hear me: I give you the field and the cave that is in it; I give it to you in the presence of the sons of my people. I give it to you. Bury your dead!” Then Abraham bowed himself down before the people of the land; and he spoke to Ephron in the hearing of the people of the land, saying, “If you will give it, please hear me. I will give you money for the field; take it from me and I will bury my dead there.” And Ephron answered Abraham, saying to him, “My lord, listen to me; the land is worth four hundred shekels of silver. What is that between you and me? So bury your dead.” And Abraham listened to Ephron; and Abraham weighed out the silver for Ephron which he had named in the hearing of the sons of Heth, four hundred shekels of silver, currency of the merchants. So the field of Ephron which was in Machpelah, which was before Mamre, the field and the cave which was in it, and all the trees that were in the field, which were within all the surrounding borders, were deeded to Abraham as a possession in the presence of the sons of Heth, before all who went in at the gate of his city. And after this, Abraham buried Sarah his wife in the cave of the field of Machpelah, before Mamre (that is, Hebron) in the land of Canaan. So the field and the cave that is in it were deeded to Abraham by the sons of Heth as property for a burial place. Abraham wished to purchase the cave of Machpelah and after extensive negotiations he was deeded not only it, but also the field around it. But, if the words of Ephron can be taken at face-value, Abraham could have had this property as a gift. Of course there are those who believe that the offer by Ephron was only a polite gesture and that he had no intention of giving the land away. Nevertheless, true or not, the lesson for the child of God is that Abraham refused to be indebted to unbelievers. Abraham’s relationship was with God over this land—the promise of a new life, and it was to be kept pure. And this is an example for all Christians. Their new life in Christ should be kept pure and untainted from worldly influence and generous offers of ease and pleasure. It is God through His Son Jesus Christ that the child of God must deal with in all matters. The solution to all life’s problems may be found in God and His Word and not in worldly offers originating from the “god of this world,” Satan. |