DBG - January 8 - Genesis 23-24

In this chapter we will see the death of Sarah and purchase of burial ground for Abraham’s family.

vs. 1 – Sarah lived to be 127, dying when Isaac was 37.

vs. 2 – Moses is using names for this place that appear current to his time.   The site is in the Judaean hill country about 20 miles south of Jerusalem.  Kirjath-arba means “city of Arba” and Hebron means “alliance”.  Arba’s sons were defeated by Caleb when he claimed the land in Numbers 13-14.

vs. 3 – At this time, the descendants of Canaan’s son Heth dwelt there (10:15).  In Caleb’s time the descendants of Anak lived there.  Whether the two people are related is uncertain.

vs. 4 – Abraham has lived in Canaan for over sixty years but had never purchased any land.  This is the first and only parcel of land he will own.

vs. 6 – The children of Heth greatly respected Abraham and offered the use of the best of their own tombs.

vs. 8-9 – Abraham has a particular place he desires called the cave of Machpelah, meaning “double” or “portion”.  Evidently it was a cave with two rooms, likely upper and lower.

vs. 10 – Note again that business is conducted it the gate of the city.

vs. 11 – Ephron kindly offers to give the cave to Abraham at no charge.

vs. 13 – Abraham refused to accept it was a gift and desires to pay for it.  Thus the transaction would be official and final.

vs. 15 – Four hundred shekels is today about $13,000.

vs. 16 – There was no standard currency like coinage that would be used for over thousand years later.  The pieces of silver were carefully weighed at each transaction, not accepted at any face value.

vs. 17-18 – the real estate transaction is finalized and sealed.

vs. 19 – Sarah will not be the last to be buried there.  Abraham, Isaac, Rebekah, Jacob, and Leah will also be buried in this cave.  There is also a very doubtful Jewish tradition that Adam and Ever were buried there before this.

This chapter tells of the retrieval of a bride for Isaac.

vs. 2 - This is often thought to be Eliezar who is mentioned in 15:2-3 but no name is given here.

vs. 2 – Matthew Poole writes about the method of swearing an oath used here: “ This ceremony was used in swearing, as now, so anciently in the eastern parts, as Genesis 47:29, either as a testimony of subjection, and promise of faithful service, for this rite was used only by inferiors towards superiors…”

vs. 3 – Not only would taking a Canaanite bride for Isaac go against God’s command, but it would also have entangled the family into local affairs as happened to Lot.

vs. 8 – Isaac lived his entire life in the land of Canaan.

vs. 10 – The city of Nahor is Haran, where Abraham’s father Terah died and was buried.

vs. 11 – Camels kneel to rest and to load and unload their burdens.  In these warm climates, the women would go to draw water in the morning and evening to avoid the heat of the day.

vs. 14 – The servant sought a sign from the Lord that would direct him to the right bride for Isaac.  A camel may drink up to 20 gallons of water if they are sufficiently thirsty.  The route the servant took was not extremely arid so they likely would not have drank that much.  Still, the commitment by the woman to water the camels was a sign of great hospitality because of the extra labor it entailed. 

vs. 15-20 – We see much of Rebekah’s character in these verses.  Not only is she beautiful, but kind and diligent.  Her name means something like “to ensnare by beauty”, but there is far more to her than just good looks.

vs. 22 – If the weight of the two bracelets combines in 10 shekels, this about $19,000 worth of gold.  Double that amount if each bracelet weighted 10 shekels on its own.

vs. 24 – Can you imagine the relief on the servant’s face when she said she was the granddaughter of Abraham’s brother Nahor?  God had providentially brought the right woman to him.

vs. 28 – Rebekah runs to her mother’s house.  Some take this to mean her father Bethuel is dead, but he appears in vs. 50.  Likely this house was a place her mother had for herself, not uncommon in that part of the world.  It would be no surprise that a young woman would run first to her mother and not her father with such news.

vs. 29 – We meet here Laban that Jacob will later work for.

vs. 32 – Every courtesy of hospitality is being shown to the servant and his fellow travelers.

vs. 34-48 – The servant helpfully repeats everything that has happened in detail.

vs. 50 – Bethuel and Laban can only agree that God’s hand of Providence was at work bringing all these things to pass.  The seem resigned to this being the proper course whether they approve or not.

vs. 58 – Usually brides-to-be had little say in their choice of husbands.  Her father usually did all of these arrangements.   Here Rebekah is given the choice of trusting in God’s Providence for herself, and she chooses to go be the bride of Isaac.

vs. 59 – this servant is named Deborah and her death is mentioned in Genesis 35:8

vs. 60 – This parting blessing calls for the kinship between Rebekah and her family at Haran to no diminish and that her descendants be many and powerful.

vs. 62 - Lahairoi is the well that God appeared to Hagar at in Genesis 16:14.

vs. 65 – By putting on a veil, Rebekah is not only showing her status as an unmarried woman, but also showing modesty and reverence toward her future husband.

vs. 67 – The narrative speeds through many details here, such as the wedding itself.  We see that a good match was made between Isaac and Rebekah.

We have seen the highs and lows of life in today’s reading.  We go from the sorrow of mourning to the joy of a wedding.  God works through all of these.

Today’s hymn, sometimes titled “Hinder Me Not”,  was written by Baptist pastor John Ryland (1753-1825).  He was an early supporter of the missions efforts of William Carey.  This text takes the words of Abraham’s servant in 24:56 and challenges us to not let anything hinder us in our walk with God.

When Abram's servant to procure
A wife for Isaac went,
He met Rebekah—told his wish,—
Her parents gave consent.

Yet for ten days, they urg'd the man,
His journey to delay;
Hinder me not, he quick reply'd,
Since God hath crown'd my way.

'Twas thus I cry'd when Christ the Lord,
My soul to him did wed;
Hinder me not, nor friends nor foes,
Since God my way hath sped.

Stay says the world, and taste a while,
My ev'ry pleasant sweet;
Hinder me not, my soul replies,
Because the way is great.

Stay, Satan my old master cries,
Or force shall thee detain;
Hinder me not, I will be gone,
My God has broke thy chain.

In all my Lord's appointed ways,
My journey I'll pursue;
Hinder me not, ye much lov'd saints,
For I must go with you.

Thro' floods and flames, if Jesus lead,
I'll follow where he goes;
Hinder me not, shall be my cry,
Tho' earth and hell oppose.

Thro' duty, and thro' trials too,
I'll go at his command;
Hinder me not, for I am bound,
To my Immanuel's land.

And when my Savior calls me home,
Still this my cry shall be;
Hinder me not, come welcome death,
I'll gladly go with thee.